Dry Falls

Dry Falls is one of the most delightful and popular waterfalls in the southern Appalachians, a spectacular 65-foot cascade on the Cullasaja River in the Nantahala National Forest near Highlands, in the mountains of far western North Carolina. Its famous and unusual appeal is that a paved trail leads visitors completely behind the plunging curtain of water — into a recess beneath the overhanging rock ledge — offering a thrilling, close-up view of the falls from the inside, while staying (mostly) dry.

Set along the scenic Mountain Waters byway in the dramatic Cullasaja Gorge, Dry Falls pours powerfully over the rock ledge into the river below, a broad, forceful curtain that is especially impressive after rain. The short walk from the roadside parking and the unique walk-behind experience make it an easy and memorable stop. Surrounded by the waterfall-rich Cullasaja Gorge and the lush Nantahala forest, Dry Falls is a treasured and uniquely accessible natural landmark of western North Carolina’s waterfall country.

Dry Falls is an easy, accessible waterfall reached by a short paved trail from roadside parking, famous for the path that leads completely behind the plunging 65-foot curtain of water for a thrilling close-up view. Sightseeing, photography and the unique walk-behind experience are the draws, with the surrounding Cullasaja Gorge offering other waterfalls (like Bridal Veil and Cullasaja Falls), hiking, and fishing on the Cullasaja River along the scenic byway. The spectacular falls and the memorable walk-behind make Dry Falls a beloved and popular stop in the waterfall country near Highlands.

Spring brings the fullest, most powerful flow over the falls from rain and snowmelt, while fall frames the cascade and gorge in beautiful color, and winter can bring dramatic ice. Summer is lush and popular, with the falls a refreshing draw. The falls run year-round but are most impressive after rain and in spring; fall color and the winter ice are also highlights. The walk-behind is wettest and most thrilling when the falls are full. The roadside falls are busy on warm-season weekends, so arrive early for parking.

Dry Falls, long admired for its unique walk-behind experience, lies along the scenic Cullasaja Gorge in the Nantahala National Forest near the resort town of Highlands, in the waterfall-rich mountains of far western North Carolina. The Nantahala, protecting the lush, biodiverse forests and gorges of the region, preserves Dry Falls and the many other cascades of the Cullasaja and the surrounding mountains. Made accessible by its roadside setting and the trail behind the curtain, Dry Falls has been a beloved and memorable landmark for generations in the waterfall country of the southern Appalachians.

Dry Falls pours about 65 feet over a resistant rock ledge on the Cullasaja River, where the harder caprock overhangs a recess of softer, eroded rock beneath — and it is this undercut overhang that allows the trail to pass completely behind the curtain of water without getting soaked. The river, cutting through the dramatic Cullasaja Gorge over immense time, drops over the ledge in a broad, powerful curtain. The resistant caprock, the eroded recess beneath, and the river’s erosion created both the falls and the unique walk-behind passage.

The forests, gorge and Cullasaja River around Dry Falls, within the Nantahala National Forest, host white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, foxes, and a rich community of birds, while the river supports trout and the cool, moist gorge shelters salamanders — the southern Appalachians are a global salamander-diversity hotspot. The biodiverse Nantahala forest supports abundant wildlife. Visitors at the falls and along the gorge may glimpse wildlife in this lush mountain forest, and the river supports a renowned trout fishery in the waterfall country near Highlands.

Dry Falls lies within the biodiverse Nantahala National Forest of the southern Appalachians, in the lush, wet Cullasaja Gorge, where the cool, moist forest, the river and the waterfalls support diverse plant and animal life, including the region’s extraordinary salamander diversity and rich streamside communities. The spray zone behind and around the falls creates a humid microhabitat for mosses, ferns and specialized plants. Protecting the river’s water quality, the gorge forest and the falls sustains both the ecology and the beauty of this beloved cascade in western North Carolina’s waterfall country.

Dry Falls, with its spectacular curtain of water and its famous walk-behind trail, holds a beloved and memorable place among the waterfalls of the southern Appalachians, one of the most delightful and popular cascades in western North Carolina’s waterfall country near Highlands. The unique experience of walking behind the plunging falls has thrilled generations of visitors, making Dry Falls a treasured and iconic natural landmark of the Cullasaja Gorge and the Nantahala National Forest, a highlight of the region’s renowned waterfall touring.

Dry Falls is in the Nantahala National Forest of far western North Carolina along US-64 (the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway) in the Cullasaja Gorge, between Highlands and Franklin. A parking fee may apply at the lot, with a short paved trail (and stairs) leading to and behind the falls. The trail behind the falls can be wet and slippery. The scenic byway through the gorge passes other waterfalls. Check the U.S. Forest Service (Nantahala National Forest) for access, fees and conditions before visiting.

The U.S. Forest Service protects Dry Falls, the Cullasaja River and the surrounding gorge forest within the Nantahala National Forest. Visitors help by staying on the paved trail and walkway, taking care on the wet rock behind the falls, not climbing on the falls or the slippery rocks, packing out everything, protecting the river’s water quality and trout fishery, respecting wildlife, and parking responsibly. Protecting the falls, the river and the biodiverse gorge forest sustains both the ecology and the unique beauty of this beloved walk-behind cascade in the waterfall country near Highlands.

At Dry Falls, the trail behind the falls and the rocks are wet and slippery — hold the railings, watch your footing, and supervise children closely on the stairs and walkway. Do not climb on the falls or beyond the walkway onto the dangerous, slippery rocks, and do not enter the river’s currents, where injuries and drownings have occurred at gorge waterfalls. Take care in wet or icy conditions, wear sturdy footwear, and respect the power of the falls. The scenic byway through the gorge is winding; drive carefully.

A parking fee may apply; follow U.S. Forest Service rules. Stay on the paved trail and walkway, including behind the falls; do not climb on the falls or the slippery rocks beyond the walkway. Follow fishing regulations on the Cullasaja River. Pets must be controlled. Drones may be restricted. Do not litter; protect the river. Pack out all trash. Park only in designated areas. Check the U.S. Forest Service (Nantahala National Forest) for current rules, fees and conditions before visiting this popular falls.

The resort town of Highlands and the town of Franklin lie near the falls, with the Cullasaja Gorge’s other waterfalls (Bridal Veil Falls, Cullasaja Falls), the Nantahala National Forest, the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway, and the waterfall-rich mountains of far western North Carolina within reach. The Nantahala’s gorges and forests define the region, with the Georgia line and the Great Smokies nearby. Dry Falls anchors a beloved waterfall-touring region near Highlands, a centerpiece of an outdoor day in the southern Appalachian waterfall country.

Walk the short paved trail down to and completely behind the plunging curtain of Dry Falls for a thrilling, close-up view — best (and wettest) after rain or in spring when the falls are full, or spectacular in winter ice. Hold the railings on the wet, slippery walkway, watch footing, and keep children close; never climb beyond the walkway onto the dangerous rocks. Pair Dry Falls with the nearby Bridal Veil and Cullasaja falls along the scenic gorge byway, and arrive early on busy weekends for parking.