Start With the Right Waterfall
Not every waterfall requires a long hike. Some can be enjoyed with relatively little walking, while others are destinations worth building half a day around. Use the guide below to compare waterfalls by accessibility, hiking difficulty, approximate visit length, family friendliness, swimming opportunities where permitted, photography and nearby attractions.
Featured Waterfalls
Dry Falls
Walk behind a roughly 75-foot waterfall along a developed path. One of the most memorable stops near Highlands.
Bridal Veil Falls
A quick roadside stop along US-64 where water spills from an overhanging rock ledge beside the highway.
Glen Falls
A forest hike following a series of cascades with multiple viewpoints. Moderate effort with significant elevation change.
Silver Run Falls
An easy, family-friendly walk to a roughly 25-foot waterfall and pool. Great for a relaxed outing near Cashiers.
Upper Whitewater Falls
One of the tallest waterfalls in the eastern US at approximately 411 feet, with a paved path to the main overlook.
High Falls
A scenic waterfall in the DuPont State Recreation Forest area, popular with hikers and photographers.
Secret Falls
A quieter, less-crowded waterfall experience for visitors willing to explore a little further off the main routes.
Rainbow Falls
A rewarding hike to a dramatic waterfall, approximately 1.5 miles one way (about 3 miles round trip).
Turtleback Falls
A popular sliding waterfall and swimming spot near Rainbow Falls for visitors seeking a more adventurous stop.
Lake Glenville Waterfalls
Several waterfalls flow toward Lake Glenville, making a boat ride one of the most distinctive ways to see them.
Don't Try to See Everything in One Day
One of the easiest mistakes to make in the mountains is creating an itinerary that looks easy on a map but becomes exhausting once mountain roads, parking and hiking are involved. Pick two or three waterfalls in the same general area and leave yourself enough time to actually enjoy them.
Make Waterfalls Part of the Vacation
Yellow Mountain Vista sits near the center of one of Western North Carolina's best waterfall regions, making it easy to build different waterfall adventures into multiple days of your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest waterfall to visit near Cashiers?
Silver Run Falls is one of the easiest waterfall experiences in the area — a short, relatively flat walk from Highway 107 south of Cashiers.
Can you walk behind a waterfall near Highlands?
Yes. At Dry Falls, a developed path passes behind the curtain of water, making it one of the most memorable waterfall stops near Highlands.
Which waterfall has the biggest view?
Upper Whitewater Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the eastern United States at approximately 411 feet, with a paved path to the main overlook.
Make Yellow Mountain Vista Your Mountain Base
Explore Cashiers, Highlands, Lake Glenville and the surrounding mountains by day — then come back to a real family mountain home at 4,400 feet.