Southeast Waterfall & Hiking Guide

Your Hiking Guide to Waterfalls and more in the Southeast US

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Home Archives for Strenuous

Harder Hiking Trails to Waterfalls

Strenuous, sometimes referred to as hard, trails are known for having large elevation changes, usually these elevation changes are very steep and you may go through a several portions of the trail where you go up and down, instead of a steady incline or decline. Hard trails are usually narrow, only allowing one or two people across the width of the trail at a time. It is not uncommon for these trails to have obstacles in their path that require you to climb over or around them.

People attempting hard trails should have experience hiking moderate trails and be comfortable with them. We've hiked hard trails with young children (< 10 years old) without issue, as they had experience in hiking and we took breaks periodically for them as necessary.

These trails are usually longer than easy and moderate trails, although length is not used in a consideration for these trails.

High Shoals Falls

Posted on October 26, 2024 Written by Leave a Comment

High Shoals Falls

Please note: We visited this waterfall at the end of August. South Mountain State Park is currently closed to assess damage from Hurricane Helene. Details below were current as of August 2024. High Shoals Falls, at South Mountains State Park, has been on my list of waterfalls to visit for quite a while. I have… [Read More]

Linville Falls

Posted on February 2, 2024 Written by 1 Comment

Linville Falls 1

Linville Falls is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile post 316.4. The total height of the falls is 150 feet with four drops. Linville Falls starts with a twin set of upper falls, moving into a small gorge, and ending in a high-volume, 45-foot drop. Linville Falls, formed by Linville River, marks the beginning… [Read More]

Upper Creek Falls

Posted on December 11, 2023 Written by 4 Comments

Top of Upper Creek Falls

Upper Creek Falls is pretty waterfall located in the Pisgah National Forest. If you are driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Linville Falls area, this waterfall is worth a short trip off the Parkway. The trail starts just behind and to the left of the park sign with information about the waterfall and… [Read More]

Discovery Falls

Posted on September 1, 2022 Written by Leave a Comment

Discovery Falls

Discovery Falls is a beautiful 75 foot waterfall located in the Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard, well-known as the Land of Waterfalls. It is located just off the main trail for Log Hollow Falls. This trail contains hikes to four waterfalls, including Discovery Falls. Many people list Discovery Falls as a moderate 1 mile round… [Read More]

Bailey Falls

Posted on August 27, 2020 Written by 2 Comments

For experienced hikers only: DO NOT ATTEMPT if you are not an experienced hiker used to strenuous trails, bushwacking and trails where scrambling is required. DO NOT continue this part of the hike alone or with an inexperienced hiker. I personally have not hiked to Bailey Falls, but heard of this waterfall from a fellow… [Read More]

Cane Creek Falls

Posted on June 7, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Cane Creek Falls Overlook View

Cane Creek Falls is located in Fall Creek Falls State Park. The really great thing about this waterfall is how close it is to many other waterfalls. Fall Creek Falls State Park has numerous waterfalls, including Fall Creek Falls, Cane Creek Falls, Cane Creek Cascades and Piney Creek Falls. Each of these waterfalls has a… [Read More]

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Recently Added Waterfalls

  • Logan Creek Falls (also known as Falls Of Logan Creek)
    State: Virginia
    Trail Ease: Easy
  • Meadow Branch Cascades
    Meadow Branch Cascades
    State: Tennessee
    Trail Ease: Roadside
  • Whiteoak Flats Branch Falls
    Whiteoak Flats Branch Falls
    State: Tennessee
    Trail Ease: Roadside
  • Twin Falls
    Cane Creek Twin Falls
    State: Tennessee
    Trail Ease: Easy, Roadside
  • Machine Falls
    Machine Falls
    State: Tennessee
    Trail Ease: Easy, Moderate

Recently Added Trips

  • The Sinks 2
    Smoky Mountain Roadside Waterfall Day Trip
  • Little Egypt Falls
    Wartburg Area Waterfall Day Trip
  • Rutledge Falls at the base
    Tullahoma Family Friendly Waterfall Day Trip
  • Lower Greeter Falls in the Spring
    South Central Tennessee 3-5 Day Trip
  • Full length of Pine Ridge Falls
    Erwin Area Waterfall Day Trip
  • Upper Falls Graveyard Fields
    Blue Ridge Parkway to Highlands Road Trip
  • City Lake Falls
    Southeast Tennessee: Cookeville to Tellico Plains 3-5 Day Waterfall Road Trip

Fall Trails by Difficulty

  • Easy (104 trails)
  • Moderate (42 trails)
  • Wheelchair Accessible (9 trails)
  • Roadside (40 trails)
  • Strenuous (9 trails)

Waterfalls by State

  • Georgia (5 trails)
  • South Carolina (9 trails)
  • North Carolina (47 trails)
  • Tennessee (71 trails)
  • Virginia (9 trails)
  • Kentucky (4 trails)

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