NC Waterfalls

Soco Falls is a double waterfall where Brush Creek meets Soco Creek. It’s one of the region’s better waterfalls for both beauty and accessibility, though there are a few caveats. It’s very popular, so expect company. And because of its popularity—and the convenient new parking area—it can be easy to assume the hike is easier than it is. See “Special Considerations” below for more on that.

Until recently, visitors reached the waterfall from a narrow pullout just above the falls. It was a dangerous situation. The pullout was on a sharp curve, and cars were constantly pulling in and out or blocking traffic when it filled up, which happened often.

In 2025, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) built a spacious new parking area farther from the falls. It features picnic tables, benches, portable toilets, an informational kiosk, and multiple parking spaces. The old pullout has been fenced off, so parking there is no longer possible. Big thanks to EBCI for providing this excellent facility!

Look up at the mountain across the road from the parking area and you’ll see a lookout tower. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s an old fire lookout—it looks just like one, aqua paint aside. But it’s actually a modern cell tower designed to resemble a fire lookout. I don’t know how the color was chosen; if it was meant to blend into the sky, it doesn’t work especially well on overcast days. Still, credit to the designer for creating a cell tower that isn’t an eyesore.