Waterfalls are plentiful around Asheville and throughout the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville has long been the destination for those seeking fresh mountain air and great hiking. Our favorite waterfalls are just a day trip from Sourwood Inn and include many great hiking trails too.
We love Pisgah Forest and suggest a day trip to view the three falls there, including Sliding Rock Falls, Looking Glass Waterfalls and Moore Cove Falls. There is no entrance fee to the park, and you’ll find many picnic areas along the way that are beside the river. Afterwards, enjoy a fun barbecue lunch at Hawg Wild Bar-B-Que which is just outside the entrance of Pisgah Forest.
1. Sliding Rock
Sliding Rock Waterfall with its sleek boulder is a great destination on a hot summer day. We like to bring our lawn chairs and after a dunk on the slide meander down the river. There you’ll find the perfect spot to set your chair in the stream and read a good book. This shot was taken from below the falls. During the summer months there is a parking fee to enjoy the slide.
2. Looking Glass Waterfall
Looking GlassFalls is located within Pisgah National Forest and can be seen from the road. You can get even better views by taking just a short walk down some stairs. The name comes from nearby Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a looking glass of sunlight. In the wintertime, the water freezes on its sides and reflects the sun.
3. Moore Cove Waterfall
Moore Cove Waterfalls is an easy 1.5 miles round trip hike. You’ll pass many streams and small bridges with picturesque mountain views. This falls is unique in that you can walk behind the 50-foot falls and relive a scene from “Last of the Mohicans”. .
Dupont State Forest is a 10,000-acre outdoor wonderland that was established in 1996. Here you will find well maintained hiking trails that lead to High Falls, Triple Falls and Hooker Falls. The forest was made famous as the setting for the movies in The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans. The forest is less than an hour drive from the inn and makes for a perfect day trip. Since there are no close by eateries, you may want to stop and get a picnic lunch along the way.
For more detailed maps check out this link. For hiking purposes you can plan on a 3-mile DuPont hike to the three waterfalls.
4. High Falls
High Falls is fed from Little River and is a breath taking 150-ft. tall waterfall. It is a moderate 1.2 mile hike from the High Falls Visitor Center. Plan on going in the early morning or late afternoon as the trails do get crowded in the summer months. The falls consist of a wide steep slide over granite which makes for quite a site! When the waters are not high in late summer you can usually “rock jump” over the river bank to get a close up view. It’s also the perfect spot for a picnic.
5. Triple Falls
Triple Falls is unique in that it consists of three distinct cascades of water totaling 120′ of vertical drop. You can access this falls from either the Hooker Falls or the Triple Falls parking lot.. If you are planning to only visit Triple Falls, the shortest route will be from the Hooker Falls access.
6. Hooker Falls
Hooker Falls is loved for its photogenic beauty and a short hike to reach the falls. Below the falls the river pools in a deep, wide basin which is perfect for a summer dip and a scenic picnic after.
7. Catawba Falls
Catawba Falls is a moderate 2.5 mile hike that meanders through a shady forest and passes by several smaller waterfalls. The hike departs a signed trailhead near Old Fort, just east of Asheville on I-40 (view maps and driving directions). The hike trails southwest and runs along the Catawba river, including the moss covered ruins of an old powerhouse.
8. Hickory Nut Falls
Hickory Nut Falls is within the Chimney Rock Park and is the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi. The popular trail trail takes you to the bottom of the falls where you will be amazed at the magnificent views from the base of this 404-foot natural wonder.
You’ll get a map once you pay the entrance fee and enter the park. For the shortest, most direct hike to the waterfalls, park in the upper lot and follow the Hickory Nut Falls trail which is an old road bed that climbs to the base of the falls. For a longer hike, park in the Meadows parking area and take the Four Seasons trail which is a moderately rough trail with some bridges, steps, and steep climbs up to the Hickory Nut Falls.
Come stay with us at our Romantic Asheville Bed and Breakfast
Sourwood Inn is all about convening with nature. While we don’t have any majestic Asheville Waterfalls, we do have many areas for you to relax and enjoy our beautiful natural surrounding. Book your stay today and find out why our area is known as the “Land of the Waterfalls”
After your day of waterfall exploring, come back to the inn and enjoy afternoon refreshments and our Farm Direct Dining and Wine.
Added note: If you plan on visiting some of these parks and waterfalls we recommend bringing some lawn chairs, a back pack for lunch and some good hiking shoes. We’ll do all the rest for a memorable Sourwood Inn getaway!
Come and experience our mountain lodge where you will find
“Fine lodging and Farm Direct Dining and Curated Wine on Elk Mountain“
