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If you love to find waterfalls in western North Carolina, the Asheville area is the place for you! While there are hundreds of waterfalls in our area, these are our Top 20 favorite waterfalls near Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains - the most beautiful and easy to find and enjoy:
1,2 & 3. Our favorite waterfall hike is a three-mile easy trail with a few climbs with three great waterfalls near Brevard in DuPont State Forest. Located about 40 miles southwest of Asheville, this 10,000-acre North Carolina state forest is home to 900 miles of hiking trails. While there are quite a few waterfalls in DuPont, you can see three of the most impressive, Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls on this hike.
 See our guide & video of the Dupont Waterfalls. 4 & 5. Graveyard Fields is about 37 miles southwest of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway. An excellent loop trail (Graveyard Fields Loop) enters the area from the overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and lead to two waterfalls on the Yellowstone Prong. Beautiful Second Falls is just 1/3 mile walk from the parking area. See our Graveyard Fields Guide. Just two miles away is Skinny Dip Falls, a fun summer swimming spot (and beautiful waterfall). 6, 7 & 8. Plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls and one of the greatest concentrations of rare and unique species in the eastern United States are found within Gorges State Park. While there are beautiful waterfalls in Gorges State Park, some of our favorite falls are next door to the park on the Horsepasture River in Nantahala National Forest. Along the river, you will pass Drift Falls, Turtleback Falls, and the mighty 150 foot Rainbow Falls (about 3 miles roundtrip from parking lot). You will find more smaller falls if you continue on the trail.
See our guide & video of Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls .
See our Gorges State Park Guide. 9. Upper Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. The falls plunge an amazing 411 feet! The best part is that you can get a great view with a short walk. Just follow the paved walkway to the upper overlook. The walkway begins at the end of the parking lot and is accessible to wheelchairs. A lower overlook is located at the bottom of 154 wooden steps. More energetic hikers can continue down the half-mile spur trail that drops 600 feet in elevation to the Whitewater River and Foothills Trail. 60 miles from downtown Asheville.
See our guide & video of Whitewater Falls.
10 & 11. One of the most visited waterfalls in western North Carolina is Looking Glass Falls, located along US 276 north of Brevard, near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The name "Looking Glass" comes from Looking Glass Rock, where water freezes on its sides in the winter and then glistens in the sunlight like a mirror or looking glass. You don't even have to get out of your car to see the 60-foot waterfall.
See our guide & video of Looking Glass Falls. 12. Near the popular Looking Glass Falls is the hidden jewel of Moore Cove Falls. Easy 1.5 roundtrip hike takes you to this 50-foot tall waterfall. While the water flow is not impressive, it's a beautiful setting and you can walk behind the waterfall. Since there are no signs for this waterfall along the highway, you won't find the crowds at nearby Looking Glass Falls. See our Moore Cove Falls Guide. 13. Slip and slide down Sliding Rock - or just stop by to watch. Thousands of children and adults slip and slide down this favorite natural mountain 60-foot waterslide in the Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard (just a few miles from Looking Glass Rock Falls).
See our guide & video of Sliding Rock. 14. Linville Falls is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Trails lead to views of both the upper and lower falls. Erwins View Trail, a moderate walk of 1.6 miles round trip, offers hikers four overlooks, each revealing a different aspect of the Linville Falls area. Linville Falls has the largest volume of water of any waterfall on the northern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This waterfall is in two sections: the upper falls and the lower falls, which were once about the same height. Around 1900, however, floodwaters caused a section of the upper falls to collapse to the top of the lower falls, making the lower falls considerably longer.
See our guide & video of Linville Falls 15. See the dramatic Hickory Nut Falls at Chimney Rock Park from the top or bottom. The 404-foot falls, one of the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, can be reached via the easy Hickory Nut Falls trail to a platform at its bottom. As seen in the movie, The Last of the Mohicans. Hickory Nut Falls is a perfect example of what geologists call a "hanging valley": a tributary valley that drops off abruptly into its main valley. See our Chimney Rock Guide. 16. Crabtree Falls is a beautiful 70-foot waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Linville Falls, accessed by a 2.5 mile loop hiking trail. See our Crabtree Falls Guide. 17, 18 & 19. If you are in the Highlands & Cashiers area (about 70 miles southwest of Asheville), see six waterfalls. Most of them are right by the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway! Glen Falls is probably the most beautiful waterfall setting in the Highlands area - and one of the least visited since it's not on the main highway and it requires a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike. Drive behind Bridal Veil Falls. And take your dip in Bust Your Butt Falls. See our Highlands & Cashiers Waterfall Guide. 20. Dry Falls may be last on our list, but it's definitely one of our top favorites since you can walk behind this impressive 75-foot waterfall in the Nantahala National Forest near Highlands. And you stay dry - hence the name - unless the water volume is really high during rainy periods.
See our Dry Falls Video & Guide. For more hikes, see our Top 40 Asheville Hiking Trails. Also see wintry scenes from some of these waterfalls. CAUTION: Do not wade in water above a waterfall. Several people die each year after being swept over a waterfall in the area. 
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