Catawba Falls is a 220-foot series of steep cascades on the Catawba River in McDowell County, North Carolina, in Pisgah National Forest near Old Fort. Public access has been formally managed only since 2010. A rebuilt trail with 580 stairs, overlooks and an observation tower opened in 2024, months before Hurricane Helene damaged it.
The falls
The falls comprise a series of drops and cascades that together descend about 220 feet based on lidar measurements. Earlier surveys noted 150 feet, while other publications including a 2026 state guide cite about 100 feet, or place the lower falls alone at 205 feet; a 340-foot figure includes Upper Catawba Falls, a separate waterfall farther upstream.
Getting there
The trailhead is at the end of Catawba River Road, 3074 Catawba River Road in Old Fort, off Exit 73 on I-40. Access is free and runs from dawn to dusk. The official lot is small. Parking along Catawba River Road or in front of the gate is prohibited, and cars on the road get towed.
Reaching the lower falls involves a 1.1-mile walk one way, rated easy, while the full loop to both falls spans 3.5 miles with 846 feet of gain, typically taking 2.25 to 3 hours. The River Trail beyond it climbs 580 wood and metal stairs, comparable to climbing a 30-story building. In a July 15, 2026 update, state officials confirmed the full loop open, though the upper viewing platform and the Wildflower Trail remained closed after Hurricane Helene.
When to go
High visitor numbers make the small lot the main constraint.
On site
The route has three overlooks and a 60-foot observation tower. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Hikers with medical conditions should take care on the stairs. Two men died in falls at Upper Catawba Falls, in 2017 and 2018, after leaving the trail on the rocks above it. Stay on the stairs and platforms.
History and name
For years there was no public access to the falls, even though they are on national forest land. The Foothills Conservancy bought 88 acres in 2005 and 2007 to create the trailhead, and the Forest Service took over in 2010. Remnants of a 1920s hydropower plant that supplied Old Fort remain along the river. Construction began in May 2022 and the trail reopened on May 31, 2024. Helene's storms in late September 2024 washed out sections and destroyed the improvements at the base of the upper falls. Most of the trail had reopened by January 2025.
Nearby
Upper Catawba Falls is about 0.2 mile upstream and marks the far end of the loop. Flat Creek Falls is about 5.2 miles away and Slick Falls about 6.5 miles. Black Mountain is about 4.4 miles west.
Distances are straight-line.