Surely, everyone would agree that waterfalls make for an extraordinary view.
For people who love to get into a flowing stream or remain under that thorough power of water pouring down from a stature, it is practically challenging to resist a nearby waterfall visit.
Most hill stations or treks you will be a part of will have waterfalls nearby. In any case, some are radiant to the point that they stand apart from the rest. Here are some extraordinary waterfalls near Boone, NC.
10 Best Waterfalls Near Boone NC
One of the most common ways to take in the breathtaking nature of the North Carolina High Country is to locate and photograph waterfalls. Although other seasons work, spring is the ideal time to see these cascades at their most spectacular. The falls are frequently frozen throughout the winter.
The tallest mountains in the East may be found in the Boone Area, along with an incredible variety of locations where you can enjoy the sight and sound of falling water. The best part is that everyone may choose from options that include noteworthy cataracts that are accessible via short, simple hikes.
1. Boone Fork Falls
The Boone Fork Falls is situated on the difficult 5-mile circle of the Boone Fork Trail. Boone Fork Falls is situated on the Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 296.4 at Julian Price Park Picnic Area.
As you venture to every part of the Boone Fork Trail, you will climb through an old lake bed where rich soil underpins an assortment of greenery.
The field is extraordinary for flying creature viewing!
The path will lead you to the 25-foot Boone Fork Falls, hurrying and falling over vehicle-estimated rocks. Likewise, this point is known by the epithet Hebron Colony Rocks, after the close by Hebron Colony Ministries on Old Turnpike Road.
Note that no vehicles can leave on Old Turnpike Road, checked by State Highway Patrol. If it’s not too much trouble, park instead at Julian Price Park and climb the path from that point.
The Boone Fork Trail has many small swimming openings situated ways off the path; some have elusive rocks that you can slide down at your risk. The falls are found 25 feet down the path from the Julian Price Park cookout zone.
You will see a path marker showing the diversion to Hebron Colony Falls about a mile down the path. These famous falls are excellent spots to play in the water as well.
2. Cascade Falls
This incredible waterfall, referred to as The Cascades, is situated on Falls Creek, around 15 miles east of Boone, NC, at milepost 271.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Park at the Tompkins Knob Parking Area, Milepost 272.5, about 8.4 miles north of Deep Gap and US 421, to begin your journey to Tompkins Knob.
It’s a genuinely straightforward 1.2-mile climb to two distinct neglects, even though there are loads of steps.
Just as a waterway shoots over the cliff, the path meanders over the ridge above Piedmont to Falls Creek. Twenty interpretive plaques along the trail provide information about Blue Ridge’s trees. All of the major species can be seen here.
The Cascades Route begins next to a bathroom on a paved trail (open May through October).
A few benches and placards about the dogwood, tulip tree, pignut, black locust, serviceberry, mountain laurel, white oak, flaming azalea, minnie bush, highbush blueberry, and chestnut oak may be found throughout the route following the scenic stream.
Take the gravel road into the woods to reach Jesse Brown’s cabin, a late nineteenth-century dwelling, from the Tompkins Knob Parking Area. Examine the beautiful fireplace within.
A spring that bubbles up out of the earth by the woods flows through a drooping springhouse. Take a quick detour to explore this intriguing building. Watch as the springhouse’s water, which is around 40 degrees, is used to cool the food kept within the formerly weatherproofed cabin effectively.
A “Baptist church, “a shelter used when circuit-riding preachers were available, was located further up the grassy hill.
3. Elk River Falls
Situated close to Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, and the small town of Elk Park is the impressive Elk River Falls (in the past called Big Falls) in Pisgah National Forest.
Elk River Road in Elk Park is located on NC-105 S, about 30 miles from Boone. This 50-ft. North Carolina mountain waterfalls over a stone cliff and into a beautiful oval pool.
The path to the highest point of the falls is a simple five-minute walk, making it a great spot for picnicking. You can safely remain on a level stone zone and watch the waterfall plunge over the cliff.
Elk Falls is the most impressive waterfall from a sheer volume angle.
The plunge pool is incredibly enormous and will be occupied in the late spring months. Downstream of the pool are a few short (5 ft) falls before the waterway levels out. Further downstream is Twisted Falls.
