For years, people risked ropes and slick rocks for this waterfall, now there’s a staircase

The upper falls nobody could safely reach

Catawba Falls has been drawing people to this corner of Pisgah National Forest for generations, but for a long time, the best part was off-limits.

The Catawba River drops down the steep edge of the Blue Ridge mountains in a long chain of cascades, and reaching the upper falls meant scrambling up slick rocks with ropes. People did it anyway.

In 2022, the trail closed for a full rebuild. When it reopened on May 31, 2024, everything changed.

Stone ruins of the dam that lit up Old Fort

The land around these falls has a longer history than most people realize.

As you walk the lower trail, you’ll pass the crumbling stone walls and foundations of a small hydropower dam built in the 1920s. That structure once generated electricity for the town of Old Fort, just down the road.

The U.S. Forest Service took over the site in 2006 and opened it to the public. The ruins sit quietly beside the trail now, moss-covered and half-swallowed by the hillside.

A riverside walk shaded all the way to the lower falls

The River Trail runs 1.1 miles from the parking lot to the base of the lower falls, and it earns its easy rating.

The elevation barely changes, the path stays wide and well-kept, and hardwood forest covers it almost the entire way. What stays with you is the sound.

The trail hugs the river the whole distance, so you hear rushing water from the first step to the last. It’s the kind of walk you could do in trail runners without thinking twice.

Where the water spreads wide across the rock face

At the bottom of the lower falls, a flat viewing area gives you a full, front-row look at what the Catawba River does here. The water doesn’t drop in a single ribbon.

It spreads wide across the rock face and spills down in many small cascades, filling the hollow with a low, steady roar.

Steps lead right to the base, so you can get close, sit on the rocks, and spend as long as you want. Most people take their best photos here before moving on to what’s above.

Wade in the pool at the foot of the falls

A clear, cool pool collects at the bottom of the lower falls, and on warm days, people wade right in. The water runs cold even in July, so it doesn’t take long to feel the difference.

Kids tend to gravitate straight toward it. The rocks underfoot are slick, so water shoes help.

Think of it as the reward for the walk in, and the last easy moment before you decide whether to tackle what comes next.

The 580-step climb compared to a 30-story building

Between the lower and upper falls, a staircase cuts up the steep hillside, and the trail rates it intermediate for a reason.

Five hundred eighty steps rise from the canyon floor, with benches and landings scattered along the way so you can stop, catch your breath, and look back at how far you’ve climbed.

Hikers compare the total effort to going up a 30-story building. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, not sandals.

Take your time. The views change as you rise, and every landing gives you a new angle on the falls below.

Wide-open views from a 60-foot metal tower

Near the top of the climb, a 60-foot observation tower rises above the treeline.

The steps are open metal grates, so if heights bother you, the tower itself might not be your thing.

But from the top, you can see across the Catawba Valley and take in the upper falls and the ridgelines beyond them all at once. It’s the kind of view that makes the 580 steps feel like a reasonable trade.

Give yourself a few minutes up there before you head back down.

The upper falls that once took ropes to reach

For years, reaching the upper falls meant climbing slick, wet rock with no real path and no guardrails. People got hurt.

The rebuilt trail now brings you right to it safely, with stairs and viewing decks that put you close enough to feel the mist. The water drops in a clean, graceful free-fall into a deep, clear pool below.

One thing worth knowing: the upper falls and tower sometimes close for storm repairs, so check the U.S. Forest Service website before you go.

Two ways to loop back to the trailhead

Once you reach the top, you have options. The Catawba Falls Ridge Trail loops back to the parking lot and makes the full circuit about 3.5 miles.

Many hikers go up the stairs and return on the gentler Ridge Trail, letting the hard part fall at the beginning. If you do the loop clockwise, you walk down the stairs instead of up.

Either direction works.

The Ridge Trail runs quieter than the main path, and you’ll usually have long stretches of it to yourself.

Dogs, kids and riverside detours on the lower trail

The lower stretch of the trail works for almost everyone.

Kids handle it without trouble, the path is wide enough to walk side by side, and leashed dogs are welcome throughout.

Restrooms and a large parking lot sit right at the trailhead so you don’t have to plan around logistics. Along the lower section, small paths break off toward the river, and it’s worth taking at least one of them.

The river runs over flat rock in places, and you can get right to the edge without any scrambling.

When to go and when to expect a crowd

The falls run strongest after rain and through the wetter months of late winter and spring. Fall brings foliage that frames the water in gold and orange, which is its own reason to come.

The river never dries up completely, so the trail delivers something worth seeing in any season. The one catch is proximity.

Catawba Falls sits about 30 minutes from Asheville, and on summer weekends, that means a full parking lot by mid-morning. Get there early, or come on a weekday and have the trail mostly to yourself.

What to bring and what to know before you leave

Plan for two to three hours if you want to see both falls and make the full loop. Bring water, because the climb earns it.

Closed-toe shoes with grip matter more here than on most easy trails, given the stairs, the natural surface, and the wet rocks near the water.

Stay on the marked path and off the slick rocks at the water’s edge. Because Hurricane Helene caused damage in this area, sections of trail may still be under repair.

Check the U.S. Forest Service website before you head out so you know what’s open.

Visit Catawba Falls near Old Fort, North Carolina

You’ll find the trailhead at 3074 Catawba River Road, Old Fort, N.C., just off I-40 at Exit 73. The trail is free and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A large parking lot and restrooms sit right at the trailhead, though the lot fills fast on weekends, so aim to arrive early.

If you want lunch or a place to stay overnight, Asheville is about 30 minutes west and has plenty of both.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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