7 Hidden Gems in North Carolina: Waterfalls and More!
Cates Compass contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read my disclaimer for more information.
Finding hidden gems in North Carolina can be difficult, but I have you covered!
North Carolina has a lot of waterfalls. Honestly, it’s impressive. I’ve been to my fair share of waterfalls, but not all of them are hidden gems.
Many waterfalls in North Carolina are relatively well-known and don’t provide much in the way of solitude. I’m all for accessibility, but typically the more accessible a waterfall is, the more people there are to contend with.
Well, I’m on a mission to explore more hidden gem waterfalls in the state of North Carolina. That being said, these places are much cleaner and I would love for them to stay that way.
If you choose to follow any of the places listed below, PLEASE follow the leave no trace principles. In the instance you see some trash, pick it up! We all need to do our part in keeping these special spots clean. For more information on leaving no trace, please visit here.
Table of Contents
- Big Creek Falls
- Cullasaja Falls
- Dill Falls
- Milton Bradley Falls
- Wash Hollow
- Wintergreen Falls Loop
- Yellow Fork Falls
1. Big Creek Falls
This is the very first hidden gem I ever posted on my Instagram. Big Creek Falls is one of those places that I imagine I would have spent a lot of time at when I was a teenager. If you grew up in a small town you know what I mean.
This area is a lot less “trodden” than some areas of North Carolina. Big Creek Falls is off of 19W running from Erwin, TN to Cane River, NC.
The waterfall has no parking lot to speak of. To get there, you need to pull off on the side of the road and go down a little path near the bridge.
This spot is perfect for swimming. I wouldn’t recommend jumping in from anywhere based on the depth of the water, but we did enjoy the freezing dip on a hot July day.
Our hosts at Glamping Retro, Sharen and Tony, pointed this gem out to us. Their gorgeous Airbnb is less than a 10-minute drive from here and is perfect for a relaxing weekend. I wrote a detailed review of their property. Check it out here!
2. Cullasaja Falls
Don’t quote me on this, but it *might* be my favorite hidden North Carolina waterfall.
Cullasaja Falls is actually relatively well known, but getting there is what makes it “hidden.” You can see it from the road, but the trail down is much trickier.
This waterfall is off of U.S. Hwy 64 north of Highlands, NC. If you’re coming from Highlands, you’ll need to pass the parking spot and turn around in order to safely park for this adventure.
If you’re coming from Franklin, or anywhere north, you’ll be able to easily pull off on the right-hand side of the road. I recommend putting ‘Cullasaja Falls Parking’ into your Google or Apple maps. The parking is really just a wide shoulder that can fit maybe 3-4 cars.
Once you park, there is a trail that starts about 50-100 ft. ahead of the parking. The trailhead information can be found here.
This trail is not for the faint of heart, but I didn’t think it was as difficult as the reviews made it out to be. Wear good-fitting shoes with traction, have your hands free, and understand this is a short, but steep hike.
The closer you get to the falls, the slippier the rocks will become. Make sure you watch your footing and do the butt scoot if you need to. Better to be safe than to be sorry!
Exercise caution as you get closer to this waterfall. It is stunning up close, but again you can slip rather easily.
Additionally, I saw a LOT of trash at this one, so bring an extra bag to pick up some trash and make sure to leave no trace!!
3. Dill Falls
When it comes to North Carolina waterfalls, this is a pretty good one. In fact, you really get two for the price of one.
Getting to this trailhead is actually relatively easy. Ever heard of Devil’s Courthouse?
If not, it’s an iconic stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This North Carolina waterfall is only about 10 minutes away from Devil’s Courthouse. You can find the trail information here.
The Alltrails map actually shows the trail as longer than it actually is. Most cars can easily drive down to where it splits on the map.
There is maybe room for 3-4 cars here. If there are already a lot of cars here, go back to the parking lot. DO NOT park on the road. It will make things very difficult for everyone involved.
The hike to the waterfall is short and sweet. The only part that’s difficult is the end where it gets rather steep. Similar to Cullasaja, you’ll want to have your hands free and shoes on with good traction.
Dill Falls is GORGEOUS in the fall. I visited this North Carolina waterfall with my friend Rachel in mid-October and it was a treat. Just make sure to leave it better than you found it!
4. Milton Bradley Falls
Milton Bradley Falls is a longer hike than the other North Carolina waterfalls I’m sharing in this post.
Luckily, this one is slightly closer to a lot of major cities, so hopefully, it isn’t too far of a drive for you.
Located near the more popular Big Bradley Falls and Little Bradley Falls, Milton Bradley Falls is a lot less known. The waterfall does share a partial trail with Big Bradley Falls depending on which direction you come from.
This is great to know if you’re looking to plan a full day of adventure because you can do both in one day! If you’re feeling even more adventurous, you could also add in Little Bradley Falls.
