Right now
Right now as of Nov 4, 2026
- Status Closed: on Nov 4, 2026 NC Parks said "The entirety of High Shoals Falls Trail is closed" and waterfall viewing areas remain closed.
Status note (Nov 4, 2026): Closed: on Nov 4, 2026 NC Parks said "The entirety of High Shoals Falls Trail is closed" and waterfall viewing areas remain closed. It cited "continued hazards." The park itself remains open. What the status labels mean
High Shoals Falls is an 80-foot waterfall on the Jacob Fork in South Mountains State Park, Burke County, NC. NC Parks says the whole High Shoals Falls Trail and the waterfall viewing areas are closed after Hurricane Helene. The park itself is open, with no day-use fee. As of Nov 4, 2026, NC Parks had given no reopening date.
About High Shoals Falls
Looking for the other High Shoals Falls? High Shoals Falls in Georgia is in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Hiawassee. This page covers the North Carolina falls in South Mountains State Park.
What is closed and what you can do instead
On Nov 4, 2026, the NC Parks page for South Mountains State Park said: "Some facilities at South Mountains State Park are closed until further notice. The entirety of High Shoals Falls Trail is closed. Waterfall viewing areas remain closed due to continued hazards."
The park's trail list adds that the Headquarters, Shinny, Possum and High Shoals Falls Loop trails at Jacob Fork access remain closed. NC Parks' June 9, 2026 recovery update also lists the Shinny Creek and Upper Falls backpack campsites as closed.
That update says debris removal was completed in spring 2026. NC Parks is now in the planning and design stage of the recovery project. It has not announced a reopening date.
The rest of the park is mostly open. NC Parks rates the trail system "Mostly Open" and lists hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and picnicking. Clear Creek access is closed for construction of a new entrance road.
Some backpack campsites are farther in now because of trail reroutes. NC Parks says the Jacob Branch campsites are now 6.6 miles in, up from 3.8.
For an open falls in the region, Hickory Nut Falls is in Chimney Rock State Park, and Catawba Falls is near Old Fort. Farther north, Elk River Falls is in Pisgah National Forest. Check each page for current status.
About the falls
NC Parks describes High Shoals Falls as an 80-foot waterfall. The Jacob Fork, which forms it, hosts designated trout waters, NC Parks says. The park is in Burke County, 55 miles east of Asheville.
Getting there and parking
The falls trail starts from the Jacob Fork Access, which shares its address with the visitor center: 3001 South Mountain Park Ave., Connelly Springs, NC 28612. NC Parks gives its GPS as 35.5963, -81.6000.
The park is open, but the High Shoals Falls Trail is closed, so you can't walk to the falls from the lot. NC Parks gives no lot capacity and lists no shuttle or reservation.
Road work and closed access points
NC Parks posted that road construction on Wards Gap Road began Oct. 5 and would run for several weeks. It said the park remains open and asked drivers to follow the detour instructions.
Clear Creek access has been closed since March 27, 2026 for construction of a new entrance road, per NC Parks.
The map pin for the falls is approximate. The Directions button routes to the Jacob Fork visitor center, not to the falls.
Map and nearby falls
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OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
High Shoals Falls Loop Trail (closed)
When it is open, the High Shoals Falls Loop Trail is a 2.7-mile loop marked with blue circles, per NC Parks. It is rated strenuous, open to hiking only and not accessible. NC Parks gives no elevation gain.
Right now the trail is closed in its entirety, along with the waterfall viewing areas. Do not enter closed trails.
Other trails at South Mountains
NC Parks says the park's trail system is mostly open. At Jacob Fork, the Headquarters, Shinny, Possum and High Shoals Falls Loop trails remain closed. Check the park's trail list for what is open on the day you go.
When to visit
As of Nov 4, 2026, you can't visit High Shoals Falls. NC Parks says the trail and the viewing areas are closed until further notice.
When will High Shoals Falls reopen?
No date has been set. NC Parks' June 9, 2026 update says the project is in planning and design, after debris removal ended in spring 2026. Check the park page for news before you plan a trip.
Park hours
The park is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in November, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from December through February. It is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in March, April and October, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May to September.
