Hike Straight To An Abandoned Dam On The Catawba Falls Trail In North Carolina

Hiking in North Carolina doles out many rewards and one of them is finding hauntingly beautiful abandoned places along the trail. Come along with us as we explore the Catawba Falls Trail, which leads you straight to an abandoned dam in North Carolina as well as the ruins of an old building associated with the 1920s dam. The trail begins near Old Fort and is nearly 1.2 miles each way.

Wander into the forest and you'll soon pass by the old dam. In the hundred or so years since it was built, the dam has filled in considerably with sediment and rocks.

Today, instead of the water getting stopped by the hand-made stone wall, it pours through fissures in the structure and over the top of the dam as the Catawba River moves on down the stream.

Also found along the trail is an abandoned old stone building associated with the 1920s power plant.

As of now, it's open to foot exploration. But as with any old ruins, please be careful and watch your footing. And refrain from the temptation to climb on the structure.

The U.S. Forest Service has built two steel bridges along the Catawba Falls Trail making it much easier to traverse. But you still may need to cross a couple of small water crossings so consider wearing appropriate footwear.

Beyond the power plant ruins it's about another 1.2 miles to see the spectacular lower Catawba Falls.

If you've just come to explore the dam, then consider sticking with the trail for its entirety to see this 100-foot waterfall.

You'll be so glad you did! Find out a little more about the old hydropower plant and this abandoned dam in North Carolina on the website of the U.S. Forest Service. And, if you're curious to see this beautiful North Carolina waterfall in action, check out this lovely YouTube video, courtesy of Exploring Asheville:

What are some of your all-time favorite hikes in North Carolina? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below -- we would love to hear from you! For some suggestions, check out our list of hikes in North Carolina to add to your bucket list.