The

waterfall A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in seve ...

s of

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

U.S. The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...

, are a prominent feature of the geography of the

Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...

and

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher t ...

regions of the state, as well as a major focus of tourism and outdoor recreation. Many of these falls are located in

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "Federated state, state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on accou ...

national forests National Forest may refer to: * National forest or state forest, a forest administered or protected by a sovereign state ** National forest (Brazil) ** National forest (France) ** National forest (United States) ** State Forests (Poland) ** The N ...

, wildlife management areas, and other public lands, as well as private property. Many are accessible via established hiking trails, and some developed areas include boardwalks, observation platforms, picnic areas, and other amenities. Some of the highest and most voluminous waterfalls in the eastern United States are located in North Carolina. Many of the waterfalls in the state are located in

Transylvania County Transylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census the population is 32,986. Its county seat is Brevard. Transylvania County comprises the Brevard, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also incl ...

, which is called "The Land of Waterfalls". This is due to the

orographic lift Orographic lift occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. As the air mass gains altitude it quickly cools down adiabatically, which can raise the relative humidity to 100% and cr ...

that results in the area having one of the highest average rainfalls in the United States (90 inches per year).

Falls by County

This list is incomplete. Please feel free to add waterfalls to this list and to create articles about the waterfalls. Visitors should always follow rules of safe waterfall 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. * Cascades Waterfall (Craggy Mountains) *

Douglas Falls Douglas Falls are a 60-foot waterfall located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is on a tributary of Waterfall Creek which flows into the Ivy River, and it is within the Big Ivy section of the Pisgah National Forest. The stream ...

Glassmine Falls Glassmine Falls is an ephemeral waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina, on Glassmine Branch, near Barnardsville, NC. It is located below the Blue Ridge Parkway around milepost 362. Geology When it flows, the falls slides down the rock fac ...

Walker Falls Walker Falls is a 45-foot cascading waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Its ease of access makes it a popular destination for waterfall hunters. It is in a region of Buncombe County that has a large number of small waterfalls and sever ...

* Reems Creek Falls

Burke County

* High Shoals Falls *

Linville Falls Linville Falls is a waterfall located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in the United States. The falls move in several distinct steps, beginning in a twin set of upper falls, moving down a small gorge, and culminating in a high-vol ...

McGalliard Falls McGalliard Falls is a waterfall in Burke County, North Carolina. Geology The waterfall is located on McGalliard Creek, where it flows over a large bedrock to a lower plunge pool. Natural history The falls is owned by the town of Valdese, Nor ...

Clay County

* Bull Cove Falls

Jackson County

* Whitewater Falls

Macon County

* Bridal Veil Falls (Macon County) *

Cullasaja Falls Cullasaja Falls ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the University of North Caroli ...

* Dry Falls (North Carolina) * Quarry Falls (Macon County) *

Secret Falls Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controver ...

Madison County

Waterfall on West Prong Hickey Fork Waterfall on West Prong Hickey Fork is a waterfall located in the Bald Mountains of the Pisgah National Forest in Madison County, North Carolina. Geology The falls flows on West Prong Hickey Fork Creek. It begins as a slide and ends in a near-v ...

McDowell County

Toms Creek Falls Toms Creek Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest in McDowell County, North Carolina, near the town of Marion. Geology The falls are located on Toms Creek. The creek flows over several cascading upper sections of bedrock into a nea ...

Catawba Falls Catawba Falls is a series of waterfalls on the headwaters of the Catawba River, in McDowell County, near Old Fort, North Carolina. Geology The Catawba River flows over 2 major waterfalls in a short distance. The first drop, called Upper Cat ...

Hickory Branch Trail Falls Hickory is a common name for trees composing the genus ''Carya'', which includes 19 species accepted by ''Plants of the World Online''. Seven species are native to southeast Asia in China, Indochina, and northeastern India (Assam), and twelve ...

Crabtree Falls (North Carolina) Crabtree Falls is a waterfall located near the boundary of McDowell County, North Carolina, McDowell County and Yancey County, North Carolina. Geology and Natural History Crabtree Falls is a cascade on Big Crabtree Creek. The creek spreads over ...

Montgomery County

Moccasin Creek Falls A moccasin is a shoe, made of deerskin or other soft leather, consisting of a sole (made with leather that has not been "worked") and sides made of one piece of leather, stitched together at the top, and sometimes with a vamp (additional pane ...

