North Carolina's Best Waterfalls

North Carolina has more than 250 named waterfalls — one of the highest concentrations of any state. The Pisgah National Forest, the Blue Ridge escarpment, and the Nantahala National Forest hold the densest clusters.

Whitewater Falls (411 ft)
The highest waterfall in the eastern United States, located on the NC-South Carolina border near Cashiers. The upper falls (411 ft) are in Nantahala National Forest; the lower falls continue into South Carolina. The overlook trail from the parking area is short (0.3 miles) and gives a full view of the upper falls. The falls cascade over a series of granite ledges in a wild river gorge.

Looking Glass Falls (60 ft)
One of the most-photographed and most-visited waterfalls in North Carolina, on the Davidson River in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard. The wide curtain falls into a deep pool with a flat road pullout directly adjacent — it's accessible to everyone, including people who cannot hike. Swimming in the plunge pool is a summer tradition.

Crabtree Falls (70 ft)
Located at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 339.5, Crabtree Falls is accessible via a 2.5-mile loop trail from the Crabtree Falls Campground. The falls plunge over dark basalt into a narrow plunge pool. The surrounding Pisgah National Forest has exceptional wildflower displays in April–May.

Graveyard Fields Falls (Lower Yellowstone, 60 ft)
Accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 418.8 via a 1.5-mile trail, these falls are set in a wind-sculpted heath bald basin at nearly 5,000 feet — an otherworldly landscape at any season.

Dupont State Recreational Forest Waterfalls
DuPont contains four spectacular waterfalls within a few miles: Hooker Falls (12 ft but extremely wide), Triple Falls (3 tiers, 120 ft total — featured in The Hunger Games), High Falls (120 ft), and Bridal Veil Falls (120 ft). The waterfall trail loop (7 miles) is one of the finest waterfall hikes in the state.