05/28/2024
Reopening on this Friday, May 31, the improved Catawba Falls Trail is a 3.5 mile easy to intermediate hike-only loop trail. As you visit the falls this summer, enjoy the sounds of the water, the deep green of the forest, and the cool breeze off the cascades - but be prepared for adventure!
Most visitors will choose to walk the trail counter-clockwise using the river trailhead to your right. From this point, you can expect to hike:
0.8 miles to the site of the old hydropower dam and its three tiered falls
1.1 miles to the 250-foot moss-covered lower falls
1.3 miles to the plunging 80-foot upper falls
3.5 miles back to the parking area on the ridge trail with mountain views
The journey between the lower and upper falls is equivalent to climbing a 30 story building, gaining over 300 feet of elevation in a tenth of a mile. There are approximately 580 steps. Although the path is safe, the journey past the lower falls is not easy! Hikers with pre-existing medical conditions should use caution.
🗺️ Map and artwork by Uproar Concept
