We are 1/2 mile to the famous Catawba Falls now open to the public. There is one more creek crossing at Chestnut Branch before you reach the falls.
Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you're going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials, and don't rely on a mobile phone to find your way. There is room for several folks to hang out and enjoy the view, which is good since you'll likely have company! RV All rights reserved. Helps to see start and end points for an individual trail.
You'll hear the river picking up steam as you climb. http://www.catawbafalls.com/. This re-kindled the idea of obtaining public access to the falls, but it also introduced the threat of land development, which would foreclose any possibility of public access forever. GPX is compatible with Google Earth, Still, there is enough acreage to gather water on the plateau above that it's worth visiting any time, even in periods of lower water. given. The trail reaches the Catawba River at just under .2 mile, following yellow trail blazes on a newly-opened section of trail. Previously, the trail continued past the lower falls, making an extremely difficult, heavily eroded and dangerous climb to an upper waterfall. Arrive early or weekdays to avoid crowds. The rustic remnants and ruins of the electrical plant still stand in the quiet, sun-dappled forest today, covered in moss and lichen, and slowly receding into the forest. © 2014 - 2020 Trailful Outdoor Co. // Made in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Go 3 miles to the end of the road.
The middle (or lower) section, which is called just Catawba Falls (or occasionally Middle Catawba Falls) is over 100 feet high across multiple sections with free-falls and cascades. It is licensed by Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. Free parking is available at the trailhead.
Stay a day; week or month, you will have a And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions. We offer a clean bathhouse, We offer manicures, pedicures and facials onsite.
Trail layers and downloadable data are all original works created by WNCOutdoors with guidance from a variety of The small cascade below the old dam may constitute it own third "lower" part of Catawba falls. For two hundred yards or more, we had to hold on to trees and bushes every step lest we fall and know no more.-- North Carolina University magazine, University of North Carolina, 1793 - 1962. An easy trail, it has been overhauled in the last few years and it is in better condition than years past, though it can still be wet and muddy after rains. playground for the kids. However, it seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser. I'm not aware of any yet. Since a slip on that stretch of the trail could easily be fatal, and injuries and deaths frequently occur there - most recently in July 2013 August 2013 January 2015 August 2015 (2 people) October 2015 June 2017, we do not recommend going beyond the lower falls. The trail reaches the trailhead at 2.7 miles, completing the adventure. professional mapping and GIS applications support the GeoJSON format. many other mapping programs, and most GPS devices (such as Garmin). We are the closest campground to the YOUR DEPOSIT ON LINE, YOU CAN PAY THE TOTAL ON LINE. The main upper drop - often referred to as Upper Catawba Falls - is about 50 feet high and is a beautiful free-fall, ending in a split cascade into a deep, clear pool.
The hike trails southwest, ducking into a shady forest of pine and leafy fern. Soon, McDowell County abandoned their right-of-way over a stretch of road through private lands, essentially sealing off official public access (although some folks still came to the falls by trespassing, or off of an illegal access from I-40).
Base layers may not be Did you have trouble accessing the trail, or notice some recent trail updates or storm damage? The flow splits into many distinct channels and goes all over the place across the rock face. Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. In October 2016, a second footbridge was installed over Chestnut Branch, and the trail was re-graded and fortified with retaining walls in places, making it a cake walk for the most part. The GPX format stands for GPS Exchange - a free, open, XML format for exchanging GPS and map data. Click a trail for more details and to download it individually. To view Google Maps,
It's along a stretch of the Catawba River which flows off the steep Blue Ridge escarpment, where the higher mountain lands drop off to the Piedmont areas below. No single drop comes anywhere close to that height, though. We are close to all major attractions in ALWAYS OBSERVE CAMPGROUND ETIQUETTEâ. Though the upper falls are stunning, we don't recommend trying to access them due to the steep and dangerous climb required to get there. Walk from your campsite to the falls! The campground offers a number of tent and RV sites (with hookups) near the river, on-site conveniences such as a camp store, and camping cabins. SITES WITHOUT PAYMENT. Camp on the Catawba River at Catawba Falls Area Status: Open Follow this trail along the scenic headwaters of the Catawba River for a 4 mile round trip hike to the beautiful 100ft cascading waterfall.
Developed by Bluegreen Corporation, which has respected the natural environment in development for over 30 years, extraordinary care was employed to preserve old-growth trees and natural habitats in Catawba Falls …
Stay a day; week or month, you will have a peaceful and enjoyable stay with us. In the early 1900s, the river’s turbulent flow was dammed by a small concrete dam and harnessed by a hydroelectric facility.
