5-31-24 In early May 2022, Catawba Falls and Upper Catawba Falls were closed to the public to make much needed improvements for safety and access to the upper waterfall. It has finally reopened! I was fortunate enough to be invited to a pre-opening media event a couple of days ago and I think most of you will be excited when you revisit or see these waterfalls for the first time. When the forest service announced plans for a massive set of stairs and viewing decks, some folks were not happy at all. A few photos were released by the forest service while the structure was being built and some people were livid. 'It's ruined - I'll never go back!' was a frequent phrase seen on social media. If you don't know, the upper waterfall was only accessible by a steep climb up some rock. It was sketchy at best and dangerous at worst. But other people were very excited. They knew of the upper waterfall, but didn't want to attempt the risky climb up the rock. In addition, the area had been marked closed in the past, but people were ignoring the signs. It got to the point to where the McDowell County EMS was making weekly search and rescue calls to the area, and there was an average of 1 life threatening call per month. There have also been several fatalities over the years. Something had to be done to improve visitor safety and EMS was all in to help solve the problem.

I saved any judgment on the project until I could see what they had done. One thing that was not known is whether a viewing deck was built at the upper waterfall. I had my fingers crossed that there was nothing that was intrusive to viewing this beautiful waterfall. When I finally got to see the staircase and tower, I was blown away. The stairs begin just below the lower waterfall. There's a really nice cascade below Catawba Falls at this point and you are free to wander up and enjoy this and a view looking up at Catawba Falls - and the new stairs. Speaking of stairs - there are 580 of them total on your way up the side of the waterfall and beyond. Not too far up the stairs, there's a set of stairs leading down to the base of the falls for the view you see in the above photo. Once you are back on the stairs and heading up, there are good size platforms at key points where you can enjoy side views of the waterfall. You can't see all of it from the base, so this is a nice addition to your experience. You then climb steps up a tower where you have a view of the Black Mountains in the distance. Continue on and the boardwalk and steps end before you get to the upper waterfall. At the time I visited, they hadn't started a viewing deck for the upper falls. There is now a small one being built on the right side of the waterfall, so I'll have to go back to check it out. I've seen a photo of it and it looks like it's not that intrusive. There is also now a trail that continues past the base of the upper falls and follows a ridge line for 2.1 miles back down to the parking area making a loop of 3.5 miles total. Please visit the US Forest Service in NC's Facebook page to see a nice map of the hiking area and continue reading below for more details about the waterfalls.

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Catawba Falls - April 27, 2016

Directions:  From west of Old Fort, take I-40 east down the Old Fort grade and get off at Exit 73. (The waterfalls are way down there to your right when you are coming down the grade. This is the 2nd exit for Old Fort. Before the exit ramp ends, take the right hand turn onto Catawba Falls Rd. If you are coming from east of Old Fort, get on I-40 west and get off at the same Old Fort exit. Turn left and go under the interstate. Take the 1st right that looks like you are heading up the off ramp for I-40 east traffic. This is actually 2 way traffic for a very short distance up to Catawba Falls Rd where you have to turn left. You may see signs for Catawba Falls Campground which is on Catawba Falls Rd near the parking area for the waterfalls. Drive 3 miles to the end of Catawba Falls Rd and the parking area is at the end of the road. Please don't speed down this road and don't litter! Drive like you would want someone else to do if it were your neighborhood. Once parked, look for the new kiosk near the vault toilets with info on the trails and waterfalls. The trail heads are on either side of the kiosk. Remember that there is no camping allowed here! After the 8am opening on May 31st, the area will remain open 24/7. Expect massive crowds on the week ends this summer and plan accordingly.

Even though Catawba Falls has become extremely popular in the past few years and there is now the new stairs and viewing decks, it should be on everyone's must do list now that the area has reopened. So much has changed since the early days when parking was limited and the hike began with a short section of 'trail' on private property, then a wet crossing of the Catawba River to pick up a trail into the national forest and on to the waterfalls. The current parking area is on 88 acres that the Foothills Conservancy acquired in 2 separate purchases (2005 and 2007) and later sold to the US Forest Service as a permanent part of the Pisgah National Forest. A bridge across the river was constructed a few years back, then another across a creek farther up the trail was added which make the hike family friendly. Acquisition of this property is the result of the hard work of the Foothills Conservancy and other forward thinking people and the generous donations of other caring people. When you click on the Conservancy's link, please notice the other lands they are saving and have saved from development - almost 1,400 acres in the Catawba River area and more than 70,000 acres so far in other Foothills areas! Please make a donation to show your appreciation!

