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Sunday, July 5, 2020

Dry Falls - Nantahala National Forest


Less than a mile west of Bridal Veil Falls is Dry Falls, our second stop of the day on our April 2018 visit to western North Carolina. The large, paved parking area is located on US 64 about 3 ½ miles west of downtown Highlands. 

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a ½ mile trail in the 1930s that passes behind the falls and emerges on the other side of the Cullasaja River Gorge. The trail includes several sets of stone steps and has a concrete surface to the waterfall. Behind the falls and on the opposite side of the gorge, the trail surface is natural rock and packed gravel.

More recently, an accessible viewing platform was built immediately downstream of the parking area to allow visitors with mobility issues to view the waterfall.

Information board in the parking area

Solitary picnic table in the parking area

Vault toilet

Beginning of accessible path to overlook

Looking down on the CCC kiosk from the accessible walkway

Dry Falls from the accessible viewing platform

CCC kiosk

Looking back up the stone stairs to the CCC kiosk

Concrete trail surface

View from the trail

Switchback and more stairs

View of the falls from the switchback

View from the trail

Another view from the trail

Closer view

Cullasaja River Gorge below the falls

One more view

Almost behind the falls

View through the waterfall

Still in the mist zone

Closeup of Dry Falls from the opposite side of the gorge

A wider perspective

Fenced-in end of the trail


Entry to the parking area and falls is free.

The Nantahala National Forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48634.

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