If you're a Waterfall lover, the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, and Tennessee contain thousands of waterfalls, with hundreds of them being fairly easy to access by the public.
Here at Blue Ridge Mountain Life, we love finding, exploring and photographing new waterfalls. Below you'll find more than 50 different Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfalls that we have personally visited, and you can a well. Many of these are waterfalls in NC, but a number of them are in other areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well.
Be sure to bookmark this page, and visit often, as we are constantly out and about discovering new waterfalls, and add them to this list, along with our detailed write-up with location information, directions, hiking distance, photos, video and more!
Updated: 5/2/2023
Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfalls:
View By Location:
Abrams Falls, Cades Cove
Abrams Falls is a heavy flowing 25 foot tall, and beautiful waterfall, located in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike out is 2.5 miles, and is very nice and well worth the hike. Learn More »
Avery Creek Falls
Avery Creek Falls is a small but pretty waterfall, that is good for families due to the shallow pool below. Learn More »
Big Bradley Falls
Big Bradley Falls is a 75 foot tall waterfall, located in a gorge near Saluda NC. While beautiful, the waterfall is difficult to reach, but viewable from an overlook in the gorge. The falls is about 30 minutes from Lake Lure, NC. Learn More »
Bridal Veil Falls Highlands NC
This 60' roadside waterfall is one of the most popular stops in Western NC. The waterfall is literally just 20 feet or so off of Highway 64. In the past you could drive under it, but the road under it temporarily closed. Bridal Veil Falls Highlands NC is handicap and disabled friendly. Learn More »
Bridal Veil Falls NC Dupont State Park
Bridal Veil Falls, in Dupont State Park North Carolina is a 120' foot, gently cascading falls, that you can walk under when water flow isn't too heavy. Bridal Veil Falls is also a filming location for both The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunger Games. Learn More »
Buckeye Creek Falls - Beech Mountain NC
Buckeye Creek Falls is a beautiful 20' tall waterfall off the Falls Trail, in the Buckeye Recreation Area of Beech Mountain NC. The hike is a moderate 1-mile loop. Learn More »
Catawba Falls
Catawba Falls located near Old Fort NC is a beautiful and 100 foot tall cascading waterfalls, that is incredibly photogenic. The falls are accessible via a 3-mile roundtrip and moderate hike. Learn More »
Cedar Rock Falls
Cedar Rock Falls is a 20' tall and beautiful waterfall, located in the Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC. The hike to the falls is moderate, and 1.8 miles roundtrip. Dog and kid friendly! Learn More »
Chasteen Creek Cascade
Chasteen Creek Cascade is a 30' tall waterfall, located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The waterfall is accessible via an easy 3.6 mile roundtrip hike. Learn More »
Courthouse Falls
Courthouse Falls is a gorgeous, and remote 50 foot waterfall surrounded on three sides by cliffs. The water plunges into a dark pool below the falls, and then continues down the creek. The hike to this falls is short, and easy at 1.4 miles roundtrip. The falls is located in Pisgah National Forest, near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Learn More »
Cove Creek Falls
This 50' tall waterfall is located in Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard NC. The falls area accessible by a moderate 2 mile loop hike. There is a small sliding rock waterfall on the way to the falls. Kid and dog friendly! Learn More »
Crabtree Falls
Crabtree Falls is a 70' tall, beautiful and photogenic waterfall located 1.5 miles out on a trail at Milepost 339.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Crabtree Falls is considered one of the most scenic in the area, and is very popular. Learn More »
Cullasaja Falls
Cullasaja Falls NC is a 250′ tall and majestic waterfall located off of Highway 64 in the Cullasaja Gorge, near Highlands NC. The falls are viewable mainly from the road. Learn More »
Dill Falls
Dill Falls is a very remote and beautiful waterfall, located in the Nantahala National Forest near Highway 215 in NC and The Blue Ridge Parkway. The fall is accessible via a short trail and easy trail. Learn More »
Discovery Falls
Discovery Falls is a pretty 75-foot gently cascading waterfall, located in the Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest. The waterfall is accessible via a short and moderate hike. Learn More »
Dry Falls NC
Dry Falls is a 75' beautiful roadside waterfall near Highlands, NC that you can walk behind! There is a nice parking area, bathrooms, a viewing platform that is handicap accessible, and a nice paved trail down to and behind the falls. Dry Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn More »
