Updated July 2026
North Carolina Waterfalls
38 documented North Carolina waterfalls, tallest first. Height, type, trail distance, and land manager for each — every entry cited.
- 38 falls
| Waterfall | Height | Type | Access | Trail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Whitewater Falls · Jackson County | 411 ft | plunge | Short Hike | 0.5 mi |
| Whitewater Falls · Jackson County | 411 ft | tiered | Short Hike | 0.6 mi |
| Whitewater Falls (Upper) · Jackson County | 411 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 0.5 mi |
| Hickory Nut Falls · Rutherford County | 404 ft | horsetail | Moderate Hike | 1.4 mi |
| Cullasaja Falls · Macon County | 200 ft | cascade | Roadside | — |
| Stone Mountain Falls · Wilkes County | 200 ft | cascade | Moderate Hike | 4.5 mi |
| Daniel Ridge Falls · Transylvania County | 150 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 1 mi |
| High Falls · Transylvania County | 150 ft | cascade | Moderate Hike | 2 mi |
| Linville Falls · Burke County | 150 ft | tiered | Moderate Hike | 1.6 mi |
| Rainbow Falls · Transylvania County | 150 ft | cascade | Moderate Hike | 3.1 mi |
| Triple Falls · Transylvania County | 125 ft | tiered | Short Hike | 1.2 mi |
| Bridal Veil Falls · Transylvania County | 120 ft | cascade | Moderate Hike | 4.4 mi |
| Mingo Falls · Swain County | 120 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 0.4 mi |
| Soco Falls · Jackson County | 120 ft | segmented | Short Hike | 0.6 mi |
| Catawba Falls · McDowell County | 100 ft | cascade | Moderate Hike | 2.2 mi |
| Roaring Fork Falls · Yancey County | 100 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 1.3 mi |
| Tom Branch Falls · Swain County | 80 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 0.6 mi |
| Dry Falls · Macon County | 75 ft | plunge | Short Hike | 0.2 mi |
| Crabtree Falls · Yancey County | 70 ft | cascade | Moderate Hike | 2.5 mi |
| Glen Falls · Macon County | 70 ft | tiered | Moderate Hike | 2 mi |
| Douglas Falls · Buncombe County | 60 ft | plunge | Short Hike | 1.1 mi |
| High Shoals Falls · Burke County | 60 ft | plunge | Moderate Hike | 2.7 mi |
| Looking Glass Falls · Transylvania County | 60 ft | block | Roadside | 0.1 mi |
| Second Falls · Haywood County | 60 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 1.5 mi |
| Toms Creek Falls · McDowell County | 60 ft | tiered | Short Hike | 0.8 mi |
| Wildcat Falls · Haywood County | 60 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 1.5 mi |
| Setrock Creek Falls · Yancey County | 55 ft | tiered | Short Hike | 1.1 mi |
| Dill Falls · Jackson County | 50 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 0.7 mi |
| Elk River Falls · Avery County | 50 ft | block | Short Hike | 0.6 mi |
| Greenland Creek Falls · Jackson County | 50 ft | cascade | Moderate Hike | 2.3 mi |
| Moore Cove Falls · Transylvania County | 50 ft | plunge | Short Hike | 1.3 mi |
| Courthouse Falls · Transylvania County | 45 ft | plunge | Short Hike | 1.9 mi |
| Indian Creek Falls · Swain County | 30 ft | cascade | Short Hike | 1.6 mi |
| Silver Run Falls · Jackson County | 25 ft | plunge | Roadside | 0.2 mi |
| Wintergreen Falls · Henderson County | 25 ft | cascade | Moderate Hike | 3 mi |
| Schoolhouse Falls · Jackson County | 20 ft | plunge | Moderate Hike | 2.5 mi |
| Hooker Falls · Transylvania County | 14 ft | block | Short Hike | 0.5 mi |
| Glassmine Falls · Buncombe County | — | horsetail | Roadside | — |
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