The trail information for this specific North Carolina waterfall can be found here. Please note that the drive to get there does involve steep switchbacks but you do not need high clearance to get there (I did it in my Camry!!).
This trail is relatively easy in terms of elevation, but there are a few key things to note!
- A stream crossing is necessary at about 1.2 miles in. Many people look for a man-made crossing, but none exists. The water isn’t super high, but there are not great rocks to walk across. You will most likely get wet, but I simply recommend bringing water shoes or a small towel!
- After crossing the stream, you will head into the woods. It is rather easy to lose the trail here. There are pink/red tags approximately every .1 to .25 miles so if you don’t see one after a minute I would reassess your route. The trail does hug the water while in the woods so it’s best to make sure you can hear the river. I strongly advise you to use a downloaded map (I prefer Alltrails pro) to coordinate yourself against the trail map. The great thing about this is it shows you where you are in real-time and if you are off trail.
5. Wash Hollow
To be completely honest, I’m not sure if this is technically Wash Hollow or Upper Sunburst Falls, but my Google Maps said Wash Hollow so that’s what we’re going with.
This short trail is literally a stone’s throw away from the classic Sunburst Falls stop-off on Highway 215 up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Funny enough, I don’t think many people stop here.
You can park for this up the hill from the Sunburst Falls stop. You should see a trail on the left if you’re going up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and on the right if you’re on the way back. I didn’t see an Alltrails map for this one, but it’s a pretty straightforward hike.
I chose to stop here after visiting Devils Courthouse so I was on the correct side of the road for parking. There is maybe room for 4 cars here. I do not recommend trying to fit your car in a precarious spot here because 215 is pretty windy and you run the chance of it getting hit.
The trail goes up immediately and then to the left. It was approximately a 0.3-mile hike to the falls. You can go to the upper part if you keep going straight at the fork or you can go left and down to the bottom (where the picture was taken).
This is an incredible area to explore as there are numerous swimming holes downstream and a second waterfall off to the left. If you’re here with kids, keep an eye on them as there are a few areas where the water creates a natural shoot. Not something you’d want to try to slide down as the water at the bottom is shallow.
I didn’t see a single piece of trash on this trail so PLEASE pack out anything you bring in. There is an old cable there since I believe this is close to an old logging road. No one is picking up your trash and there are a ton of swimming holes downstream so don’t ruin the vibe for everyone else.
6. Wintergreen Falls Loop
Wintergreen Falls Loop is one of my absolute favorite hikes I discovered in 2023. Located in Dupont State Park, this hike is frequently overlooked by the more popular, more accessible trails in the park.
That being said, this trail is well worth the effort. Wintergreen Falls is the first waterfall you will experience on this loop, but the second waterfall is what I would consider the actual ‘hidden gem.’ The true hidden gem of this trail is Upper Grassy Falls.
Most people who hike this trail do the out and back to Wintergreen Falls. I saw two groups while doing this section which is a feat in itself at Dupont State Forest since it’s one of the most trafficked trail systems in North Carolina.
The trail to Wintergreen Falls is relatively straightforward and easily marked. Once you start navigating toward Upper Grassy Falls the trail becomes a little harder to follow.
I downloaded an offline map for this trail and referenced it numerous times between Wintergreen Falls and Upper Grassy Falls. The trail doesn’t entirely disappear, but there are multiple false trails and pink/red flags are tied up to help guide the way.
Upper Grassy Falls was a true gem because I had it to myself. Even if it hadn’t been empty, it still would have been delightful.
The water was perfect to cool off in and there’s a great sand area to sit out on.
To finish the loop you will need to ascend back up and then hike along a road for about .75 miles. Although this section is quite boring it is easier and shorter than retracing your steps.
7. Yellow Fork Falls
Yellow Fork Falls is located in the Linville Gorge near Lake James. The trail starts off Old 105 which is a gravel road on the western side of the gorge.
You can get to this spot using a normal car but be advised that there are a few potholes so you’ll need to drive slow in certain areas.
The parking for this is just on the side of the road and there are only a few good spots to put your car without blocking the road.
Hiking down to the falls is relatively easy, but there is a large ladder right before you get to the falls. Keep this in mind if you are hoping to go with a dog as you will definitely need to carry them down the ladder (there is no other option).
The falls are gorgeous and relatively untouched. We saw one other group on the trail going back to their cars.
This spot is great for a dip and has plenty of space to hang out if you’re interested in spending some time down there just enjoying nature.
Conclusion: North Carolina Hidden Waterfalls
All of these North Carolina waterfalls are in some way shape or form hidden gems. I’d love for them to maintain some semblance of gem quality, so please do your best to keep your impact to a minimum. Leaving no trace allows everyone to enjoy Mother Nature as intended!
If you love this post, share it with a friend or family member. Even better, tag me in your photo on Instagram! I love to see people’s adventures.