This Epic Road Trip in North Carolina Hits 5 of the State’s Best Waterfalls

Our first waterfall on the list is at Hanging Rock State Park. The trail to Lower Cascades Falls is just shy of one mile and is generally considered easy. The 35-foot waterfall drops into a fantastic swimming pool, which is very popular during the summer months. Feel free to take a dip!

We love waterfalls that don’t require a long hike, and the trail to Widow’s Creek Falls is 0.2 miles long. Located within Stone Mountain State Park, this 25-foot waterfall in North Carolina also drops into a nice little swimming area that’s rather refreshing if the weather is cooperating.

As you make your way through the Blue Ridge Mountains, a stop at Linville Falls is a must. The 150-foot-tiered waterfall marks the beginning of the Linville Gorge, and this majestic waterfall is always at the top of our bucket lists.

There are a few different trails to see this epic waterfall, and they vary in difficulty. The Erwins View Trail will give you a panoramic view of the Linville Gorge and a distant view of the upper and lower falls. The Linville Gorge Trail is a more challenging trail that puts you down into the gorge and to the base of the waterfall. And then there’s the Linville Falls Trail (probably the most popular), which clocks in at just under a mile and takes you to the Upper Linville Falls observation area.

We might be taking a break from waterfalls, but you’d be mistaken if you thought you were done with water views. This Alpine A-Scape is only nine miles from Linville Falls, so you can technically adjust this waterfall itinerary and see that cascade at the end of day one or start off day two (or both, since there are multiple trails to view the falls!). The three-bedroom cabin offers beautiful views of the lake and an open-concept floorplan. Since you’ll be staying in the Linville Land Harbor Resort, you’ll have access to a plethora of amenities, including an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, hiking trails, a swimming pool, and more. 

I was hesitant to include Bradley Falls in this list because this is an area that was damaged badly by Hurricane Helene. AllTrails lists both the Little Bradley Falls Trail and the Bradley Falls Overlook Trail as closed, but there are many reviews of folks who have traversed both trails since the hurricane. By this point in the waterfall road trip, you’ve already seen the destruction from Hurricane Helene, and we’re not going to attempt to hide it. I would recommend checking AllTrails before your adventure to either one of these access points. If you do decide to check it out, be prepared for your shoes to get wet. 

Ready for lunch? Head over to Mountain View BBQ & Deli for some of the best BBQ in North Carolina.

Ready for a showstopper? Clocking in at an impressive 411 feet, Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. Another fun fact about Whitewater Falls is that it spans two states! You can find the first tier in North Carolina and the lower falls in South Carolina. Altogether, it totals a staggering 811 feet. There is a parking lot, and the walk to the waterfall is about 1/4 mile, paved all the way. If you want to go even further, you can climb the many, many stairs to get a different view from the lower overlook.

Last but certainly not least, our final stop on this North Carolina waterfall road trip is Dry Falls. This 75-foot waterfall in the Nantahala National Forest flows over a cliff, and it’s one of the few waterfalls in North Carolina you can walk behind! Make sure you’re prepared to get wet; the spray from the waterfall can get intense! 

Share this article with someone you want to hop in the car with and take this waterfall road trip with. Be sure to have all of your road trip essentials in the car before you pull out of the driveway, including an AllTrails + account. 

Of course, if you really want to embark on an epic waterfall road trip in North Carolina, you can always cruise down the official Waterfall Scenic Byway. This 98-mile stretch of roadway will take you to roughly 200 different waterfalls!

Photo credits (from top to bottom): Nomoto Kimichi/AllTrails, Samantha Faw/AllTrails, DWalker44/Getty Images, Airbnb, Swell Trails and Tails/AllTrails, Samantha Coffin/AllTrails, Bryan M/AllTrails