North CarolinaNC Waterfalls

The loop hike takes you to Lower Catawba Falls, Old Fort Dam, Catawba Falls, and Upper Catawba Falls. The Detailed Look provides directions for the entire loop.

Quick Glance

Hike the trail counterclockwise. When you reach the start of a ginormous set of stairs, you’re there.

Detailed Look

Catawba Falls River Trail starts to the right of the restrooms and follows the river upstream past Catawba Falls to Upper Catawba Falls. Catawba Falls Ridge Trail begins to the left of the restrooms and follows Allison Ridge to Upper Catawba Falls. Together, they form the 3.3-mile (not counting the stairs) loop hike.

The hike to Catawba Falls on River Trail is mostly easy, with a few moderate sections. The hike from Catawba Falls to Upper Catawba Falls has over 500 steps and is is difficult (downgraded from suicidal after the stairs were constructed). The hike on Ridge Trail between the trailhead and Upper Catawba Falls is moderate to difficult. There are no steps on it, but it’s steep in places.

I’ll describe the hike in a counterclockwise direction, which provides the shortest route to the waterfalls and is how most people hike the trail.

Start to the right of the restrooms on River Trail. An easy quarter-mile walk brings you to the 103-foot footbridge over Catawba River. Here are the remains of the hydropower plant that once provided power to Old Fort.

From the footbridge, a half-mile walk brings you to Clover Patch Branch, an easy rockhop. Just beyond the stream is the new Catawba Falls Wildflower Trail, on the right. Wildflower Trail, listed as 0.25 miles long, parallels River Trail and rejoins less than 0.2 miles farther ahead.

Continuing River Trail, it’s a little less than 0.1 miles to the overlook of Lower Catawba Falls and Old Fort Dam. There used to be a decent path descending to the base of the falls, but that path no longer exists. You can view the falls perfectly well from the overlook.

From Lower Catawba Falls it is less than 0.2 miles to the 107-foot footbridge over Chestnut Branch, and then another 250 feet to the base of Catawba Falls.

To reach Upper Catawba Falls, you must climb the elaborate stair system. I counted 500 steps up and 7 steps down. The kiosk at the trailhead says it is 580 steps. Perhaps that includes the 29 steps cut into the bank before you reach the upper falls, and the steps that take you down to the base of the upper falls.

The stairs provide great views of Catawba Falls. As you’re climbing the steel tower section, you’ll also get views of frightened hikers clinging to the railing on the inside part of the stairs. You may also see, as I did, frightened dogs and those whose paws are hurting from the punched-steel steps.

From the top of the stairs, it’s about 0.1 miles to the steps leading down to the base of Upper Catawba Falls. Before reaching the steps, a side path turns left and descends to the river downstream from the falls. You can cross there and pick up Ridge Trail up the bank.

Continuing the loop, now on Ridge Trail, you’ll hike 0.6 miles on the newly constructed trail section. This part provides nice views when the leaves are off the trees. You can easily see I-40 in the distance, though I wouldn’t put that in the “nice” category.

The remainder of the hike is about 1.5 miles, much of it following an old roadbed. There’s nothing remarkable about it and it’s steep in places. 

This trail begins to the left of the restrooms and leads to Upper Catawba Falls. You can return on Catawba Falls River Trail. (017A-260709)

This trail begins to the right of the restrooms and leads to Lower Catawba Falls, Catawba Falls, and Upper Catawba Falls. You can return on Catawba Falls Ridge Trail. (017A-260708)