Below the falls, there is a beach area where swimming is safe. Visitors should be wary of the dangerous currents in front of the falls, which have resulted in serious accidents and even fatalities.
For your good, practice alertness and trustworthiness at the falls because, while remarkable, it tends to be dangerous.
4. Glen Burney Falls
Glen Burney Falls, a magnificent 50-foot waterfall close to Blowing Rock’s downtown, is about 8 miles on US-321 S from Boone.
The path to these falls is supposed to be an old Native American pathway and drops steeply through John’s River Gorge. The path is under 2 miles and offers a few minor falls en route, making for good photos.
The trailhead is situated in the core of Blowing Rock at Annie Gannon Park on Laurel Lane, only two squares from Main Street.
The 2.7-mile roundtrip walk leads visitors to Glen Burney Falls, Glen Marie Falls, and Cascade Falls from Annie Cannon Gardens.
On New Year’s Creek, below Mayview Lake, are the falls. They plunge into the John’s River Gorge after tumbling over the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
You may trek along the top of all three of these Blowing Rock waterfalls on a lovely but challenging trail. Since they are so close to the falls’ brink, more caution is needed in these regions.
The journey leads visitors past the lovely Annie Cannon Gardens, which in the spring and early summer is home to North Carolina wildflowers, and by “The Ruins,” Blowing Rock’s sewage treatment facility from the 1920s.
5. Crab Orchard Falls
A 1-mile roundtrip climb takes you to the lovely Crab Orchard Falls waterfall in Valle Crucis, only 9 miles from Sugar Mountain.
While the path is short, it has some dangerous areas, so be cautious.
It’s on private property at the Valle Crucis Conference Center, yet they invite waterfall trackers and have a stopping territory at the trailhead.
From the parking area near the Holy Cross’s Church, follow a rock street past a portion of the notable structures.
You’ll see a waterfall sign to-go option to slide to the base of the falls.
Large boulders and thick woodland surround the falls, and there are various places to watch them from. It is covered in wildflowers throughout the summer. The hike out is mostly downhill, which is the nicest part!
As you approach the falls, you’ll get a winged creature’s eye perspective on the falls beneath. A wooden promenade makes the last segment by stones a lot simpler, yet it may be dangerous when wet.
Note: Dogs are permitted here but must be on a leash.
6. Linville Falls
Linville Falls are the tallest waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 1.5 miles off the Parkway, past the Linville Falls Campground, is a tiny visitor center and parking lot where you can begin the walks to Linville Falls.
Leave the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 316.4, about a mile north of the intersection of US 221 and the Blue Ridge Parkway in the town of Linville Falls, or approximately 11 miles south of the intersection of US 221 and the Blue Ridge Parkway at Grandfather Mountain close to Linville, to access the spur road.
The best views of this magnificent waterfall, the Parkway’s greatest by volume of water, can be had by bearing right across the bridge from the visitor center (restrooms available from May through October).
The simple 0.8-mile trail to the upper falls prompts a recently developed yard where you can see the waterfall. The trail ascends through scrubby, higher vegetation to rocky gorge viewpoints. Go left at a rain shelter 0.6 miles from the visitor center and descend steep steps for 0.1 miles to the lofty perch of Chimney View for a fantastic fall view.
Two primary paths start from the guest community. The more exhausting 0.5-mile trail to the lower falls will lead you all over steep steps to a compensating view from over the falls.
The falls move in a few unmistakable advances, starting in a twin arrangement of upper falls, dropping down a bit of crevasse, and finishing in a high-volume 45-foot (14 m) drop.
It is named for the Linville River, which goes over the falls.
Linville Falls denotes the start of the Linville Gorge, shaped by the Linville River, which proceeds after the falls before at last closure close to Lake James.
As per personnel at Linville Falls, the falls were utilized by nearby Native Americans to execute detainees. Nobody is known to have endured a fall over the last dive, aside from kayaker Pat Keller in 2010.
7. Laurel Creek Falls
Laurel Creek Falls is a well-known waterfall trail and swimming opening on the Watauga River.
A short way across the road from the stopping zone will take you to the lower falls. On US Highway 74, about 11 miles from downtown Boone, are the 30-foot falls. Stickers and t-shirts from souvenir stores frequently show this well-known neighborhood hangout.