Elk River Falls NC
Elk River Falls is a beautiful 50' tall and majestic waterfall near Beech Mountain and Banner Elk NC. The hike to the waterfall is less than 5 minutes and moderate. Learn More »
Grogan Creek Falls
Grogran Creek Falls is a stunning 20' gentle and wide cascade in the Ranger District of Pisgah National Park. It is one of four waterfalls viewable along a 5.5 mile roundtrip and moderate hike from Cat Gap Trailhead. Learn More »
Hen Wallow Falls
Hen Wallow Falls is a 90 foot waterfall that begins only 2' wide at the top, and ends up more than 20' foot wide at the bottom of a gentle cascade. The falls is located along Gabe Mountain Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn More »
Hickory Nut Falls
Hickory Nut Falls, located in Chimney Rock State Park near Lake Lure, NC is the second tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi. The falls are access by a 1.5 mile easy-moderate round trip hike. Learn More »
High Falls NC, Dupont State Forest
High Falls NC is a 150 foot tall waterfall with a covered bridge at the very top. The waterfall is one of three falls, very close to each other long the waterfalls trail in Dupont State Park, near Brevard, NC. It was featured in The Hunger Games and Last of the Mohicans. Learn More »
Hooker Falls NC Dupont State Forest
Hooker Falls is a 15' tall, but wide waterfall that cascades into a deep pool, that is popular for summer swimming and kayaking. There is a handicap accessible viewing platform as well. Hooker Falls was featured in the movie, The Last of the Mohicans. Learn More »
Linville Falls NC
Linville Falls is a very popular 90' waterfall that plunges into Linville Gorge. The falls are right of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and offer multiple hiking trails and viewpoints. Learn More »
Little Bird Falls NC
Little Bird Falls is a hidden gem off Highway 215 in North Carolina. This 20' waterfall is located in a short distance into the woods, and is both beautiful and very photogenic. The area around the falls is full of vegetation and wildflowers. Learn More »
Little Bradley Falls
Little Bradley Falls is an exceptionally beautiful 50 foot multi-tiered waterfall near Saluda, North Carolina. This gorgeous waterfall is at the end of an easy and almost two mile roundtrip hike. Learn More »
Little Fall Branch Falls
Little Fall Branch Falls is a 40' cascading waterfall, located in the Harmon Den area of North Carolina. The hike is easy, and the waterfall is beautiful and surrounded by lush green vegetation. Learn More »
Looking Glass Falls
Looking Glass Falls, located immediately roadside on Highway 276 near Brevard NC, is probably one of the most beautiful and popular waterfalls in North Carolina. The falls are visible from the road, and thus handicap accessible. Looking Glass falls plummets 50+ feet into the creek below, and is a popular summer swimming destination. Learn More »
Lower Bubbling Springs Creek Falls
A nice waterfall, located on a .5 mile roundtrip hike, just off Highway 215 and near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Learn More »
Lower Falls Graveyard Fields
Lower Falls at Graveyard Fields is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and is a very beautiful and photogenic waterfall, that is also a popular summer swimming hole. The waterfall is viewable from the Parkway, and accessible via short hike. Learn More »
Lower Sam Branch Falls
Lower Sam Branch Falls is located off Highway 215 in NC, near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Falls is one of three waterfalls, very close to each other. The hike out is only .5 miles roundtrip. Learn More »
Mingo Falls
Mingo Falls is a beautiful 120 foot tall waterfall, near Cherokee NC. The falls are accessed by a short wooden walkway, but the walkway is mostly all stairs going up. The Falls are well worth it, and there is a nice observation deck at the base of the falls. Learn More »
Moore Cove Falls
Moore Cove Falls is a beautiful 50' waterfall that you can get in and go behind. The trail to the falls is very nice and short as well. The waterfall is located on Highway 276 in North Carolina, near the popular Looking Glass Falls. Learn More »
Mouse Creek Falls
Mouse Creek Falls is a beautiful 45 foot waterfall located along Big Creek and Big Creek Trail, in the Big Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn More »
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is a huge 150 foot waterfall, located in Pisgah National Forest near Sapphire, NC. The Falls are accessed via a moderate 3 mile roundtrip hike. In the morning, if the sun is right, a rainbow is cast across the face of the falls, giving the falls it's name. Learn More »
Schoolhouse Falls
