Waterfall Hero Hikes: Upper Catawba Falls (Pisgah)

Upper Catawba Falls is a beautiful 60-foot waterfall near the headwaters of Catawba River in McDowell County, North Carolina. The waterfall is located in the Old Fort Area of Pisgah National Forest.

Hike Length: 2.8 mile
Estimated Time: 2 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Location: Old Fort Area (Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest)
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (3)
Crowds: Very High
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are slippery. Do not climb out on the rocks along the waterfall, many people have fallen to their deaths here.
Trailhead GPS: 35.61389,-82.22998
Waterfall GPS: 35.60197,-82.24753

Directions:

From I-40 in Old Fort, take exit 73. If coming from the west, at the end of the exit ramp, make a sharp right turn on Catawba River Road and follow for about 3 miles. If coming from the east, at the end of the exit ramp, turn left on Catawba Avenue and then a right on Catawba River Road after crossing under I-40. There is a bridge over Catawba River that leads to a Forest Service parking area for the waterfalls. Do not park anywhere else on the road.

Map:

Hike Description:

Pick up Catawba Falls River Trail to the right of the restrooms at the far end of the parking lot. In about 1/4 mile, the trail crosses Catawba River on a bridge next to the ruins of an old hydroelectric facility.

Across the bridge, the trail follows the river upstream. At 0.8 miles, Wildflower Trail splits to the right just after crossing Clover Patch Branch. Go right and the trail heads up along the river past Lower Catawba Falls.

The other end of Wildflower trail comes meets the trail and then crosses Chestnut Branch on a bridge at 1 mile and the stairs begin. It is 580 steps up alongside Catawba Falls to the top.