Updated July 2026
Elk River Falls
A high-volume 50-foot falls where the Elk River drops over a rock cliff into a large oval pool in Pisgah National Forest near Elk Park. A short, rooty trail descends to the base in about a third of a mile each way.
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 Pisgah National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Elk River Falls drops about 50 feet. That makes it the 426th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 42% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Elk River Falls Trail reaches it about 0.6 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 45 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Elk Park. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Pisgah National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.
spring. 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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