We arrived around 10:30 AM and it was getting busy. YOU MAKE Much of this cascade is man-made and will be eliminated when the dam is removed, making it even smaller. In fact, the crossing was impassible during high water. Starting at the new parking area to the right of the restrooms, the trail leads upriver on eroded old road beds, crossing the (at this point) tranquil river on a huge new footbridge installed in July 2016 beside the old power generator building. We are centrally located to all the major
the main campground area.
Then, in 2009, funds for the purchase of this last parcel from the Foothills Conservancy were finally authorized by the Forest Service - and Congress authorized the Forest Service to expand the boundaries of Pisgah National Forest to purchase it. WNCOutdoors data is made freely available under the highest peak east of the Mississippi. We are not a resort, just a family style campground that offers you a friendly and inexpensive place to stay while you visit our lovely mountains. The hike crosses a metal span bridge over the Catawba River, newly installed in summer 2016, at the base of the moss-encrusted remains of a stacked-stone powerhouse on the banks of the rocky-bedded river. The river drops around 600 feet in about a half mile. The hike returns to the main trail, crossing the stream, Clover Patch Branch, and resuming the climb. If you have Google Earth installed, clicking the KML link should open the trail or point directly government agencies, and field observations.
It never dries up completely, and takes on a different character as the water level varies. The area around Catawba Falls is designated as a Day Use Area, so no backcountry camping is allowed.
A new parking area, trail, footbridges, and signage builds upon years of effort to provide public access to this formerly off-limits special historic area - access which literally required an act of Congress to accomplish! Or hike from peak to peak on the Deep Gap Trail from Mount Mitchell to Mount Craig and Big Tom Mountain, following the view-packed ridge line of the Black Mountain range. mountains. This campground is located just down the road from the new parking area. In going to the falls we followed, to the last mile of the way, the course of a stream, entirely without a path, down a very wild and steep yet extremely beautiful gorge. sources, including ensembles of our own GPS tracks, user contributed GPS tracks, official maps and GIS data from We are located in the mountains of Western NC 28762, our phone number is 828-668-4831. It's steep almost to the point of technical rock climbing. Be a Good Neighbor: If any of the other RVers place to stay while you visit our lovely mountains. We are not a resort, just a AND THE ENVIRONMENT. Very beautiful they are, but the upper falls, with their single plunge, are still more so.
We have been serving the public since 1982 The middle (or lower) section, which is called just Catawba Falls (or occasionally Middle Catawba Falls ) is over 100 feet high across multiple sections with free-falls and cascades. Hookups, tent camping and rental cabins with free Internet Access in Base layers provided by OpenStreetMap, the US Geological Survey, the US Forest Service, and NC OneMap. Catawba Falls cascades over a rocky, blocky outcrop, spilling in multiple tiers and tendrils over the moss and plant-covered cliff. Duke Energy company eventually acquired this small generating station and shut it down. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. request. Open Database License - you are free to copy and use By the late 1980s, the US Forest Service owned the land around the falls. LOCATION:east of Asheville, in the Pisgah National Forest, PACK:our Osprey day pack and our hiking gear list, OFFICIAL MAP: Nat Geo 779 Trails Illustrated Map (find it at Trailful Outdoor Co.). We But not anymore! Past the second bridge, the trail climbs again, and there are a few rocks to scramble over just before you reach the base of the falls at a rocky area with a small pebble "beach" below the pool. Donât dump while your neighbors are eating.
Contact us here, and thanks for helping us keep this site updated! It was being accessed by the public over private tracts, but the owners closed it off with a gate. From Asheville, take I-240 E to I-40 E. Go just under 20 miles on I-40 to exit 73, the second Old Fort exit. This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT ERIC CHAMPLIN OR SUMMIT19 STUDIO LLC. Large boulders below the falls make a great place to relax, grab a dip in the waterfall’s cool flow or enjoy some quick mid-hike refreshments before the return hike. More improvements are planned for the recreation area in the future, including trail improvements to the upper falls. Hover over a trail to see it highlighted. quiet and relaxing mountain setting. sole purpose of providing you a safe and inexpensive vacation in a Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route. He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. This fantastic day hike explores waterfall after waterfall in a sun-dappled valley, hiking just over two miles through a shady forest to the seeping wall of vibrant green moss and tendrils of water known as Catawba Falls. Catawba Falls Campground 35 Peggy Loop, Old Fort, NC 28762 Click Further downstream was a powerhouse, with the water being sent there from the dam via a pipe. JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use Google Maps.
offer a clean bathhouse and They are in two divisions. The main upper drop - often referred to as Upper Catawba Falls - is about 50 feet high and is a beautiful free-fall, ending in a split cascade into a deep, clear pool. We’ve loved hiking this route with our trail-loving Labrador Retrievers!