The mountains of western North Carolina are blessed with hundreds of waterfalls within its hundred thousand acres of pristine forest. This is North America’s largest concentration of waterfalls, and is home to both the “Land of Waterfalls” (Transylvania County) as well as the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies (Whitewater Falls). In this video we are covering the top 5 North Carolina waterfalls east of the epic mountain town of Asheville.

HM. Linville Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway (1 mile)
The trek to Linville Falls is one of the few hikes within the rugged Linville Gorge Wilderness that may be considered easy. The Linville River spills over the mountain side on its path to creating the Grand Canyon of the East. The trail is less than a mile and leads to an amazing 4-tiered waterfall that eventually drops 150 feet.

5. Toms Creek Falls, Pisgah National Forest near Linville Caverns (1 mile)
Toms Creek Falls is located between Marion and Little Switzerland, North Carolina. This short 1-mile out-and-back leads to a new observation deck where you can take in the beautiful, triple-drop 80-foot multi-cascading waterfall.

4. Catawba Falls, Pisgah National Forest near Old Fort (3 miles)
The trail to Catawba Falls is undergoing improvements and is set to re-open in Spring of 2024. The trailhead is found just 28 miles east of Asheville. This 3-mile out-and-back terminates at a stunning, cascading waterfall that drops over 100 feet in total.

3. Hickory Nut Falls, Chimney Rock State Park (2 miles)
Contained within the Chimney Rock State Park, the spectacular cliff sides surrounding Hickory Nut Falls were used to film scenes from the Last of the Mohicans. You can access both the top and bottom, but the bottom is more dramatic and revealing. This horsetail waterfall drops an amazing 400-feet, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the east.

2. High Shoals Falls, South Mountains State Park (3 miles)
While South Mountains State Park provides a bounty of hiking opportunities, High Shoals Falls can be reached by a short 3-mile out-and-back. This plunging waterfall drops a spectacular 80 feet with some small cascades at the bottom.

1. Crabtree Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway (4 mile)
A drive along the amazingly beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway sets the table for an incredibly soothing hike to Crabtree Falls. Here an abundance of water spills over the top of a 70-foot rock cliff, seemingly clinging to the stone face as it cascades into the stream below. While it can be crowded, the white noise of the waterfall deadens the sound of any nearby distractions. The rocks at the base call to the adventurous, but be careful as those wet rocks can be slick.

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