12 Must-Visit Waterfalls In Western North Carolina

One of my favorite parts about living in the Southeast is just how much there is to explore outside. And if you give me the option between just about anything and spending the day chasing waterfalls… there’s a pretty good chance I’m choosing the waterfall. It’s one of my all-time favorite things to do on my own, but getting to experience these places with couples on their elopement day makes them feel even more special. Now, Western North Carolina has no shortage of waterfalls—or lists telling you where to find them. So instead of trying to name every single one, I wanted to narrow it down to the places I genuinely think are worth adding to your list for adventure elopement locations. These are my 12 must-visit waterfalls in Western North Carolina.

Psst. If you are scouting out the best waterfalls for your elopement in the Southeast region, head to this post next! I share my top favs in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina

12 Best Waterfalls in Western North Carolina for an Adventure Elopement

1. Moore Cove Falls 

This is one of my favorite waterfalls in WNC for an elopement for a few reasons. First, the photos here will be absolutely insane because the waterfall itself drops over a large ledge. Second, accessing this waterfall is relatively easy and in total is a 1.5 mile loop

• Best for: intimate ceremonies, adventure elopements, couples who enjoy hiking
• Season to Visit: Spring
• Distance: 1.5 mile loop
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

2. Looking Glass Falls

While Looking Glass Falls is one of the more popular waterfall spots in WNC, it does earn its spot even with the crowds you’ll experience in the busier months like Summer and Fall. I added this waterfall to this list because the accessibility is unmatched. This waterfall is located right off of U.S. 276 and is a short walk to the actual falls. Because of how popular this fall is, this is a location that I often recommend solely for portraits vs. an actual ceremony. However, we can most certainly plan a ceremony here, we just need to be more strategic with our timing to beat the crowds that will visit throughout the day. If you’re interested in learning more about how I help couples create a stress-free elopement timeline, head to this post! 

• Best for: elopement portraits, sunrise ceremony, couples who don’t want to hike far
• Season to Visit: Spring, Summer, and Fall
• Distance: .25 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

3. Dry Falls 

I love love love this waterfall because it is one of the few waterfalls in WNC that you get to hike behind. Plus, when this fall is in full flow, you get to witness an insane 75 foot waterfall that feels like it’s straight out of a movie. This is another highly visited waterfall in the area, so timing here will also need to be strategic if you’re wanting to share your vows on the walking platform behind the falls. 

• Best for: elopement portraits, sunrise/off-season ceremony, couples who don’t want to hike far
• Season to Visit: Spring, Summer, Fall
• Distance: .3 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

4. Rainbow Falls 

Now, this is the waterfall for the couple who loves to hike, and wants to plan their elopement experience around the waterfall experience and some wicked views of the Appalachians along the way. This waterfall is 150 feet and is considered to be one of the most impressive waterfalls in the region! 

• Best for: adventure elopements, couples who love to hike, want to plan hours around their waterfall experience
• Season to Visit: Spring, Summer, Fall
• Distance: 3-4 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Dogs Allowed: Yes, though, this isn’t a waterfall adventure I’d bring them too if they don’t enjoy longer hikes

5. Second Falls at Graveyard Fields 

If you’re already planning your elopement adventure on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this is a great option to consider adding to the itinerary. Here, you can do a lot with your elopement portraits because you have access to beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, forests, and spots for a mid-trail picnic. 

• Best for: adventure elopements, Blue Ridge parkway elopements, couples who want to plan hours around their waterfall experience
• Season to Visit: Spring, Fall 
• Distance: .8 miles round trip (from parking lot!)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

6. Catawba Falls 

This is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the region, making this spot also one of the more popular destinations for adventure-goers. If you are wanting to spend half of your elopement day exploring the mountains, this is the spot I’d recommend!

• Best for: adventure elopements, mountain elopement experiences, couples who want to plan hours around their waterfall experience
• Season to Visit: Spring, Summer, Fall
• Distance: 4 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

7. Linville Falls 

This is a waterfall where I often recommend planning your ceremony along the trail at one of the overlooks like the Erwins View Trail. This fall is honestly impressive because it in total reaches a height of 200 feet! The Linville area was severely impacted by Hurricane Helene in 2024, but as of August, 2026 most trails are open and folks are able to access! You can access a live update of trail closures at this link.

• Best for: adventure elopements, intimate ceremonies, Blue Ridge Parkway elopements
• Season to Visit: Spring, Fall
• Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy-Strenuous (Depending on the trails you choose—there are 4!)
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

8. Upper Whitewater Falls 

This is the most “wow-factor” waterfall on this list solely because of how tall this waterfall is (411 feet!!). This is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies and is located just outside of Asheville in the Nantahala Forest. I love this option for adventure elopements for couples because there are a few different hikes that you can choose to experience the falls, whether that be a short, easy hike, or a more strenuous, let’s make this a whole damn day adventure hike. 

• Best for: adventure elopements, couples who love to hike, want views of the largest waterfall in the region, elopement experience planning around the Cashiers area
• Season to Visit: Late Spring, Early Summer for the most water flow
• Distance: .4 miles round trip to 1 mile with the addition of the Foothills Loop
• Difficulty: Strenuous — you do have a 200+ foot elevation gain! 
• Dogs Allowed: YES! However, if your pup does not love stairs, I would skip! 

9. Hickory Nut Falls 

Another towering waterfall to add to this list and is one of my personal favs for an all-day adventure because you get access to the beautiful waterfall, but also Chimney Rock, forests, Hickory Nut Gorge, and Lake Lure (where the iconic Dirty Dancing lift scene was filmed!). 

• Best for: adventure elopements, couple who want more than just a waterfall view
• Season to Visit: Spring, Fall
• Distance: 1.4 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

10. Mingo Falls 

This waterfall is absolutely beautiful during the Summer season because of the moss and insanely greenery throughout the trail, though if the area is experiencing the drought, the waterfall will not be as full compared to the Spring and Fall seasons! For this trail, I often recommend this spot as an elopement portrait viewing because the main area to access the waterfall is located on the bridge that overlooks the waterfall. 

• Best for: elopement portraits, sunrise/off-season ceremony, couples who don’t want to hike far
• Season to Visit: Spring and Fall 
• Distance: .25 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

11. Soco Falls

A two-for-one experience! I love this trail because you get to see two streams that come together to create a double waterfall. This is another location that has limited viewing areas, so I would recommend more for portrait vs. an elopement ceremony. 

• Best for: elopement portraits, sunrise/off-season ceremony, couples who don’t want to hike far
• Season to Visit: Spring, Fall
• Distance: .2 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy 
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

12. Glen Falls

Glen Falls is a great area if you want to actually spend some time here, getting settled in and truly exploring the area. This hike in total features 3 falls that range from 70 foot-cascading waterfalls. 

• Best for: couples who want a real hike, multiple photo locations and a quieter-feeling forest experience
• Season to Visit: Spring, Fall
• Distance: 2.4 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dogs Allowed: YES!

Planning Your Own Waterfall Elopement?

I could probably spend forever chasing waterfalls around Western North Carolina and still not get tired of them. There’s just something about building an elopement day around a place that feels a little wild, tucked away, and completely worth the adventure it took to get there.

And that’s exactly what I love helping couples create. Whether that means hiking before sunrise, finding a quiet spot for vows, packing a picnic, getting a little muddy, or making a full day out of exploring the mountains together.

If a waterfall elopement in WNC is already sounding like your kind of day, I’d love to help you figure out which location fits your vision and build an adventure around it from there. Get in touch below and let’s start planning your own waterfall elopement adventure!