12-22-07 - Great news! Access to the elusive Catawba Falls is temporarily open to the public through an agreement between McDowell County and Foothills Conservancy. Click that link and scroll down to the news and you'll see the link to the whole story. Notice the other lands they are saving from development - almost 1,400 acres in the Catawba River area and nearly 30,000 acres so far in other Foothills areas! You'll also see a donate button. Please click that donate button, show your appreciation and give what you can to make this waterfall access permanent. Payment is made by Pay Pal and is very secure, or click the join link to get an address to mail a check. It is also important that you write the government officials listed and express your support for permanent access. Representative Price is especially important since he is on the House appropriations committee. This access is not a done deal by any means. This is only temporary. Thank you!

12-29-07 Directions - I finally made it down the falls for an up to date trail report. Getting to the trail head is easy. From west of Old Fort, take I-40 east down the Old Fort grade and get off at Exit 73. (The waterfalls are way down there to your right when you are coming down the grade.) This is the 2nd exit for Old Fort. Before the exit ramp ends, take the right hand turn onto Catawba Falls Rd. If you are coming from east of Old Fort, get on I-40 west and get off at the same Old Fort exit. Turn left and go under the interstate. Take the 1st right that looks like you are heading up the off ramp for I-40 east traffic. This is actually 2 way traffic for a very short distance up to Catawba Falls Rd where you have to turn left. You may see signs for Catawba Falls Campground which is on Catawba Falls Rd. Drive 3 miles to the end of Catawba Falls Rd and park without blocking the driveway of the nice folks on the right side. These folks are friends of the waterfall, so please show respect and don't litter! You shouldn't be littering anywhere anyway - only pigs litter, and that includes cigarette butts! You may be greeted by a black lab that sometimes follows people up to Catawba Falls.

There is no camping or overnight parking allowed! This area will be patrolled by the McDowell County sheriff and strictly enforced under the agreement for access. Camp on the river back at the campground and walk the road to the trail head. The river will be on your left coming up the road, then it curves to the right where the road ends. There's a one lane bridge across the river with a chain link fence at the end preventing vehicle traffic, but there's a gap for foot traffic. Head towards the building on the right and walk to the left of it. The building is still private property so please respect that and stay out! Pick up the trail that heads up river behind the building. The trail up to Catawba Falls (pictured above) is fairly easy and about 1.5 miles one way. On my latest trip I passed several families with small kids. There are 3 stream crossings, however and any wet rocks will be slippery! A hiking stick comes in handy for balance.

There's actually more than 1 waterfall along this stretch of the river which looks more like a creek at this point because it's near the headwaters. This another reason why this land acquisition is so important. It could have been sold to developers! Follow the trail up the left side of the river for a short distance until it ends at a crossing. Cross the river on the rocks. It's not very deep if you do slip. The trail will soon begin to climb slightly and the river will below you on the left side. After maybe 15 minutes the trail crosses Clover Patch Branch. This crossing is easier than the first. Less than 5 minutes past the crossing is the first set of falls at an old concrete dam. I've read and have received emails saying it was built in 1923 and was part of a small hydro-electric facility. This set of falls is actually pretty nice! Stay off of the wall - you'll die if you fall off. Just before the dam look for a small goat trail down to the base of the lower drop.

A very few minutes past the dam is the third creek crossing at Chestnut Branch. Look for a small tree with 2 orange dots on it and cross just in front of the big tree trunk across the creek. It's not very deep, but can be tricky so keep an eye on the kids here. Catawba Falls is only a few more short minutes up the trail. You'll see some big rocks and the trail isn't really clear here, but stay to the right around the rocks and come out above them at a nice viewing area at the base of the falls. This beautiful waterfall cascades for more than 100'. With leaves on you can't see the entire waterfall from the base because it makes a curve to the right towards the top. My latest trip was in December with the leaves off and I could see more of the waterfall, but not all of it. The next shot is zoomed in towards the top and you can compare the view with the 1st picture on this page. It isn't safe to climb this or any other waterfall!

Once at the base of Catawba Falls, you may notice a trail heading up the right side. It heads up to a closer view of part of the waterfall. Beyond this the trail gets very steep, gnarly and difficult. There are roots and rocks to hold on to, but if you slip you will be severely injured or killed. Beyond this it gets steeper. There has been a rope attached to assist in the ascent and descent, but even with that it's not particularly safe - especially if the rocks are wet. Coming down is trickier than going up, so keep that in mind.

Beyond the top of the rope is more steep climbing with views of the top of the waterfall. Be sure to stay left and follow close to the river if you get to a place where you're not sure which way to go. Why would you even want to climb up here?? Because the 3rd waterfall is maybe 5 minutes up the trail from the very top of Catawba Falls. I takes me 20-30 minutes to get from the base of Catawba Falls up to Upper Catawba Falls. This waterfall isn't really mentioned much, but I think it's the nicer (and more photogenic) than the other. I hope the trail up here will be reworked and made safer. The pictures on this page are a combination of 3 different trips.

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