Directions: From the convergence of US 321 and US 421 in midtown Boone, head north on US 321/421 for 6.4 miles. Take a left when the expressway parts, and proceed on US 321 north for 5.4 miles, proceed on the way to get to the Upper Falls.
Soon after US 321 crosses the waterway, there is a rock-stopping zone on the right, which gives admittance to the plain path on the left.
The distance between the main road and the falls is only 200 feet. Because of its former proximity to a dumpster, which tourists used as a reference point for the unmarked trail, locals refer to the waterfall as Trash Can Falls.
There are plenty of boulders to climb on, logs to cross, and swimming areas at Laurel Creek Falls. Additionally, there is a sizable, level space where camping and bonfires are popular activities.
Despite the fact that the hike is very simple, hikers should be cautious of poison ivy and slick rocks near the falls.
8. Otter Falls
In Valley Creek, there is a lovely 25-foot waterfall called Otter Falls. In Seven Devils, at 825 Skyland Drive, about 12 miles south of Boone on NC-105 S, are the falls. Otter Falls is accessible through Aishihik Road.
The Otter Falls route is a recent attraction in the High Country; it debuted in 2015. For quite some time, the site of the falls has been visited by admirers of the outside because of its pleasant nature, birdlife (American scoop and harlequin duck, among others), and sportfishing openings.
It is possible to observe Otter Falls from a number of vantage spots along the trail as it thunders down moss-covered rocks. The most impressive view, however, may be found at the trail’s freshly built observation platform.
Visitors can get a close-up view of the falls by hiking a 1.2-mile roundtrip to this observation deck, which is a moderately challenging trail. The route to Otter Falls is well-marked and rather simple to follow.
At the falls, there are boulders and flat rocks that trekkers can sit on to admire the scenery. They can then unwind by dipping their feet in the creek before starting the strenuous climb back to the parking area.
Fun Fact: An engraved scene of Otter Falls at mile 996 of the Alaska Highway, made by C. Gordon Yorke, is portrayed on the $5 banknote of the 1954 Series of banknotes of the Canadian dollar.
9. Silvervale Falls
Silvervale Falls is an 80-foot side road waterfall situated in Caldwell County, close to Blowing Rock, NC.
There is a parking spot directly close to the waterfall, so there is no reason to climb to this waterfall. In actuality, one can see them directly from the parking lot.
Although the falls themselves are fairly lovely, graffiti is frequently painted on the nearby rocks.
Silvervale Falls is best visited in the first part of the day or at nightfall for the best photos.
Silvervale Falls isn’t a long way from Blowing Rock, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Tweetsie Railroad, so if you’re in the area, this waterfall would make an incredible de route to your excursion.
Directions: Travel 6 miles south of The Green Park Inn on Hwy 321 from Blowing Rock, and take a right on Waterfalls Rd, SR 1372. The falls are 1.7 miles down on the left, with a bit of draw-off next to them.
10. Green Mountain Creek Falls
Green Mountain Creek Falls is the primary side-of-the-road waterfall close to Blowing Rock. The 20-foot waterfall sits only eight miles from Main Street on Highway 221, known as the Little Parkway.
Green Mountain Creek Falls sits in a twist in the street and keeps on streaming under it. Be that as it may, this view is anything but difficult to reach and see.
The water from the falls pours into a creek on the other side of the road after cascading via Green Mountain Creek.
There are viewing areas from both sides of the road, and the waterfall is situated on the right side of the road. Just past the waterfall, at the corner of a pull-out, is an outstanding vantage position.
There is a small pool at the base of these easily accessible falls.
It’s possible that you’ll have the waterfall to yourself because it’s not frequently crowded.
You can leave your vehicle across the twisting street from the waterfall.
Bottom-line
So get going, pack your bags, head out to the waterfalls near Boone, NC, and witness the wonders of nature!
A Note of Caution:
Be careful around waterfalls if you don’t adhere to common sense safety precautions. People lose their lives yearly in cascades in state parks, national parks, national forests, and on private property in the United States.
Always remain inside the approved waterfall trailside viewing area. Never attempt to scale the frequently slick rocks surrounding a waterfall, especially at the top. Even rocks that appear dry can be incredibly slippery, despite how slippery mossy green rocks appear to be.
Parents, kindly keep an eye on your kids and leash your dogs.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
