Hike To These Amazing Western North Carolina Waterfalls Near Cashiers
North Carolina is famous for its waterfalls. It has the second-most waterfalls of any state on the East Coast—884 to be precise—with the majority being located here in the western part of the state.
Some of the most picturesque waterfalls in North Carolina are within a few minutes’ drive of Cashiers and Highlands. We never grow tired of singing their praises, which is why we’re excited to share some of our favorite waterfall hikes near our Luxury lakefront Cabins.
Silver Run Falls
Just off Highway 107 south of Cashiers, Silver Run Falls is a charming 25-foot falls that flows over a rock shelf into a tranquil pool. Silver Run Falls is surrounded by lush woodland, with moss-covered rocks and overhanging branches framing the gentle cascade. The pool below is also a popular swimming hole on hot summer days. Trailhead parking is available on the east shoulder of Highway 107, and it’s just a 1/4-mile round-trip hike to the base of the falls and back making this a quick, easy pit stop that requires minimal effort.
Silver Run Falls
Address: 35°04’00.9″N 83°04’01.1″W, Cashiers, NC 28717, United States
Phone: +1 828-257-4200
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5188438
Dry Falls
The name “Dry Falls” might suggest a meager trickle that disappears during the warmer months, but in truth Dry Falls is anything but. Located along Highway 64, also known as the Mountain Scenic Byway, Dry Falls is a towering 75-foot cascade that seldom if ever truly runs dry. The falls tumbles over the lip of an extended rock ledge with a walkway beneath it, allowing visitors to walk behind the waterfall while staying dry (hence the name). Reaching the base of Dry Falls requires only a 0.2-mile round-trip hike down from the trailhead, and you can also skip the trail altogether and see the falls from the roadside viewing area.
Dry Falls
Address: Nantahala National Forest, northwest of Highlands, North Carolina
Total height: 65 feet (19.8 m)
Whitewater Falls
At 411 feet, Whitewater Falls is the tallest waterfall in North Carolina and one of the tallest east of the Rockies. It tumbles over the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment through a rugged rock gorge along the Whitewater River, a stone’s throw from the South Carolina state line. It’s one of the true must-see falls in the Cashiers area. A 1/4-mile wheelchair-accessible walkway leads from the roadside parking lot to the falls overlook, and a more strenuous 1.7-mile out-and-back trail leads to the river below the falls. Whitewater Falls is also known as Upper Whitewater Falls, and its counterpart, Lower Whitewater Falls, is just across the state line. The lower falls is just as impressive, dropping a further 400 feet.
Whitewater Falls
Address: Cashiers, NC 28717, United States
Phone: +1 828-257-4200
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls is a lovely 60-foot falls in Nantahala National Forest just outside of Highlands (not to be confused with the 120-foot falls of the same name in DuPont State Forest near Brevard, NC). Our Bridal Veil Falls is a charming “veil” of water that drops off an undercut cliff face alongside Highway 28. The falls is right alongside the highway, so there’s no hiking required, though there are plenty of other hiking trails nearby. Bridal Veil Falls once had the distinction of being the only waterfall in North Carolina you could drive behind. You can no longer drive behind the waterfall, but you can walk behind it.
Bridal Veil Falls
Address: US Highway 64, West of Highlands, North Carolina
Total height: 120 feet (36.5 m)
Glen Falls
Located on the East Fork Overflow Creek just off Highway 106 southwest of Highlands, Glen Falls is a beautiful waterfall that also offers a satisfying hike. Glen Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall with three levels that each drop 70, 60 and 15 feet. The trail to the falls is a moderately challenging 2.6-mile out-and-back hike that zig-zags alongside the creek as it flows down the mountainside. The trail crosses the stream on several footbridges and provides a view of each of Glen Falls’ three levels.
Glen Falls
Address: Hwy. 106 S. Highlands, NC 28741
Total height: 60 feet (21.3 m)
Cullasaja Falls
Although Cullasaja Falls is one of the most visually striking waterfalls in the Cashiers-Highlands area, it can be a tricky one to get a good view of. Located north of Highlands alongside Highway 64, this unique waterfall rolls down a broad, craggy rock face, with multiple braids of water that fan out and drop a total of 250 feet. The best view is from the roadside, but use extreme caution when parking alongside this curvy section of Highway 64. There is no designated parking area, so make sure your vehicle is completely on the shoulder and off the road. There is also a 0.2-mile trail that leads down a rocky slope to the base of the falls, though the angle from the bottom is such that only part of the falls is visible.
Cullasaja Falls
Address: Hwy. 64 W. Highlands, Macon County, NC
Total height: 250 feet (76.2 m)
Coyote Falls
An often overlooked falls with access less than a mile south of the Silver Run Falls trailhead on Highway 107, Coyote Falls is a great option if you want to beat the crowds. It’s a small but charming waterfall that tips over the edge of a steep broken rock slide and drops about 35 feet along Little Whitewater Creek. Access is via the Coyote Fox Trail, which is a 0.9-mile out-and-back trek over moderate terrain through lush forests and rhododendron groves.
Coyote Falls
Address: State Rte 107, Cashiers, NC 28717, USA
Total height: 35 feet (10.6 m)
Elevation: 3,320 feet
Frolictown Falls + Wilderness Falls
Located a short drive east of Glenville in the Panthertown Valley, Frolictown Falls and Wilderness Falls are two neighboring waterfalls on small streams that feed Panthertown Creek. Though neither is especially dramatic on its own—Frolictown Falls drops 15 feet into a small pool, while Wilderness Falls slides down a 60-foot banded rock face—they combine to offer a highly enjoyable hike. Starting at the Panthertown Valley Trailhead on Breedlove Road, a 2.9-mile loop hike over moderate terrain will hit both falls, with a view of 10-foot Granny Burrell Falls as a bonus.
Frolictown Falls
Address: Frolictown Creek, Sapphire, NC 28774, USA
Total height: 15 feet (4.5 m)
Website: https://www.discoverjacksonnc.com/outdoors/waterfalls/frolictown-falls/
Cane Creek Falls
Another great option if you want to get off the beaten path away from the crowds, Cane Creek Falls is accessible along the winding, wooded Whiteside Cove Road between Cashiers and Highlands. Many tourists ignore this waterfall in favor of those that are more easily accessible along the main highways, but Cane Creek Falls is a picturesque waterfall that makes a 25-foot free-fall off a rocky lip into a boulder-strewn pool. The trail from the roadside to the falls is about 1.9 miles out-and-back, mostly downhill on the way in and uphill on the way out.
Cane Creek Falls
Address: Cashiers, NC 28717, United States
Total height: 25 feet (7.62 m)
With local waterways full and flowing, spring is an especially good time to view waterfalls in Western North Carolina. But there’s no bad time of year to go on a waterfall hike. Contact us today to learn more about the adventures that await in the Cashiers and Highlands areas.