Updated July 2026
Dry Falls
A 75-foot waterfall on the Cullasaja River where a paved path leads behind the overhanging ledge, letting visitors walk under the falls and stay mostly dry.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Nantahala National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Graded lakes within 25 miles
- CLake Sequoyah · Macon County · 1.1 mi
- BThorpe Reservoir · Jackson County · 9 mi
- BBear Creek Reservoir · Jackson County · 15.2 mi
- AWolf Creek Reservoir · Jackson County · 17.5 mi
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dry Falls drops about 75 feet. That makes it the 298th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 56% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Dry Falls Trail reaches it about 0.2 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 50 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Highlands. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Nantahala National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.
Spring and after heavy rain (Mar-Jun). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More North Carolina waterfalls
- Bridal Veil Falls · 120 ft
- Catawba Falls · 100 ft
- Courthouse Falls · 45 ft
- Crabtree Falls · 70 ft
- Cullasaja Falls · 200 ft
- Daniel Ridge Falls · 150 ft
- Dill Falls · 50 ft
- Douglas Falls · 60 ft
Sources
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