Welcome to the majestic cascade carnival of North Carolina, otherwise known as the land of waterfalls!

If you’re ready to trade your urban jungle for the flowing wonders of the Tar Heel State, you’re in for a treat.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker with boots worn thin or just someone who likes the idea of a scenic drive followed by a picnic, you’ll love the waterfalls of North Carolina.

From the easily accessible roadside spectacles to the hidden gems awaiting your adventurous spirit, this guide is your key to unlocking the beauty of North Carolina’s waterfalls.

So strap on your hiking boots or simply rev up the car—let’s chase waterfalls, Tar Heel style! 🌊🚗

Me with Crabtree Falls Behind me
Me hiking Crabtree Falls, one of my favorite waterfall hikes!

Related Articles:

Best Time to See Fall Foliage Around NC Waterfalls

Hooker Falls in the Fall

Best Fall Destinations, Top Picks by Travel Experts!

A Guide to Old Fort, + a 1 Day Itinerary

Mountain Gateway Museum things to do in Old Fort, NC
Cabin at Mountain Gateway Museum, Old Fort, NC

Catawba Falls Set To Reopen May 31st, 2024! 5 Things to Know Before You Go

My daughter taking in the sight of Catawba Falls for the first time
My daughter taking in the sight of Catawba Falls for the first time in October of 2020

Related Videos:

Waterfall Tours:

Learn more, see more, and find the things you can’t on your own by booking a tour with an expert!

Books About NC Waterfalls:

North Carolina Waterfalls by Kevin Adams

Hiking Waterfalls North Carolina: A Guide To The State’s Best Waterfall Hikes by Melissa Watson

Great Waterfalls of North Carolina: A Guide for Hikers, Photographers, and Waterfall Enthusiasts by Neil Regan

North Carolina Waterfalls: A Hiking and Photography Guide by Kevin Adams

Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge: A Guide to the Natural Wonders of the Blue Ridge Mountains by Johnny Molloy

Crabtree Falls on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Falls by county

With over 250 waterfallls, NC is known as the “Land of Waterfalls” This list is incomplete but always in progress. We’ll continue to add waterfalls, articles, trip ideas and information about North Carolina’s numerous, scenic waterfalls.

*Always follow rules of safety and hiking when visiting waterfalls.

Buncombe County

Although parts of Buncombe County receive less average rainfall than any other location in the Southeastern US, Buncombe County still has several waterfalls.

Burke County

Clay County

Jackson County

Macon County

Madison County

McDowell County

Montgomery County

Polk County

Rutherford County

Stokes County

Home to the isolated Sauratown Mountains.

Swain County

Transylvania County

This area receives more average annual rainfall than any other place in the Eastern United States – over 90 inches a year.

Wilkes County

Yancey County

Waterfalls Broken Down by 40 Sections:

  1. Central & Eastern NC
  2. Hanging Rock and Mayo River
  3. Wilkesboro
  4. Stone Mountain
  5. West Jefferson
  6. Boone
  7. Blowing Rock
  8. Grandfather Mountain
  9. Elk Park
  10. Linville Gorge
  11. LIttle Switzerland
  12. Spruce Pine
  13. Burnsville
  14. Mount Mitchell
  15. Craggy Gardens
  16. Hot Springs
  17. Valdese
  18. South Mountains
  19. Marion
  20. Old Fort
  21. Asheville
  22. Hickory Nut Gorge
  23. Saluda/Tryon/Columbus
  24. Hendersonville
  25. Brevard
  26. Shining Rock & Middle Prong
  27. Balsam Grove
  28. Rosman
  29. Lake Toxaway
  30. Cashiers
  31. Highlands
  32. Cullowhee
  33. Sylva
  34. Big Creek & Harmon Den
  35. Cherokee
  36. Bryson City
  37. Nantahala Gorge
  38. Franklin
  39. Murphy and Hayesville
  40. Robbinsville

Waterfalls Visible from the Road (no hiking required):

  • Glassmine Falls: Craggy Gardens Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 361.3
  • Walker Falls: Craggy Gardens area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Off Dillingham Rd which becomes a gravel road FR 74.