Waterfalls near Brevard, North Carolina

How the list breaks down

Within 50 miles of Brevard as the crow flies, our guide has 12 falls; it doesn't count falls we haven't written up. The list spreads out in several directions. The Pisgah stops sit on US-276, and DuPont lies to the southeast. Whitewater and Cherokee are to the south and west, and a Highlands cluster is about 31 straight-line miles southwest. Hickory Nut Falls, at 29 straight-line miles, is to the northeast, and Catawba, at 37, is the farthest.

One falls here is only partly open. The Triple Falls Trail in DuPont reopened on May 21, 2025, after Hurricane Helene. Even so, the N.C. Forest Service closures page showed the stairs to the base and the Turkey Knob bridge still shut as of Oct 27, 2026. Tree work was also set to close the High Falls kiosk path for a day on Nov 6, 2026, with Nov 10 as the rain date.

Three stops on US-276

Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock share a creek: both are on Looking Glass Creek. Moore Cove Falls is just up the road. Its trailhead parking is on the paved shoulder of US 276, one mile north of Looking Glass Falls, with room for about 18 cars, per the Forest Service.

Parking is the pinch point on this stretch. The Looking Glass lot is small, and the Forest Service asks drivers not to park in the road. Sliding Rock has one lot, which closes when full until spaces open.

Rules differ from stop to stop. Dogs are allowed on a 6-ft leash at Looking Glass, while Moore Cove's Forest Service page lists no dog rule. At Sliding Rock, pets are not allowed in the swimming area, except service animals. None of the three has restrooms open now: Looking Glass and Moore Cove list none, and Sliding Rock's close after Labor Day.

DuPont State Recreational Forest, 7 straight-line miles

Triple Falls & High Falls are 7 straight-line miles southeast of Brevard, in a state forest run by the N.C. Forest Service. Wikipedia puts each falls at 125 ft. From the Hooker Falls lot, Triple Falls is half a mile one way. The stairs to its base were still closed on Oct 27, 2026, per the N.C. Forest Service. Taking in Hooker, Triple and High Falls adds up to 2.2 miles, per Explore Asheville.

The N.C. Forest Service lists no entry or parking fee, and dogs are allowed on a leash. The catch is space: summer lots are often full by 9:30 a.m. The forest is open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Forest rules keep people out of the water near the falls. You may not swim or wade in the 300 ft upstream of a waterfall, and climbing, jumping, sliding and diving at the falls are banned.

The Highlands cluster, about 31 miles as the crow flies

Three falls near Highlands, in Nantahala National Forest, lie 31 to 32 miles from Brevard as the crow flies. Bridal Veil Falls is beside US-64, and the old roadbed behind it is open to walkers only. No official source lists a fee. Don't mix it up with the separate Bridal Veil Falls in DuPont, which has no page here.

Dry Falls is a 75-ft falls you can also walk behind, on a 0.2-mile paved path with several flights of stairs, per the Highlands Chamber. Day use costs $3 per vehicle. A $15 annual pass is valid at Dry Falls, Whitewater Falls and Whiteside Mountain.

Glen Falls is a set of three cascades. The Highlands Chamber says the upper-falls deck is about 1 mile round trip and the lowest falls about 2 miles round trip. The trail drops first, so the hike back is uphill.

Whitewater, Chimney Rock, Cherokee and Old Fort

Whitewater Falls is 22 straight-line miles from Brevard, near Cashiers. Both the Forest Service and Wikipedia list the upper falls at 411 ft. A paved walkway of about half a mile round trip reaches the upper overlook.

Hickory Nut Falls, 29 straight-line miles northeast in Chimney Rock State Park, drops 404 ft, per NC Parks. Its trail is inside the Chimney Rock attraction, where a 1-day adult ticket is $17 as listed Nov 7, 2026. The operator gives the walk as 1.4 miles round trip. It is open, as far as we can tell: NC Parks did not list it among closed trails on Nov 4, 2026.

Soco Falls and Mingo Falls, at 30 and 36 straight-line miles, are on the Qualla Boundary, the land of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Visit Cherokee lists both as free. Catawba Falls, 37 miles out in a straight line near Old Fort, has the longest trail on this list: a 3.5-mile loop.

For falls elsewhere in the state, see our North Carolina waterfalls guide.

Waterfalls near Brevard: FAQ