Waterfalls
From Amicalola's 729-foot cascade to the misty falls of DuPont Forest, the Southern Appalachians hold hundreds of waterfalls. Plan a stay near the ones worth the trip.
AnchorDawsonville, GA
Georgia's tallest cascading waterfall and the Appalachian Trail Approach.
AnchorTallulah Falls, GA
A 1,000-foot canyon with six waterfalls and a swinging suspension bridge.
AnchorHelen, GA
Twin waterfalls in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Helen.
AnchorPisgah Forest, NC
60-ft roadside waterfall in Pisgah National Forest.
AnchorSpencer, TN
256-ft plunge waterfall — Tennessee's most iconic.
AnchorSapphire, NC
411-ft waterfall — among the tallest east of the Rockies.
Brevard, NC
Triple Falls, High Falls, Hooker Falls — three waterfalls in one easy loop.
AnchorHighlands, NC
Walk behind a 75-ft waterfall just off US-64.
Blue Ridge / Aska Adventure Area
North Georgia · GA
Helen
North Georgia · GA
Hiawassee / Lake Chatuge
North Georgia · GA
Blairsville / Vogel State Park
North Georgia · GA
Clayton / Rabun County
North Georgia · GA
Dawsonville / Amicalola Falls
North Georgia · GA
Chattanooga
Southern Tennessee · TN
Ocoee River
Southern Tennessee · TN
Match scores below are tuned to Waterfalls — open a different category to see how each stay re-ranks.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
⭐ PartnerReal listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
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Travel guide
The Southern Appalachians of north Georgia, east Tennessee and western North Carolina hold some of the densest waterfall country in the eastern US. Heavy rainfall and steep mountain terrain mean you can see roadside falls, short paved walks and backcountry cascades in a single weekend.
Late winter through spring brings the strongest water flow. Summer is great for shady hikes and wading spots. Mid-to-late October adds fall color around the falls. After a dry spell, flow can drop sharply — a day or two after rain is best.
Good bases for waterfall trips include Helen and Dahlonega (GA), Clayton and Rabun County (GA), Blue Ridge (GA), Brevard (NC) and Highlands (NC). Each puts several falls within a short drive.
| Name | Town | Best time | Difficulty | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amicalola Falls State Park | Dawsonville, GA | Spring for water flow, late October for foliage | Moderate to Strenuous | Yes |
| Tallulah Gorge State Park | Tallulah Falls, GA | April scheduled water releases & October foliage | Moderate to Very Strenuous | Yes |
| Anna Ruby Falls | Helen, GA | Spring through fall | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| DuPont State Recreational Forest | Brevard, NC | Spring and fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Looking Glass Falls | Pisgah Forest, NC | Year-round | Very Easy | Yes |
| Toccoa Falls | Toccoa, GA | Year-round; best flow after rain | Very Easy | Yes |
| Minnehaha Falls | Lakemont, GA | Spring through fall | Easy | Yes |
| Helton Creek Falls | Blairsville, GA | Spring & fall | Easy | Yes |
| Dukes Creek Falls | Helen, GA | Spring water flow; late October foliage | Moderate | Yes |
| Raven Cliff Falls | Helen, GA | Spring through fall | Moderate | — |
| Fall Branch Falls | Blue Ridge, GA | Spring & fall | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| Long Creek Falls | Suches, GA | Spring through fall | Moderate | Yes |
| High Shoals & Blue Hole Falls | Hiawassee, GA | Spring & fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Cherokee Falls (Cloudland Canyon) | Rising Fawn, GA | Spring water flow; October foliage | Moderate to Strenuous | Yes |
| Hemlock Falls (Cloudland Canyon) | Rising Fawn, GA | Spring water flow; October foliage | Moderate to Strenuous | Yes |
| Fall Creek Falls | Spencer, TN | Spring water flow; October foliage | Easy Overlook / Strenuous Base Hike | Yes |
| Burgess Falls | Sparta, TN | Spring & fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Cummins Falls | Cookeville, TN | Summer for swimming; spring for flow | Moderate to Strenuous | Yes |
| Twin Falls (Rock Island) | Rock Island, TN | Spring & summer | Easy Viewpoint | Yes |
