Top 10 Waterfalls in Brevard, NC

When you’ve got 250 waterfalls from which to choose, the competition gets pretty tough. We ranked our Top 10 Transylvania County waterfalls based on beauty and accessibility.

Family enjoying Moore Cove Falls in Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard, NC.
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Moore Cove Falls

Pisgah National Forest

Wind your way through fern banks and mature forest to this lovely cove. It’s all quite enchanting — as are the falls themselves, which cascade like a thin veil over a rock grotto.

Wintergreen Falls in DuPont State Recreational Forest near Cedar Mountain, NC.
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Wintergreen Falls

DuPont State Recreational Forest

A lesser-known gem tucked away in a quieter area of DuPont but quite easy to get to, although you will need to be careful on the rocky trail leading to the base of the falls.

Hooker Falls in DuPont State Recreational Forest near Cedar Mountain, NC.
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Hooker Falls

DuPont State Recreational Forest

This picturesque ledge-style waterfall tumbles into a pool that’s darn near perfect for swimming. The flat sandy banks make getting in and out of the Little River a cinch. Featured in the hit movie The Last of the Mohicans.

Upper Bearwallow Falls in Gorges State Park, near Lake Toxaway, NC.
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Upper Bearwallow Falls

Gorges State Park

A moderate one-mile hike on a well-maintained trail brings you to a safe and roomy viewing platform that offers up a long-range look at this remote waterfall in Gorges State Park.

Turtleback Falls in Pisgah National Forest, near Lake Toxaway, NC.
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Turtleback Falls

Pisgah National Forest

Located a short hike upriver from Rainbow Falls (see #3), Turtleback has a laid-back, calming vibe that makes it a nice contrast to its more famous sibling.

Connestee Falls near Cedar Mountain, NC.
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Batson Creek Falls & Connestee Falls

Transylvania County

A kid-friendly and wheelchair accessible boardwalk takes you to a viewing area above Connestee Falls that offers up a nice long range view of Batson Creek Falls, a lovely 20-foot tall cascade.

Triple Falls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, near Cedar Mountain, NC.
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Triple Falls

DuPont State Recreational Forest

In terms of sheer, holy-smokes visual impact, it’s hard to beat the one-two punch of Triple and High Falls, which are co-located on the Little River. Both falls have been featured in a number of movies, including The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunger Games.

Rainbow Falls near Gorges State Park in Lake Toxaway, NC.
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Rainbow Falls

Pisgah National Forest (Accessible Via Gorges State Park)

Rainbow Falls is a beautiful 150-ft ribbon of whitewater that many enthusiasts consider to be the most striking in western North Carolina. Sunlight catches the mist coming off the falls and creates the phenomenon for which the cascade is named.

Upper Whitewater Falls in Nantahala National Forest near Lake Toxaway, NC.
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Upper Whitewater Falls

Nantahala National Forest

At 411 feet, Whitewater has the distinction of being the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. It’s also highly accessible. From the parking lot (fee), a paved pathway takes you to the first viewing stand.

Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard, NC.
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Looking Glass Falls

Pisgah National Forest

Because of its beauty and accessibility, Looking Glass Falls is quite possibly the most photographed waterfall in America, outside of Niagara Falls. And frankly, no visit to Transylvania County is complete without a stopover here.

Find Your Next Waterfall Adventure

Ready to chase more waterfalls? Check out our interactive waterfall map to discover even more stunning cascades across Transylvania County.

Dive into our resources for safe and mindful exploration of our beloved mountain oasis.