Check Availability
Check Availability

Waterfalls & Hiking

Our Favorite Waterfalls

Highlands, NC

Glen Falls

A triple waterfall with four stunning vantage points along the 2.4 mile hiking trail. A moderate hike that isn’t too steep.

  • Distance from HAP: 9 miles, about an 18 minute drive
  • Trail length: 2.4 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Bridal Veil Falls

Accessible directly from US Highway 64, you can actually walk behind the falls!

  • Distance from HAP: 12 miles, about a 20 minute drive
  • Trail length: Walk up
  • Difficulty: Easy

Dry Falls

Take a short walk along the paved trail that runs directly underneath and behind the 75-foot falls. This spot is dog-friendly, too!

  • Distance from HAP: 13 miles, about a 22 minute drive
  • Trail length: .4 miles
  • Difficulty: Easy

Bust Your Butt Falls

Pack your bathing suit for this popular swimming hole and natural slide! Careful though: the rocks are slippery, hence the name!

  • Distance from HAP: 16 miles, about a 28 minute drive
  • Trail length: Walk up
  • Difficulty: Easy

Cullasaja Falls

While the falls themselves are gorgeous, it’s worth the trip for the beautiful drive through the Cullasaja River Gorge. If you choose to hike down, be warned: the trail is steep and challenging!

  • Distance from HAP: 18 miles, about a 32 minute drive
  • Trail length: Overlook
  • Difficulty: Easy

Sky Valley, NC

Mud Creek Falls

A short walk up a dog-friendly gravel trail leads you to these beautiful falls.

  • Distance from HAP: 2.4 miles, about a 6 minute drive
  • Trail length: 200 feet
  • Difficulty: Easy

Cashiers, NC

Rainbow Falls

Hike this longer loop to discover the towering 150-foot Rainbow Falls deep within Gorges State Park.

  • Distance from HAP: 23 miles, about a 47 minute drive
  • Trail length: 5.1 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Scaly, NC

Holcomb Creek & Ammons Falls

Encounter two different falls along this secluded trail, perfect for getting away from the crowds.

  • Distance from HAP: 8 miles, about a 21 minute drive
  • Trail length: 1.8 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Our Favorite Local Hikes

Sky Valley, NC

Mud Creek Falls Trail

Go from one beautiful waterfall to another, starting at Mud Creek falls and running to Estatoah Falls right next to the Sky Valley overlook.

  • Distance from HAP: 2.4 miles, about a 6 minute drive
  • Trail length: 2.3 miles
  • Difficulty: Easy

Raburn Bald

Hike up to the second-highest point in Georgia and climb a fire tower at the top for magnificent 360º views.

  • Distance from HAP: 4.6 miles, about a 13 minute drive
  • Trail length: 3.4 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Highlands, NC

Whiteside Mountain

Take this loop trail to the left and climb up to the top of Whiteside Mountain and its spectacular 700ft cliff walls. An easy staircase takes you back down the loop.

  • Distance from HAP: 16 miles, about a 30 minute drive
  • Trail length: 1.9 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Sunset Mountain

A gorgeous hike for later in the day, this out-and-back trail ends at a natural cliffside amphitheater and beautiful views over Highlands.

  • Distance from HAP: 11 miles, about a 22 minute drive
  • Trail length: 1.4 miles
  • Difficulty: Easy

Granite City

A really cool rock among boulders and caves, this is both an interesting spot to explore and a great destination for bouldering.

  • Distance from HAP: 16 miles, about a 36 minute drive
  • Trail length: Walk around
  • Difficulty: Easy

Tallulah Falls, NC

Tallulah Gorge

One of our favorite hikes, this moderate-to-challenging hike features stunning views and an amazing suspension bridge! If you want to hike the gorge floor, you’ll need a permit.

  • Distance from HAP: 24 miles, about a 32 minute drive
  • Trail length: 1.8 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Otto, NC

Pickens Nose

Hike through a beautiful rhododendron forest up to the rocky outcropped “nose” summit overlooking the Southern Nantahala Wilderness.

  • Distance from HAP: 18 miles, about a 42 minute drive
  • Trail length: 1.4 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Scaly, NC

Scaly Mountain

This secluded out-and-back hike is part of the 116 mile-long Bartram Trail, and is a beautiful forest trail that ends at a stunning granite stone lookout point.

  • Distance from HAP: 4.3 miles, about an 11 minute drive
  • Trail length: 3.7 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate
chevron-down