Spend The Day Exploring North Carolina's Tallest Falls On This Wonderful Waterfall Road Trip

You just can’t beat the fun you have when you’re chasing waterfalls – unless you combine a bunch of waterfalls and take a road trip! Gather up the family, gas up the car, pack a picnic lunch, and let’s go check out some of the tallest waterfalls in the state!

Google Maps (embellished to add text)

Use this map as your navigational tool for the four-hours and forty-minutes of driving you'll do on this road trip.

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One of the most visited waterfalls in North Carolina, Linville Falls stands 150 feet high. Each year, millions of visitors on the Blue Ridge Parkway make the two-mile round trip hike to the overlooks to gawk is its beauty. Learn more here.

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Featured in the major motion picture, "The Last of the Mohicans," Hickory Nut Falls towers at a whopping 404 feet tall. It's officially the second tallest waterfall in the entire state and is definitely worthy of a road trip. It's found within Chimney Rock State Park so you may want to set aside a little extra time to also explore the park. The hike to the falls is 1.5 miles round trip. Learn all about the trail and more about the falls in this previous article.

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The fifth tallest waterfall (at 125 feet in height) in North Carolina is found along a trail that winds through the stunning DuPont State Forest. The 3.3-mile well-traveled loop is rated as moderate and includes other waterfalls as well. Learn more about it right over here.

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At 125 in height, Triple Falls ties High Falls for the number five tallest waterfall in North Carolina. Find it on the SAME TRAIL as High Falls. Learn more about this two-for-one hike from our friends at AllTrails.com.

AllTrails/Lisa Sandridge

Ranked as the third tallest waterfall in North Carolina, Rainbow Falls stands at 160 feet high and the water gushes over its smooth ledge into an unswimmable plunge pool at its base. Access is granted via a 3.9-mile trail in the Pisgah National Forest.

TripAdvisor/Steve R

North Carolina's tallest waterfall clocks in at 411 feet. But that's only half of this waterfall. The other half, Lower Whitewater Falls is found just across the border in South Carolina. The lower set of falls adds another 200 feet to the overall height! Access a view of the falls on the 1.3-mile Upper Whitewater Falls trail.

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Bridal Veil Falls is in a three-way tie with High Falls and Triple Falls for the fifth tallest waterfall in the state. It's 125 feet high, and until recent years, visitors could drive right under this waterfall. Today, visitors can still walk under it but driving is strictly prohibited. Learn more about it and find eight more easy-access waterfalls in this previous article.

Did you have any idea that North Carolina had so many super tall waterfalls? We have nine falls that are at least 100 feet high. Wow. Think you’ll be taking this waterfall road trip anytime soon? Let us know in the comments!