Editor’s Note: This beautiful waterfall in North Carolina is also one of the state’s deadliest. Please exercise caution at all times and follow the warning signs posted all along the trail.
Just when you think you’ve discovered all the best waterfalls in the Tar Heel State… take a look at this hidden gem that has a natural pool at the bottom and a beach made for lounging in the sun. Getting there is a bit of a journey, but the payoff is monumental.
Elk Falls (a.k.a. Elk River Falls) is a massive, beautiful spectacle with a series of cascades that lead to, and from, this 40-foot pour over a granite cliff.
Flickr/Brent Moore
At the bottom of that waterfall is more granite and a natural swimming pool.
alltrails.com/Brett Donar
It’s a perfect spot for relaxing, having a picnic, or just getting some sun along the beach at the base of the waterfall.
TripAdvisor/Kept002
Getting to Elk River Falls is quite a journey, though. It’s located within a stone’s throw of the Tennessee border in the the tiny community of Elk Park, NC. Look for this sign along Highway 19E.
Google Maps/Ryan Watts
Once you make the turn, you’ll be on a tiny little country road that seems to go on forever. In reality, it’s approximately four miles. If you get a sense you’re on the wrong road, just stick with it… eventually you end up here at the small gravel parking area.
Google Maps/Ryan Watts
You’ll find the trailhead at the end of the parking lot and next to the Elk River (shown at right).
Google Maps/Banks Dixon
The trail is a bit of a challenge but it’s manageable even for someone who doesn’t hike much. It has a multitude of roots you’ll need to navigate through without turning your ankle. And there are several sets of steps.
alltrails.com/Robert Parker
You’ll wind .04 miles along the Elk River and through a wooded forest filled with granite outcroppings until you arrive at your destination.
Google Maps/Seth Meyers
The beautiful Elk River Falls is a local favorite, so be prepared to share this spot with others, especially in the hot summer months!
alltrails.com/Alisha Ryan
Elk River Falls is a hidden gem located less than a mile (as the crow flies) from the Tennessee border in North Carolina.
Google Maps [enhanced] You’ll find GPS coordinates for the location of the falls at this Google Maps link. The waterfall and path are open year-round.
Enjoy a day at this fantastically hidden waterfall beach in the Tar Heel State. Do you know of other waterfall beaches in North Carolina? We’d love to know about them, too!
Flickr/Brent Moore
alltrails.com/Brett Donar
TripAdvisor/Kept002
Google Maps/Ryan Watts
Google Maps/Banks Dixon
alltrails.com/Robert Parker
Google Maps/Seth Meyers
alltrails.com/Alisha Ryan
Google Maps [enhanced]
You’ll find GPS coordinates for the location of the falls at this Google Maps link. The waterfall and path are open year-round.
A word of caution about this waterfall: the rock surface at the top of the waterfall is slippery, and fatalities have occurred. Use extreme caution. Do not jump from the waterfall. People have died as a result of jumping from this waterfall.
While you’re in the area of Elk River Falls, visit the highest town on the entire East Coast. Check it out in this article.
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