Family-Friendly Waterfalls of Western North Carolina

Waterfalls, whether a small trickle down a rock face or an awe-inspiring 100 foot cascade of water, never cease to be a popular attraction. North Carolina, especially the western part of the state, is home to a number of beautiful waterfalls. Family-friendly waterfalls in western North Carolina include Dry Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Mingo Falls, Soco Falls, and Second Falls.

Dry Falls is an 80' falls located in Macon County on Hwy 64. It's a little over 13 miles from Franklin and the parking area is on the right. A series of steps lead from the parking area to the falls. Dry Falls is unique in that you can actually walk behind the falls.

Bridal Veil Falls is also located on Hwy 64, a little under a mile after you pass Dry Falls. This is a small falls, but you can drive under it in your car. Since this waterfall is pretty light, it's not uncommon for the sun to make it appear to be a rainbow.

Mingo Falls is located in Cherokee in the Qualla Indian Reservation. This one is best seen after a good rain. The path to the falls is short, about a quarter of a mile, with steps leading to a bridge that crosses in front of the falls. Estimates of the height of this falls range from 120 to 200 feet. There is a smaller falls above this fall, but the path is quite steep and not recommended for children.

Soco Falls is located on Hwy 19, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. About 1.5 miles from the parkway, there's a pull off on the left side of the road. It's a short walk from the parking area to the viewing deck. The taller falls on the right is Soco Falls and there's a smaller falls on the left. A trail runs from one end of the viewing deck farther down. It's okay for older kids, but I wouldn't recommend it for young ones.

Second Falls is accessed via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stop at Graveyard Fields at milepost 418 on the parkway. Look for stairs at the north end of the parking lot. The stairs lead to the path to the waterfall. There are two other waterfalls along the same waterway as Second Falls, but they are not family-friendly.

As you can see, there are several family-friendly waterfalls in western North Carolina. So take a picnic and make a day out of it. For more information on these and other waterfalls, I highly recommend Kevin Adam's book NC Waterfalls.