Nantahala Falls is a stretch of rapids on Nantahala River in Swain County, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge region. It lies about 10.7 miles southwest of Bryson City and roughly 47.1 miles southeast of Knoxville 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. Nantahala River carries 2 recorded rapids along its course.
Swain County holds 2 recorded rapids, and several are close by. Wesser Falls, is under a mile away.
Nantahala Falls is located at 35.3325° N, 83.5955° 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 position was verified on aerial imagery. Details on trails, parking and access have not been documented for this rapid yet.