The park is closed on Christmas Day. The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., per NC Parks. NC Parks gives no statement on the best season for flow.
| Height | 80 ftNote: per NC Parks |
|---|---|
| Trail | High Shoals Falls Loop Trail: 2.7-mile loop, blue circles, strenuous, hiking only, not accessible (NC Parks). Closed in its entirety after Hurricane Helene |
| Difficulty | Strenuous (NC Parks); the trail is closed |
| Entry fee | There are no fees required to access South Mountains State Park for day use (NC Parks) |
| Permit / reservation | No permit or day-use fee; the falls trail is closed |
| Parking | Jacob Fork Access lot |
| Hours / season | Park: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in November; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. December to February; closed Christmas Day (NC Parks). The falls trail is closed |
| Dogs | Allowed in the park on an attended leash no longer than 6 ft (NC Parks) |
| Swimming | Not allowed: NC state parks permit swimming only in designated areas, and none is listed at South Mountains |
| Wheelchair / stroller | No: NC Parks lists the High Shoals Falls Loop Trail as not accessible |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Best time to visit | No official best month; the falls trail is closed |
| Managed by | NC Division of Parks and Recreation (South Mountains State Park) |
Safety and swimming
Do not go around closures. NC Parks says the waterfall viewing areas remain closed "due to continued hazards."
When the trail reopens, NC Parks' waterfall rules apply. Never climb on or around waterfalls, because rocks are more slippery than they look. Never jump off waterfalls or dive into plunge pools, and never play in the stream above a waterfall.
Do not try to take photos or selfies at the top of a waterfall, NC Parks says.
Swimming is not allowed: NC state parks permit it only in designated areas, and none is listed at South Mountains. Drones may not take off or land in any state park, and climbing is not permitted here.
Pets must be on an attended leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. See our waterfall safety guide for more on slick rock near falls.
Conditions change: confirm with the official source before you go.
Where to stay near High Shoals Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Connelly Springs.
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Photos
High Shoals Falls FAQ
Is High Shoals Falls in South Mountains State Park open?
No. On Nov 4, 2026, NC Parks said "The entirety of High Shoals Falls Trail is closed" and the waterfall viewing areas remain closed due to continued hazards. The rest of the park is open.
When will High Shoals Falls reopen?
NC Parks has not set a date. Its June 9, 2026 update says debris removal was completed in spring 2026 and the recovery project is in the planning and design stage.
How tall is High Shoals Falls?
80 feet, according to NC Parks.
How long is the High Shoals Falls Loop Trail?
2.7 miles as a loop, per NC Parks, which rates it strenuous. It is marked with blue circles and is hiking only. The trail is closed now.
Is there a fee at South Mountains State Park?
No. NC Parks says there are no fees required to access South Mountains State Park for day use.
Can you swim at High Shoals Falls?
No. NC state parks allow swimming only in designated areas, and none is listed at South Mountains. NC Parks also says never to jump off waterfalls or dive into plunge pools.
Are dogs allowed at South Mountains State Park?
Yes. NC Parks says pets must be on an attended leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
Is this the same High Shoals Falls as the one in Georgia?
No. High Shoals Falls in Georgia is in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Hiawassee. This one is in South Mountains State Park in Burke County, North Carolina.
Nearby waterfalls
Linville Falls29 mi straight-linePartly open150FT
Crabtree Falls33 mi straight-lineClosed60FT
Catawba Falls34 mi straight-lineOpen205FT
Hickory Nut Falls37 mi straight-lineOpen404FT
Elk River Falls46 mi straight-lineOpen65FT
Triple Falls & High Falls62 mi straight-linePartly open125FT
Looking Glass Falls67 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
Moore Cove Falls67 mi straight-lineOpen50FT
Sliding Rock68 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
All waterfalls in North Carolina
City guides: Waterfalls near Charlotte, NC
Sources
The map pin uses the coordinates on the Wikimedia Commons category for the falls and is approximate. Closure, trail, fee and rule facts come from official NC Parks pages.
- NC Parks: South Mountains State Park (closure alert, trails, fees, hours, pets; read Nov 4, 2026)
- NC Parks: Helene Recovery at South Mountains State Park (June 9, 2026; read Nov 4, 2026)
- NC Parks: Park rules (swimming, drones, climbing; read Nov 4, 2026)
- NC Parks: Park safety and respect, waterfall safety (read Nov 4, 2026)
Last verified Nov 4, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with NC Division of Parks and Recreation (South Mountains State Park) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.