Catawba Falls
- Height
- 100 ft
- Hike
- 3.5 mi round trip
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
Catawba Falls drops about 100 ft on Catawba River in McDowell County, North Carolina. Reaching it is a 3.5 mi hike round trip.
Closures and warnings
Trail to upper falls is intermediate: 580 stairs and a 60-foot observation tower; the quarter-mile between lower and upper falls is equivalent to climbing a 30-story building. Hikers with medical conditions should use caution. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 100 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | USFS intro cites a 100 ft cascading waterfall; detail text also lists a 205 ft cascading lower falls and an 80 ft upper drop. Historic 1920s hydropower dam remnants along the trail. |
Access
| Hike | 3.5 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Parking | Catawba Falls trailhead parking near Old Fort, NC (Grandfather Ranger District). |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Seasonal closure | Upper viewing platform and Wildflower Trail remain closed following Hurricane Helene; additional repairs through spring and summer. Follow posted signage. |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service (Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Ranger District) |
| Drinking water | No |
|---|---|
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Picnic tables available; no potable water. |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Catawba Falls open?
Trail to upper falls is intermediate: 580 stairs and a 60-foot observation tower; the quarter-mile between lower and upper falls is equivalent to climbing a 30-story building. Hikers with medical conditions should use caution. As of September 28, 2026. Seasonal closure: Upper viewing platform and Wildflower Trail remain closed following Hurricane Helene; additional repairs through spring and summer. Follow posted signage.
How tall is Catawba Falls?
Catawba Falls drops about 100 ft.
How long is the hike to Catawba Falls?
It's a 3.5 mi hike round trip. The road in is paved. Parking: Catawba Falls trailhead parking near Old Fort, NC (Grandfather Ranger District).
Do you need a reservation for Catawba Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
When is Catawba Falls flowing?
USFS intro cites a 100 ft cascading waterfall; detail text also lists a 205 ft cascading lower falls and an 80 ft upper drop. Historic 1920s hydropower dam remnants along the trail.
What facilities are at Catawba Falls?
Picnic sites. No drinking water. Picnic tables available; no potable water.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Just outside: National Forests in North Carolina (0.1 mi) .
Sources
2
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina/recreation/catawba-falls (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName / waterfall.heightFt, access.hikeDistanceBasis / waterfall.flowNote, access.seasonalClosure, access.amenities, waterfall.ephemeral false / access.roadSurface)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catawba_Falls (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterfall.heightFt estimated 100 ft cascade)
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