Polk County

* Pearson's Falls * Big Bradley Falls * Little Bradley Falls * Shunkawauken Falls

Rutherford County

Hickory Nut Falls Hickory Nut Falls, also known as Hickorynut Falls, is a waterfall located at Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County, North Carolina. History Hickory Nut Falls flows on Fall Creek through the Hickory Nut Gorge, and is part of Chimney Rock ...

Rainbow Falls (Rutherford County) Rainbow Falls is a waterfall located in Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, North Carolina. History Rainbow Falls was owned privately until it was bought by The Nature Conservancy in 2003. While much of the area is expected to be developed into ...

Stokes County

Home to the isolated

Sauratown Mountains The Sauratown Mountains, which are sometimes called "the mountains away from the mountains", are an isolated mountain range located within Stokes and Surry counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The vast majority of the range is located ...

. * Hidden Falls (Hanging Rock) * Lower Cascades (Hanging Rock) * Tory's Falls (Hanging Rock) * Upper Cascades (Hanging Rock) * Window Falls (Hanging Rock)

Swain County

* Mingo Falls * Little Falls * Juneywhank Falls * Tom Branch Falls * Indian creek Falls * Soco Falls

Transylvania County

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

Bridal Veil Falls (DuPont State Forest) Bridal Veil Falls is a waterfall in the DuPont State Forest, on the Little River, near Brevard, North Carolina. Geology The waterfall begins as a slide which drops over a ledge approximately {{convert, 4, ft, m high. The river then continues d ...

* Corbin Creek Falls * Drift Falls *

High Falls (DuPont State Forest) High Falls, on the Little River (North Carolina), Little River in Transylvania County, is a 125 ft (38 m) waterfall located in the DuPont State Forest, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Geology High Falls is located in Trans ...

* Hooker Falls * Log Hollow Falls *

Looking Glass Falls Looking Glass Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard, North Carolina, Brevard. Natural history The name comes from nearby Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a wintertime mirror (or "looking glass") of sunlight, as ...

Moore Cove Falls Moore Cove Falls is a waterfall in Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard, North Carolina, Brevard. Natural history The name comes from Moore Cove, and was named for Adam Q. Moore, who purchased the property. In ...

Rainbow Falls (Horsepasture River) Rainbow Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River. It is on Pisgah National Forest land just outside Gorges State Park. History A proposal to route the flow of the ri ...

Silver Run Falls Silver Run Falls is a 20-foot waterfall a few miles from the town of Cashiers, North Carolina. It is popular with locals and tourists alike. The falls are located after a flat, 200 yard trail. Additionally, there is a second secret falls located ...

* Slick Rock Falls * Sliding Rock *

Triple Falls (DuPont State Forest) Triple Falls is a 125-foot (38 m) waterfall located in the DuPont State Forest, southeast of Brevard, North Carolina. Geology Triple Falls flows on the Little River through the DuPont State Forest in Transylvania County. It is one of 4 ma ...

* Turtleback Falls *

Upper Whitewater Falls Upper Whitewater Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina on the Whitewater River. As with most of North Carolina's waterfalls, it is in the mountainous area of the state. There is a cluster of falls in the area where the borders of Georgia and ...

, part of Whitewater Falls which extends into South Carolina, which together drop over 1000' in elevation before hitting the plunge basin.

Wilkes County

Betsey's Rock Falls Betsey's Rock Falls is a waterfall in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Geology The falls is a long series of cascades beginning at Betsey's Rock, located near the headwaters of North Prong Lewis Fork in Wilkes County in North Carolina. The rock and ...

Cascade Falls (Falls Creek) Cascade Falls, also called "The Cascades", is a waterfall located at E. B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, United States. Geology The waterfall is located on Falls Creek. It begins with ...

Yancey County

Mitchell Falls Mitchell Falls is a waterfall located in Yancey County, North Carolina on the slope of Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain chain and highest point in the eastern United States. The falls, the mountain and its relat ...

Roaring Fork Falls (Yancey County) {{Infobox waterfall , photo = Roaring Fork Falls.jpg , photo_caption = , name = Roaring Fork Falls , location = Pisgah National Forest, Yancey County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina , type = Cascade, Slide , height = {{Convert ...

Setrock Creek Falls Setrock Creek Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina. Geology The falls is located at the base of Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain in the United States east of the Mississippi River, on Setrock Creek, a small t ...

References

External links and resources

NCWaterfalls.comWaterfalls in Western North Carolina
*Adams, Kevin. ''North Carolina Waterfalls: A Hiking and Photography Guide''. Blair Publishing, 2005. {{North Carolina *