This 25' tall waterfall, cascades into a large pool surrounded by lush vegetation and rhododendron. You can even explore behind the waterfall. Learn More »
Skinny Dip Falls
Skinny Dip Falls is located off the Blue Ridge Parkway, at Milepost 417. Accessing the Falls requires a moderate 1 mile roundtrip hike. The falls are gorgeous, and a popular summer swimming hole with locals. Learn More »
Sliding Rock
Sliding Rock is a popular and famous waterfall, due to not only being a waterfall, but a waterfall that you can slide down. The smooth surface of the falls allows visitors to slide down the fall, and plunge into a basin below. Sliding Rock is located just off Highway 276 in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard NC. Learn More »
Soco Falls
This double waterfall, located near The Blue Ridge Parkway, between Cherokee, NC and Maggie Valley, NC is a real hidden gem. Soco Falls is just a short walk from the highway, and is stunning to view. You can also access the lower portion of the falls for a better view. Learn More »
Sunburst Falls
Sunburst Falls is road-side waterfall located along Highway 215. The waterfall flows under an old rock bridge on 215, and is a popular stopping point along the scenic roadway. Learn More »
Tom Branch Falls
Tom Branch Falls is located in the Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a gorgeous and easy to access falls that is a short walk from the parking lot, and handicap friendly. Learn More »
Triple Falls NC Dupont State Forest
Triple Falls is beautiful 120 foot waterfall that has three different cascades, and is located in Dupont State Forest, NC. The falls are viewable from a viewing platform, and you can also walk out onto a large rock shelf in the middle of the falls. Learn More »
Turtleback Falls
Turtleback Falls is a popular "sliding rock" waterfall, located in Pisgah National Forest near Sapphire NC. The falls are accessible via a 3.5 mile roundtrip and moderate to strenuous hike. The falls are unique as you can slide off the top, and then plunge into a large basin below. Learn More »
Twin Falls on Henry Branch
This is wonderful 4-mile roundtrip hike through Pisgah National Forest where you see three waterfalls, two of which are called Twin Falls, as they are very close to each other. This hike is especially pretty during the spring, due to the abundance of wildflowers. Learn More »
Upper Bubbling Spring Branch Falls
This pretty 30' cascade is one of two waterfalls accessible via short .5 mile hike off Highway 215 in North Carolina. Learn More »
Upper Cedar Rock Falls
Upper Cedar Rock Falls is a small (only 10' tall) waterfall, but still very pretty. The falls has a nice gentle cascade, that flows into a wading pool. Upper Cedar Rock Falls is accessible via a 2 mile roundtrip and moderate hike, and is one of four viewable waterfalls. Learn More »
Upper Falls Graveyard Fields
Upper Falls is a 40 foot tall waterfall, located in the Graveyard Fields area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, in North Carolina. The trail to the falls is about 1.3 miles. Learn More »
Wash Hollow Falls
Wash Hollow Falls is very pretty and photogenic 50' waterfall, located along a short hike off Highway 215 in North Carolina. Learn More »
Whitewater Falls NC
Whitewater Falls near Sapphire NC is a 411 foot and stunning waterfall. The paved trail to the waterfall is easy and handicap accessible. Whitewater Falls is the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Learn More »
Wildcat Falls
This cascading waterfall is located just a short hike out Flat Laurel Creek Trail in Pisgah National Forest, near The Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildcat falls runs below an old concrete bridge that was part of the logging road and railroad grade that now makes up the trail. Learn More »
Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfall Videos
In addition to our full guides on waterfalls, we often do comprehensive videos as well, not only showing you the waterfall, but how to find them as well. Our videos focus on very high quality footage and information for you, so you can get the most out of your adventure!
Here are some of our waterfall videos from our YouTube channel.
Wrapping Up
With all of the different waterfalls listed above, we really hope you've found the best waterfalls near you, and ones that appeal to your capabilities. Always be sure to pack appropriately if you need to hike, this includes:
- Wearing good hiking shoes or boots, and ones with non-slip tread.
- Bringing a backpack with all of the necessary day hiking essentials, and in particular, water. Staying hydrated, even on the most simple trail can literally save your life.
- Always practice Leave No Trace when visiting. We love sharing our adventures with you, but we expect our reads to always Leave No Trace.
If you visit, please any of these, or if you discover one not on our list, be sure to share your adventures with us in our Facebook group!