All along the trails you will notice posts with small signs indicating what rescue point you are near if an emergency arises. In the above photo, it's the sign below the trail name sign. As I mentioned above, the trail is now a loop trail, but of course you can do just an out and back. The river trail on the right of the kiosk is 1.1 fairly easy miles to the base of the 100'+ Catawba Falls which is where the new staircase begins. It begins by following the left side of the river for a little less that 1/4 mile up to a foot bridge across the Catawba River. The river is more like a bigger creek at this point high up the mountains. Once across the river, follow the trail up river for about 3/4 of a mile to Clover Patch Branch. There's no bridge here, but you shouldn't have any problem keeping your feet dry unless water levels are really high. The trail continues a short distance to a spur trail on the right - the Wildflower Trail. At the time of my visit a couple of days ago, there had been a landslide on the main trail past this point, so we detoured up the Wildflower Trail, hiked 1/4 mile on that trail until it ended back at the main trail past the landslide. There were no wildflowers in bloom as it's more of an early spring wildflower area. I'm not sure when this section of trail will reopen, but it might reopen before I make a return trip to the falls. Unfortunately, in this section of closed trail is an old concrete dam with some nice falling water below it. I've read and have received emails saying it was built in 1923 and was part of a small hydro-electric facility. Once the trail reopens, look for a couple of steep scramble trails before the dam down for a better view. I'm just assuming for now that you can still go down there. The last time I did was 2016. Stay off of the dam wall - you could die or be seriously injured if you fall off. Below are some older photos from that area.

A very few minutes past the dam is another bridge crossing at Chestnut Branch. Photographers will want to keep their eyes open for scenic spots all along the river, especially from the dam all the way up to Catawba Falls.

along the Catawba River 

Catawba Falls is only a few more short minutes up the trail and that's where the staircase begins. Just before the staircase, go down and check out the smaller cascade pictured in the photo immediately below. From here you have a view up towards Catawba Falls. Those folks in the middle photo below are at the base of the waterfall. To get up there, get on the staircase and in a very short distance look for some steps leading down to that area. If you are a photographer, you might have a hard time getting a horizontal shot without the staircase in the frame. You shouldn't have any problems with a vertical shot like the last picture below. This area a good spot for isolation shots of the falls if you have a longer lens. Please don't climb on the waterfall. You aren't supposed to for one thing, and you'll destroy the plant and animal life that call that environment home!

below Catawba Falls

Catawba Falls - May 29, 2024

To see the upper waterfall, get back on the stairs and start heading up. As I mentioned above, there are 580 stairs total. It's only another 0.3 miles to the upper falls, but it's the same as climbing a 30 story building! They are saying it is now the tallest structure in western North Carolina. Luckily, you can take some breaks along the way. There's a nice landing not too far up where you have a side view of part of the waterfall. This is also a good spot for more isolation shots of the falls.

Once you pass this you will get side view of more of the waterfall that you can't see from the bottom through the trees before arriving at the tower which has a nice view towards the Black Mountains.

Once you soak in the view - and catch your breath - continue climbing towards Upper Catawba Falls. The boardwalk and staircase will end and you will be back on a trail, but there are sill a few more steps built from 8x8's just ahead. Climb those, then arrive at a fork just before the upper falls. At the time of my visit, the trail to the right going up wasn't ready yet. It leads up to a smaller viewing deck that might be finished by the time you read this. Take the left trail down to the river and cross on the rocks. From here you'll have a teaser look up at a portion of the waterfall. Continue up from the river, then turn to your right for access down to better views of this amazing waterfall. Please don't climb this waterfall either! Below are 3 shots I got from my visit on May 29, 2024.

Upper Catawba Falls 

If you want to complete the loop on the Ridgeline Trail, continue up the obvious rock steps and follow the trail for 2.1 miles back down to the parking area. This trail starts out by heading uphill for a while with limited summer time views through the trees. The views will be better with the leaves off. I think parts of the trail were an old road at one time. It's been widened enough to allow rescue equipment to get to the upper falls. It is quite steep in a few areas, but might be a better option for those folks that don't want to do 580 steps back down. It ends right at the kiosk at the parking area. You might consider it as an option to head right to the Upper Falls and bypass the stairs all together.

go back to the Appalachian and Grandfather ranger districts page

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