A Guide to the Region's Best Falls
The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau is waterfall country. The Plateau sits on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where the mountains drop sharply toward the Piedmont. Rivers like the Cullasaja, Horsepasture, Whitewater, and Toxaway tumble over that edge on their way down. Add heavy rainfall, with Highlands recording 133 inches in 2020, and you get falls around nearly every bend.
Some of the best waterfalls are right beside the road. Others are a short walk from a parking area, and a few reward a longer hike. This guide covers them all, from the drive-up classics to the backcountry favorites. Look for the ★ Must-See label on the falls you shouldn't miss.
Waterfront Living
From lakefront homes on Lake Glenville and Lake Toxaway to properties along rivers and creeks, the Plateau has plenty of ways to wake up to the sound of moving water.
Our local team knows which homes have the water access, views, and setting you're looking for.
These falls can be seen from the car or reached in just a few minutes on foot, so they're easy to fit into any day.
Near Highlands | About 45 feet | Roadside
About 2.3 miles from Highlands on US 64, Bridal Veil Falls spills over a rock ledge right beside the highway. The road once curved behind the falls, making it the only waterfall in North Carolina you could drive under. That stretch is now closed to cars, but when the water is low you can still walk behind the falls and stay mostly dry. A roadside parking area sits right in front.
★ Must-See | Near Highlands | About 75 feet | 0.1-mile paved path
About 3 miles west of Highlands on US 64, Dry Falls is one of the most visited waterfalls in the region. A short paved path leads from the Forest Service parking area down to the falls, where a walkway curves behind the curtain of water. On most days you can walk behind it without getting soaked, which is how it got its name. An accessible boardwalk leads to a viewing platform, and the parking area has restrooms. Arrive early on summer weekends, when the lot fills up.
★ Must-See | Near Cashiers | About 40 feet | 0.1-mile trail
About 5 miles south of Cashiers on NC 107, a short, easy trail from a roadside pullout crosses a footbridge and ends at Silver Run Falls. The falls drop into a wide pool with a small sandy beach in summer, making this a favorite spot for families and photographers.
★ Must-See | Near Sapphire | 411 feet | Paved path to overlook
South of Sapphire on NC 281, Upper Whitewater Falls drops 411 feet, making it the tallest waterfall in North Carolina. A paved, wheelchair-accessible walkway leads from the parking area to the upper overlook, and 154 wooden steps continue down to a lower overlook with a fuller view. The Nantahala National Forest recreation area has picnic tables and restrooms and is open dawn to dusk year-round. There is a day-use fee.
Lake Toxaway | About 300 feet | Roadside
Right below the US 64 bridge at Lake Toxaway, the Toxaway River pours out of Lake Toxaway and slides down a long series of granite ledges. A pullout on the east side of the bridge and walkways along the bridge give you a view from the top. Stay on the walkways, since the rocks below are steep and slippery.
Close to Home
Bridal Veil and Dry Falls are just minutes from Main Street in Highlands. Silver Run Falls is a quick drive from Cashiers, Whitewater Falls sits just south of Sapphire, and Toxaway Falls is right at the edge of Lake Toxaway.
Our local team can help you find a home close to the falls you love most.
These waterfalls take a little more effort, with trails of about a mile or two each way. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, and plan for the climb back out, which is usually the harder half.
Near Highlands | Three main falls | About 2 miles round trip | Moderate
Just south of Highlands off NC 106, Glen Falls drops in a series of cascades and free falls down the side of the Blue Valley. The trail starts at the end of Glen Falls Road and descends steeply past several overlooks, with the best views in the first three-quarters of a mile. The lowest sections are rough and best left to experienced hikers. Remember, every step down is a step back up.
Near Highlands | About 0.75 mile each way | Easy to moderate
Tucked into the Nantahala National Forest south of Highlands, Secret Falls lives up to its name. The trail starts from a parking area on a gravel Forest Service road off NC 28 and follows an old roadbed and footpath through the woods to the top of the falls. A rougher side path drops down to the base and the pool below.
★ Must-See | Panthertown Valley | About 1.2 miles each way | Moderate
Schoolhouse Falls is the best-known and easiest-to-reach waterfall in Panthertown Valley, often called the "Yosemite of the East." From the Cold Mountain Gap trailhead near Lake Toxaway, the trail descends to Greenland Creek, where the falls drop about 18 feet into a wide, wadeable pool that you can walk behind. The name comes from the valley's logging days, when a schoolhouse was built nearby but never held a class.