| Great Falls (Rock Island) | Rock Island, TN | Spring & fall | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| Virgin Falls | Sparta, TN | Spring water flow; October foliage | Strenuous | — |
| Greeter Falls | Altamont, TN | Spring & summer | Moderate | Yes |
| Foster Falls | Sequatchie, TN | Spring through fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Machine Falls | Tullahoma, TN | Spring water flow | Moderate | Yes |
| Ozone Falls | Crab Orchard, TN | Spring water flow | Easy Overlook / Moderate Base | Yes |
| Bald River Falls | Tellico Plains, TN | Spring water flow; October foliage | Very Easy | Yes |
| Baby Falls | Tellico Plains, TN | Spring & summer | Very Easy | Yes |
| Benton Falls | Benton, TN | Spring & fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Laurel Falls (Smokies) | Gatlinburg, TN | Weekday mornings to beat crowds | Moderate | Yes |
| Abrams Falls | Townsend, TN | Spring through fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Grotto Falls | Gatlinburg, TN | Spring & fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Rainbow Falls (Smokies) | Gatlinburg, TN | Mid-morning sun for rainbow | Strenuous | — |
| Ruby Falls | Chattanooga, TN | Year-round | Easy guided walk | Yes |
| Sliding Rock | Pisgah Forest, NC | Summer (lifeguarded season) | Easy access; seasonal swimming | Yes |
| Moore Cove Falls | Pisgah Forest, NC | Year-round; best flow after rain | Easy | Yes |
| High Falls (DuPont) | Cedar Mountain, NC | Spring water flow; October foliage | Moderate | Yes |
| Triple Falls (DuPont) | Cedar Mountain, NC | Spring & fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Hooker Falls (DuPont) | Cedar Mountain, NC | Summer for swimming; fall for foliage | Easy | Yes |
| Bridal Veil Falls (DuPont) | Cedar Mountain, NC | Spring water flow | Moderate | Yes |
| Rainbow Falls (Gorges) | Sapphire, NC | Late morning for rainbow | Moderate to Strenuous | — |
| Turtleback Falls | Sapphire, NC | Spring & fall | Moderate to Strenuous | — |
| Whitewater Falls | Sapphire, NC | Spring water flow; October foliage | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| Dry Falls | Highlands, NC | Year-round | Easy | Yes |
| Bridal Veil Falls (Highlands) | Highlands, NC | Year-round | Very Easy | Yes |
| Cullasaja Falls | Highlands, NC | Spring water flow; October foliage | Roadside view | Yes |
| Silver Run Falls | Cashiers, NC | Summer for swimming | Easy | Yes |
| Glen Falls | Highlands, NC | Spring & fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Mingo Falls | Cherokee, NC | Spring water flow; fall foliage | Moderate due to stairs | Yes |
| Soco Falls | Maggie Valley, NC | Spring water flow | Easy overlook / steep descent | Yes |
| Tom Branch Falls | Bryson City, NC | Summer for tubing; spring for flow | Easy | Yes |
| Indian Creek Falls | Bryson City, NC | Spring & fall | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| Juney Whank Falls | Bryson City, NC | Spring water flow | Moderate | Yes |
| Catawba Falls | Old Fort, NC | Spring & fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Linville Falls | Linville Falls, NC | Spring water flow; October foliage | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| Crabtree Falls | Marion, NC | Spring & fall | Moderate | Yes |
| Graveyard Fields / Second Falls | Canton, NC | Mid-October foliage | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| Hickory Nut Falls | Chimney Rock, NC | Spring water flow; October foliage | Moderate | Yes |
| Pearson's Falls | Saluda, NC | April wildflowers; year-round | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
Spring has the strongest flow. October adds fall color. Visit a day or two after rain for the best show.
Yes. Several falls have short or paved paths. Each waterfall card on this page shows difficulty and whether it is family friendly.
Most state park and national forest trails allow leashed dogs. Check each waterfall page for pet notes.
Some are free; many state parks charge a parking or day-use fee. Each waterfall page lists known fees.
Only where it is clearly allowed. Currents and slick rock cause injuries every year. Never climb above a fall.
Choose a stay central to several falls. Stays on this page are ranked by how well they fit a waterfall trip, not just distance.
