Looking to get outdoors during your springtime visit to the Asheville area? A waterfall hike can be a great experience for many reasons: a chance to see spring wildflowers and other vibrant spring green everywhere, fewer crowds on the trails than in the summer and fall, and also the snow melt from higher elevations and the occasional spring rain shower make for more water…falling. One waterfall we like happens to be the closest one to the Inn on Mill Creek: Catawba Falls.
Please note this blog post is from 2016. There have been accessibility improvements made to the trail and more work is happening in 2022 and 2023. Read more here:
Catawba Falls in Old Fort, early April
The Catawba Falls Trail is part of Pisgah National Forest, thanks to a land conservancy, which bought the property from private landowners and transferred it to the Forest Service. The trail is between two and three miles total, an “out-and-back” trail as we say. You hike to the base of Catawba Falls and then return to your starting point. This is a waterfall hike in which you will get your feet wet as it requires crossing over the Catawba River and small tributaries along the way to the falls. Not to worry, this is the beginning of the Catawba River, so it’s more like a stream than a river. Rock-hopping and navigating over a large downed tree are part of the experience!
One of the water crossings on the Catawba Falls Trail
One of the water crossings on the Catawba Falls Trail
The trail meanders through beautiful forested land, with evergreen and deciduous trees.
Some of the Catawba Falls Trail requires navigating around various boulders and tree roots
About half of the Catawba Falls Trail is a level pathway through the woods, with some incline
You’ll also see rhododendron (not yet in bloom in early spring), ferns, and wildflowers, including dwarf crested iris, wild geranium, foam flower, chickweed, wild violet, trillium, and may-apple. Here are some wildflower shots we took on our hike on April 7, 2016:
A fern uncurls in early spring along the Catawba Falls Trail
Foam Flower blooming on the Catawba Falls Trail in Old Fort in early April
Wild violet showing off its colors along the Catawba Falls Trail
Part of the trail also traverses land that once housed a hydroelectric dam and parts of the structure are still intact, adding a dash of history and extra coolness to this particular waterfall hike.
Portion of the old hydroelectric dam along the Catawba Falls Trail
Of course, the destination is the gorgeous Catawba Falls, which is actually a set of two falls — lower and upper. The lower section is over 100 feet high and features cascades of water over several large boulders. Quite impressive and rather peaceful at the same time.
Catawba Falls, April 7, 2016
View of a portion of Catawba Falls from a side trail
The upper section of the falls has a shorter-distance, free falling waterfall. Currently, the Forest Service does not recommend trying to access the upper falls of Catawba Falls and you’ll see signs at the falls saying so. Many people injure themselves on the upper section and the challenging terrain makes for a challenging rescue. We see at least one or two news reports every year of serious injuries sustained on the upper section of Catawba Falls. So please be safe — we want you to return to the Inn in one piece!
Catawba Falls Trail is about 20 minutes from the Inn on Mill Creek B&B. To get to the trail, travel south through downtown Old Fort on Catawba Avenue and turn right onto Catawba River Road, or take I-40 Exit 73 and Catawba River Road is pretty much right there at the exit ramp. Take Catawba River Road all the way to end and you’ll be at the parking area for the trail.
Parking area at the Catawba Falls trailhead
This listing still comes up in searches. It is out of date. Since this listing there have been built 2 bridges– one, pleasantly, over the river at the starting end, and the other, sadly, obviating the scramble over the log. Also new– trail closed for improvement and safety. Was supposed to open 2023, but I haven’t yet seen that hat has happened.
Thank you so much for letting us know! We’ve added a link to an update that was posted more recently. We ourselves also enjoyed the scramble over the fallen tree on the previous iteration of trail when it was private land. 🙂 The Phase 2 work is scheduled to be complete on Catawba Falls in 2024.