My son and I hiked to High Falls NC near Glenville, on October 23, 2020, and it quickly became the highlight of our week in the area. We were staying in a rental house only about 20 minutes away, making this spectacular waterfall an easy addition to our itinerary. Of all the waterfalls we visited during our stay, High Falls was by far my favorite.

The hike to High Falls NC is an easy 4-mile round trip with a nice variety of scenery. The first mile follows a gravel road before the trail continues for just under a mile alongside a beautiful river. The peaceful river views and colorful autumn foliage made this section especially enjoyable.

As we got closer to the waterfall, the trail became a little more challenging. For the final 0.2 mile, we had to navigate around fallen and dead trees blocking portions of the path, followed by a few rocky sections before finally reaching the falls. Don’t turn around when you reach the fallen trees! They do obstruct the trail, but you can carefully make your way around them. The hike becomes easy to moderate near the end, but nothing we encountered was particularly difficult.

About a quarter-mile before reaching High Falls, keep an eye out for a short side trail on the right leading to another beautiful waterfall. It’s easy to miss, but the brief detour is absolutely worth taking. I recommend stopping to enjoy this smaller cascade before continuing toward the main attraction.

By the time we reached High Falls, I was completely captivated by the scenery. The waterfall rushing through the surrounding forest, combined with the brilliant fall colors, created the perfect North Carolina mountain landscape. I couldn’t resist stopping repeatedly along the trail to photograph the beautiful autumn scenery.

The combination of an easy hike, river views, colorful foliage, and a spectacular waterfall makes High Falls a wonderful Glenville-area adventure. And being only 20 minutes from where we were staying made it even better.

If You Go

• Location: Near Glenville, North Carolina
• Distance: Approximately 4 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with a slightly more challenging section near the falls
• Trail highlights: Gravel road, river views, autumn foliage, side waterfall, and High Falls
• Side waterfall: Watch for the short trail on the right about 0.25 mile before High Falls.
• Trail conditions: Fallen trees can temporarily obstruct the trail near the waterfall. Carefully go around them rather than turning back.
• What to bring: Water, sturdy walking shoes, and a camera.
• Best time to visit: Fall is particularly beautiful when the surrounding forest is displaying its autumn colors.
• Photography: Allow extra time for photos—the river, foliage, side waterfall, and main falls all provide excellent opportunities.

Reference High Falls Address 1486-358 State Rd 1158, Glenville, NC 28736

High Falls NC Photos

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You might also be interested in these nearby posts:

• Fall at Whiteside Mountain
• Winter at Whiteside Mountain
• Looking Glass Waterfall
• The English Chapel
• High Falls
• Lake Glenville Falls
• Balsam Grove Waterfalls
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Tennent Mountain via Black Balsam Knob and Art Loeb Trail
• Cullasaja Waterfall
• Dry Falls
• Glen Falls
• Bridal Veil
• The English Chapel
• Crabtree Falls
• Lake Lure Flowering Bridge
• Bird Rock Waterfalls