★ Must-See | Gorges State Park | About 1.5 miles each way | Moderate
From the Grassy Ridge access area of Gorges State Park on NC 281 south of Sapphire, the trail drops about 800 feet to the Horsepasture River, where Rainbow Falls plunges 150 feet. On sunny days, the spray often creates the rainbow the falls is named for. About ten minutes farther upstream, Turtleback Falls slides over a smooth, curved rock ledge. The river's currents are strong, so admire Turtleback from the bank rather than the water.
Trailside Living
Some of the best waterfall trails on the Plateau start right outside Sapphire. In Bald Rock and The Divide at Bald Rock, residents have their own trail access into Panthertown Valley. Burlingame sits along the Horsepasture River, the same river that flows over Rainbow and Turtleback Falls.
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For experienced hikers, these waterfalls mean longer distances, steeper side trails, or a scramble over rocks to reach the best view. Start early, tell someone your plans, and turn back if the water is high.
Gorges State Park | About 4 miles round trip with Rainbow Falls | Strenuous side trail
Many hikers heading to Rainbow Falls walk right past Stairway Falls, a series of stair-step cascades about 50 feet tall on the Horsepasture River. A steep, narrow side trail leads down to the falls and a deep pool at the base. Combined with Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls, it makes for a full day on one of the most scenic stretches of river in the region. Good hiking shoes are a must.
Panthertown Valley | About 1 mile round trip | Moderate, with a rock scramble
Starting from the Cold Mountain Gap trailhead near Lake Toxaway, the trail to Greenland Creek Falls winds through rhododendron and mountain laurel, crossing small streams along the way. The falls drop about 45 feet in two sections, and the best view requires a scramble over rocks into the creek. The trail can be muddy, and parking at the trailhead is limited, so arrive early.
South Carolina side | About 2 miles each way | Moderate
Just across the state line from Upper Whitewater Falls, the Whitewater River keeps dropping. From the Bad Creek access area off SC 130, the trail crosses the Whitewater River and joins the Foothills Trail before ending at an observation platform with a view of Lower Whitewater Falls across the gorge. The property gate allows entry during daylight hours only.
Cashiers Living
Just outside Cashiers, Lonesome Valley has about nine miles of private hiking trails through forest, streams, and waterfalls, with connections toward Panthertown Valley. Silver Run Falls and Panthertown's trailheads are also a short drive from the Cashiers crossroads.
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Some of the Plateau's most memorable waterfalls can only be reached from the water. Lake Glenville's coves hide several falls that pour straight into the lake, and below the dam, one of the region's most dramatic waterfalls comes to life only a few days a year.
Lake Glenville | Boat access only
Four waterfalls on Lake Glenville can only be seen by boat: Mill Creek Falls, Hidden Falls, Norton Falls, and Hurricane Falls, each tucked into its own cove. You can rent a boat at one of the lake's marinas and explore on your own, or book a guided trip with Lake Glenville Waterfall Cruises. Either way, it's one of the most unique ways to see waterfalls anywhere in the mountains.
Below Lake Glenville | About 150 feet | Under 2 miles each way | Strenuous
Just below the Lake Glenville dam, High Falls drops about 150 feet into the West Fork of the Tuckasegee River. Since the dam was built in 1941, most of the river's water has been held back, so on most days the falls are a thin trickle. On a handful of scheduled release days each year, Duke Energy opens the gates and the falls roar back to life. The trail from the Pines Recreation Area off NC 107 has about 700 steps down and back up. Check Duke Energy's release schedule before you go, and stay out of the river, since water levels can rise quickly.
Your Dock, Your Waterfall Cruise
In Glenville, the waterfalls of Lake Glenville are a boat ride from home. Lake communities like Summer Hill, Summer Cove, The Lake Club, and Trillium have community docks right on the lake.
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For many people who live on the Plateau, a waterfall hike is just part of a normal weekend. Every corner of the region has its own falls close to home. From Highlands, Bridal Veil, Dry Falls, and Glen Falls are minutes from Main Street. Cashiers is close to Silver Run Falls and Panthertown Valley. Sapphire sits above Whitewater Falls and the falls of the Horsepasture River, and Lake Toxaway has Toxaway Falls and easy access to Panthertown. In Glenville, the waterfalls of Lake Glenville are a boat ride from your dock.
Whether you want to be minutes from Dry Falls, on the shore of Lake Glenville, or next door to Panthertown Valley, our local team can help you find the right fit.