15 Best Waterfalls in North Carolina (2026 Updated)
Of the 109 named waterfalls in North Carolina, these 15 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by Dry Falls, Triple Falls, and Rainbow Falls. The list spans the Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge, Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls, and High Country and Black Mountains.
How We Picked
We ranked the 74 publicly accessible North Carolina waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Dry Falls
Franklin, NC · Macon County · Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge
Why it made the list
It is the most reviewed waterfall in North Carolina, holding 4.9 stars across 1,145 Google reviews. 94% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Picturesque cascade with a path under the rocks that offers a unique, reverse view of the waterfall." It is one of 41 named falls in the Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge region. Bridal Veil Falls is only 0.6 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Franklin, about 11 miles to the northwest.
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2. Triple Falls
Brevard, NC · Transylvania County · Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 4th most reviewed in the state, with 331 reviews. 92% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Trio of waterfalls cascading 120 ft. in forested state park, a setting in "Last of the Mohicans."." It is one of 34 named falls in the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls region. Hooker Falls is only 0.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Brevard, about 7.0 miles to the west.
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3. Rainbow Falls
Brevard, NC · Transylvania County · Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 9th most reviewed in the state, with 207 reviews. 92% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Hiking destination offering a trail along a stream leading to a waterfall with misty overlooks." It is one of 34 named falls in the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls region. Windy Falls is only 1.2 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Brevard, about 16 miles to the northeast.
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4. High Falls
Brevard, NC · Transylvania County · Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls
Pictured: nearby Triple Falls (0.5 mi) Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 173 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "150-ft.-tall waterfall on the Little River with scenic deciduous forest & a nearby covered bridge." It is one of 34 named falls in the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls region. Triple Falls is only 0.5 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Brevard, about 7.3 miles to the west.
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5. Glen Falls
Franklin, NC · Macon County · Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 126 reviews. 89% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 41 named falls in the Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge region. Satulah Falls is only 2.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Franklin, about 13 miles to the northwest.
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6. Mingo Falls
Cherokee, NC · Swain County · Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 49 reviews. 90% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 41 named falls in the Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge region. The nearest town is Cherokee, about 4.6 miles to the southwest.
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7. Sliding Rock
Brevard, NC · Transylvania County · Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 2nd most reviewed in the state, with 743 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "A low waterfall down a 60-ft.-long rock makes for a natural slide at this unique swimming hole." It is one of 34 named falls in the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls region. Moore Cove Falls is only 0.5 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Brevard, about 6.2 miles to the southeast.
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8. Hooker Falls
Brevard, NC · Transylvania County · Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls
Pictured: nearby Triple Falls (0.4 mi) Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 5th most reviewed in the state, with 313 reviews. 81% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "One of 4 waterfalls on 3 miles of river in state forest accessed by a trail." It is one of 34 named falls in the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls region. Triple Falls is only 0.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Brevard, about 6.6 miles to the west.
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9. Linville Falls
Spruce Pine, NC · Burke County · High Country and Black Mountains
Pictured: nearby Falls of Gouges Creek (7.0 mi) Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 8th most reviewed in the state, with 269 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Picturesque waterfalls, a visitor center & well-maintained hiking trails in serene surrounds." It is one of 19 named falls in the High Country and Black Mountains region. The nearest town is Spruce Pine, about 8.1 miles to the west.
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10. Lower Cascade Falls
Danbury, NC · Stokes County · Foothills, Piedmont Ridges and Fall Line
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 10th most reviewed in the state, with 194 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "A short walk down many rock steps leads to this scenic waterfall in Hanging Rock State Park." Reviews most often mention steep stairs, walk to falls, swimming hole, and steps to falls. Older records also call it Cascade Falls. It is one of 15 named falls in the Foothills, Piedmont Ridges and Fall Line region. Window Falls is only 1.1 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Danbury, about 3.5 miles to the east.
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11. Looking Glass Falls
Brevard, NC · Transylvania County · Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls
Pictured: nearby Sliding Rock (1.5 mi) Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 149 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 34 named falls in the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls region. Moore Cove Falls is only 1.2 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Brevard, about 4.8 miles to the southeast.
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12. Upper Falls
Brevard, NC · Jackson County · Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 81 reviews. 88% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Upper section of a cascading 811-ft. waterfall with a white appearance & a 1.6-mi. hiking trail." Older records also call it Whitewater Falls. It is one of 41 named falls in the Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge region. Corbin Creek Falls is only 0.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Brevard, about 21 miles to the northeast.
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13. Soco Falls
Maggie Valley, NC · Jackson County · Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 65 reviews. 88% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 41 named falls in the Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge region. The nearest town is Maggie Valley, about 4.4 miles to the northeast.
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14. Bird Rock Falls
Brevard, NC · Transylvania County · Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 44 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 34 named falls in the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Land of Waterfalls region. The nearest town is Brevard, about 7.2 miles to the east.
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15. Window Falls
Danbury, NC · Stokes County · Foothills, Piedmont Ridges and Fall Line
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 35 reviews. 83% of reviewers give it five stars. Reviews most often mention climbing, easy hike, view, and beautiful place. It is one of 15 named falls in the Foothills, Piedmont Ridges and Fall Line region. Hidden Falls is only 0.1 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Danbury, about 3.0 miles to the east.
When to Visit North Carolina's Waterfalls
North Carolina's mountain falls run year-round in most years, but they are fullest from late winter through spring, roughly February through May, when rain is frequent and trees have not yet leafed out to draw down soil moisture. April and May add wildflowers and fresh green to the gorges. Summer is warm and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms that raise streams quickly, and popular swimming spots such as Sliding Rock draw large crowds. Fall color climbs down from the highest elevations in early October to the lower escarpment by late October, making it the busiest season of the year, even though flows are often lower after dry spells. Winter brings quieter trails and occasional ice at higher elevations, when sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway may close for snow and ice.
Before You Go
Most mountain falls are on public land: Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, state parks such as Gorges and Hanging Rock, and DuPont State Recreational Forest. A few are on private or nonprofit land with their own hours. Parking at roadside falls along US 64 in the Cullasaja Gorge and at popular trailheads fills early on weekends. Hurricane Helene in 2024 caused severe flooding and landslides across western North Carolina, so check the current status of roads, trails and recreation areas before visiting. The most serious hazard is climbing on or near the top of falls: wet granite and moss are extremely slippery, and falls from waterfall edges have caused many deaths in the region. Streams also rise quickly after heavy rain.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out.
Explore More North Carolina Waterfalls
See all 109 waterfalls in the North Carolina waterfall guide, or browse by town: Franklin, Brevard, Cherokee, Spruce Pine, Danbury, Maggie Valley.
More North Carolina Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfall in North Carolina?
Dry Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 1,145 Google reviews. It is near Franklin in Macon County.
How was this list made?
We ranked the 74 publicly accessible North Carolina waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
How many waterfalls are in North Carolina?
Our directory lists 109 named waterfalls in North Carolina. See them all, sorted by town, in the North Carolina waterfall guide.
Why is Transylvania County called the Land of Waterfalls?
It sits on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where rivers drop steeply off the mountains, and it receives very high rainfall. Our directory lists 24 named falls there, more than any other county in North Carolina.