Watauga Falls is a stretch of rapids on Watauga River in Watauga County, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge region. It lies about 6.3 miles north of Banner Elk and roughly 28 miles east of Johnson City as the crow flies.
The Blue Ridge is the highest part of the southern Appalachians, a range of forested peaks and coves with oak, hickory, tulip poplar and hemlock and spruce-fir on the summits, in one of the wettest climates in the East. Steep mountain streams drop over granite, gneiss and quartzite ledges, giving the region hundreds of waterfalls.
It is the only recorded rapid in Watauga County. Sharpe Falls, is about 22 miles away. Sycamore Shoals, is about 23.1 miles away across the state line in Tennessee. Ten Foot Falls, is about 23.5 miles away.
Watauga Falls is located at 36.2541° N, 81.8563° W. The listing is based on the World Waterfall Database, one of the sources compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey in its inventory of waterfalls and rapids of the conterminous United States. The creek name is confirmed against the federal Geographic Names Information System. The exact position has not yet been verified on aerial imagery, so treat the map pin as approximate. Details on trails, parking and access have not been documented for this rapid yet.