10 North Carolina Waterfalls with Easy Access Hiking Trails Near Asheville

Here are the best waterfalls in Western North Carolina to check off of your bucket list!

The trails are all relatively short and easy to navigate, making them the most accessible and family friendly waterfalls in the Asheville, NC area.

These waterfalls are all near Asheville, North Carolina aka within roughly 30 - 90 minutes driving time (or within 82 miles). I have grouped them together by direction so you can plan to see multiple falls in the same area since they all require some driving to get there.

[Click the image to download your free local guide.]

I have videos and more information for each location below:

1. Relaxing Waterfall Yoga Hiking Tour
   Waterfalls Northeast of Asheville, NC

2. Linville Falls

3. Elk River Falls
   Waterfalls Southwest of Asheville, NC

4. Looking Glass Falls

5. Moore Cove Falls

6. Hooker Falls

7. Graveyard Fields Lower Falls

8. Upper Whitewater Falls
   Waterfalls South of Asheville, NC:

9. Pearson’s Falls
   Waterfalls Southeast of Asheville, NC:

10. Hickory Nut Falls

Here are some emojis to help you choose the trail(s) best for you:

👪 = Family friendly
💦 = Waterfall
⛰️ = Summit View
🚻 = Restrooms
🆓 = Free
💰 = Admission required for entry
🥾= Trail Length (Miles) + Difficulty
📍 = Location
🧭 = Direction from Asheville
🔵 = On or near Blue Ridge Parkway
🧺 = Picnic Area
❄️ = Best for Winter
🗺️ = Map/Directions Link

🧭  Waterfalls East of Asheville:

1. Relaxing Waterfall Yoga Hiking Tour
👪  💦  🆓 ❄️ 🥾 2.5 Easy
🧭 E 27 miles / 30 minutes from Asheville, NC

What’s included:
✅ Up-close views of a 100’ waterfall
✅ Historic structures
✅ 2.5 mile easy-moderate guided hike
✅ All levels guided meditation
✅ All levels guided yoga in the forest
✅ Lightweight yoga mat to borrow
✅ Directions to the trailhead
✅ Free parking
✅ Restrooms
✅ Free pictures
✅ BONUS! A FREE year of nature-inspired online yoga to continue your journey!
Cost: As low as $62 pp
⏱️ 3 hours

[Everything you need to know in 2 minutes]

🧭  Waterfalls Northeast of Asheville:

2. Linville Falls
👪  💦  🆓  ❄️ 🥾 0.7 Easy📍 Pisgah Forest/Marion, NC
🧭 NE 56 miles / 68 minutes from Asheville, NC
🗺️ Map/Directions Link

Bonus! Not a waterfall but the caverns are worth seeing if you are already in the Linville Gorge area:

3. Elk River Falls
👪  💦  🆓  ❄️ 🥾 0.3 Easy📍 Pisgah Forest/Elk Park, NC
🧭 NE 82 miles / 93 minutes from Asheville, NC
🗺️ Map/Directions Link

🧭  Waterfalls Southwest of Asheville:

4. Looking Glass Falls
👪  💦  🆓 ❄️ 🥾 0.3 Easy📍 Pisgah Forest, Brevard, NC
🧭SW 37 miles/ 46 minutes from Asheville, NC
🗺️ Map/Directions Link

Note: Looking Glass Falls is just before Moore Cove Falls.

5. Moore Cove Falls
👪  💦  🆓 ❄️ 🥾 1.2 Easy📍 Pisgah Forest/Brevard, NC
🧭SW 38 miles / 48 minutes from Asheville, NC
🗺️ Map/Directions Link

Note: Moore Cove Falls is just past Looking Glass Falls.

6. Hooker Falls
👪  💦 🆓  🚻  ❄️ 🥾 0.7 Easy📍 Dupont Forest/Cedar Mountain, NC
🧭SW 38 miles / 51 minutes from Asheville, NC
🗺️ Map/Directions Link

7. Graveyard Fields Lower Falls
💦  🆓  🔵  🥾 0.5 Easy📍 BRP/Canton, NC
🧭SW 35 miles / 55 minutes
🗺️ Map/Directions Link

BONUS! Th Upper Falls hike trail is harder and longer but worth exploring if you are already in the Graveyard Fields area:

8. Upper Whitewater Falls
💦  🆓  🔵  🥾 1.2 Easy📍 Nantahala National Forest/Sapphire, NC
🧭SW 62 miles / 84 minutes from Asheville, NC
🗺️ Map/Directions Link

🧭  Waterfalls South of Asheville:

9. Pearson’s Falls
👪  💦 🚻  🧺 ❄️ 🥾 0.7 Easy📍 Saluda, NC
🧭S 39 miles / 47 minutes from Asheville, NC
🗺️ Map/Directions Link
💰 Hours & Admission Info

🧭  Waterfalls Southeast of Asheville:

10. Hickory Nut Falls

👪  💦  🚻  🧺 ❄️ 🥾 1.5 Easy📍 Chimney Rock, NC
🧭 SE 25 miles / 40 minutes from Asheville, NC
🗺️ Map/Directions Link
💰 Hours & Admission Info

Note: This trail/waterfall is part of Chimney Rock State Park.

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