NC Waterfalls

The hike to Davids Falls follows a reverse-lollipop course. The main loop visits Lower Catawba Falls, Catawba Falls, and Upper Catawba Falls, while the spur to Davids Falls branches off that loop. Because this hike includes all these waterfalls, the Detailed Look covers the full route.

Quick Glance

Hike to Upper Catawba Falls. As you approach the falls on river left, watch for a side path on the right that climbs the bank. Follow it to Davids Falls, crossing the river four times along the way.

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 starts to the left of the restrooms and follows Allison Ridge to Upper Catawba Falls. Together, they form a 3.3-mile loop, not counting the stairs.

The River Trail hike to Catawba Falls is mostly easy, with a few moderate stretches. From Catawba Falls to Upper Catawba Falls, the route climbs more than 500 steps and is difficult—though much less so than before the stairs were built. The Ridge Trail between the trailhead and Upper Catawba Falls is moderate to difficult. It has no stairs, but it’s steep in places.

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

Start on River Trail, to the right of the restrooms. After an easy quarter mile, you’ll reach the 103-foot footbridge over the Catawba River. Here are the remains of the hydropower plant that once supplied power to Old Fort.

From the footbridge, continue another half mile to Clover Patch Branch, an easy rock hop. Just beyond the stream, the new Catawba Falls Wildflower Trail begins on the right. This 0.25-mile trail parallels River Trail and rejoins it less than 0.2 miles 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 okay from the overlook.

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

To reach Upper Catawba Falls, climb the elaborate stair system. I counted 500 steps up and 7 down, while the trailhead kiosk lists 580. That total may include the 29 steps cut into the bank before the upper falls, plus the steps descending to the base.

The stairs offer excellent views of Catawba Falls. On the steel tower section, you may also see nervous hikers gripping the inside railing—and, as I did, nervous dogs struggling with the punched-steel steps.

From the top of the stairs, it’s about 0.1 miles to the steps that descend to the viewing deck at the base of Upper Catawba Falls. Before those steps, a side path turns left and drops to the river downstream from the falls. You can cross there and pick up Ridge Trail up the bank.

Between this side path and the viewing deck is a side path on the right that ascends the bank. This is the trail to Davids Falls. It climbs steeply beside Upper Catawba Falls and reaches the first river crossing in about 0.1 miles. This should be an easy rockhop in a normal flow. From there, it’s only about 100 feet to the second crossing, also rockhoppable.

From the second crossing, continue another 0.15 miles to the third crossing. This one usually can’t be rockhopped, though a fallen tree across the river on my last visit allowed a dry crossing. You might be able to rockhop farther upstream or downstream.

After the third crossing, the trail swings away from the creek and reaches a junction in 130 feet. The path to Davids Falls cuts sharply right. The left-hand path climbs up to Catawba Falls Preserve, a private housing development.

After turning right, continue 0.3 miles to the final river crossing. This one might not be rockhoppable unless the water is low. Beyond this crossing, it’s less than 0.1 miles to a side path on the left that drops down to the falls.

Now back at Upper Catawba Falls and continuing the loop on Ridge Trail, you’ll hike for 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 call that a highlight.

The final 1.5 miles is mostly old roadbed. This stretch is unremarkable and steep in places.