The 10 Best Waterfalls Near Blowing Rock NC

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The North Carolina High Country has been a tourist destination for centuries, and one of its earliest attractions was the famous “Blowing Rock.”

That unique geological feature is the namesake for the wildly popular town of Blowing Rock, which makes a fantastic base for the exploring the NC High Country.

In addition to the Blue Ridge Parkway running through it and the beloved Grandfather Mountain nearby, the area around Blowing Rock is known for breathtaking views of the NC Piedmont, the best ski resorts in North Carolina, and many of the best NC Christmas tree farms.

But don’t forget the waterfalls! In fact, there are two stellar waterfalls within walking distance of Downtown Blowing Rock, and easily a dozen more within 30 miles of it.

Some of these falls have fantastic swimming holes, while others offer uniquely photogenic rock formations. Suffice it to say we believe anyone who chooses to visit Blowing Rock should set aside time to see some of these incredible natural waterworks.

Read on for our guide to the best waterfalls near Blowing Rock NC, several of which rank among our favorites in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Each review includes the level of difficulty, hiking distance, and a description of the hike itself.

Best Waterfalls Near Blowing Rock NC Guide

Glen Burney Falls & Glenn Marie Falls (0 miles)
Hebron Falls (3.4 miles)
Green Mountain Creek Falls (8 miles)
Silvervale Falls (9.7 miles)
Otter Falls (12.6 miles)
Crab Orchard Falls (12.8 miles)
Laurel Creek Falls (20.2 miles)
Cascade Falls (21.2 miles)
Waterfall Park (21.5 miles)
Linville Falls (25.9 miles)

Glen Burney Falls near Boone NC — Glen Burney Falls, photo by Maria Smith

1. Glen Burney Falls & Glen Marie Falls (Blowing Rock NC) •

Distance from Blowing Rock: 0 miles

Level of Difficulty: Strenuous • Trail Length: 2.7 miles round-trip

Located just a block or two from the heart of town, Glen Burney Falls is the more famous of the in-town duo, Glen Burney and Glen Marie Falls.

These waterfalls are formed by New Year’s Creek, and Glen Burney measures about 50 feet tall. The hike to both waterfalls (as well as a collection of smaller cascades) is 2.7 miles round-trip, but it gets pretty strenuous.

The change in elevation is significant, and the trail gets a bit slippery in spots. Nevertheless, it’s well worth the effort!

Hit the trail at Annie Cannon Gardens, a great place to check out some North Carolina wildflowers. The route also takes hikers by “the ruins,” featuring old stone infrastructure from the early 1900s sewage system.

READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Blowing Rock NC

Hebron Falls Near Boone NC — One of the many unique features at Hebron Falls, photo by Dawson Tozier

2. Hebron Falls (Blowing Rock NC)

Distance from Blowing Rock: 3.4 miles

Level of Difficulty: Moderate • Trail Length: 3 miles round-trip

Definitely ranked on my personal Top 10 list of the best North Carolina waterfalls, Hebron Falls is truly an experience.

It’s an 80-foot monster with tons of pools and boulders strewn about, so clambering around is loads of fun.

This waterfall can be accessed via Julian Price Memorial Park, which has a magnificent North Carolina lake, an extensive picnic area, and a welcoming campground to boot. This spot is truly worth a long day out in the wild.

Hebron Falls is best accessed via the Boone Fork Trail, leaving from the picnic area. The hike is moderately difficult, with some roots and rocks to contend with. From the picnic area, take a right on the loop and the falls are about 1.4 miles away.

3. Green Mountain Creek Falls (Blowing Rock NC)

Distance from Blowing Rock: 8 miles

Level of Difficulty: Easy • Trail Length: Roadside

Green Mountain Creek Falls offers insane ROI, because there’s no hiking necessary to see it! It’s a roadside gem about 8 miles from Downtown Blowing Rock on US-321/US-221.

This scenic roadway is so stunning, it has colloquially been deemed “the Little Parkway,” with multiple viewing points along both sides of the road.

Located right beside the highway, the waterfall is only about 20 feet tall, but the setting at the base is lovely. There’s a shallow pool, and the cascades freefall off a cliff onto the rocky platform below.

For those more into cruising than hiking, GMC Falls is one of several roadside waterfalls on US-221 between the Linn Cove Viaduct and Downtown Blowing Rock’s restaurants and shopping area.

4. Silvervale Falls (Blowing Rock NC)

Distance from Blowing Rock: 9.7 miles

Level of Difficulty: Easy • Trail Length: Roadside

Another one of the US-321 roadside waterfalls that’s simply too grand to exclude from this list, Silvervale Falls is an 80-foot-tall Western North Carolina waterfall that twists and dives down a ledge-laden rock face.

Again, it requires no hiking at all, so Silvervale Falls definitely deserves a visit while you’re exploring the NC High Country.

Unfortunately, it does have the downside of quite a bit of graffiti being painted on the surrounding rocks.

There is a small pull-off right beside the falls, and they are visible from the parking lot. It’s also possible to get out of the car and walk to the base of Silvervale Falls for a closeup view.

Otter Falls Trail near Banner Elk and Boone NC — Otter Falls Observation Deck, photo by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett

5. Otter Falls (Seven Devils NC)

Distance from Blowing Rock: 12.6 miles

Level of Difficulty: Moderate • Trail Length: 1.2 miles

For those looking for things to do during winter in North Carolina, visiting Otter Falls pairs beautifully with a snow-tubing trip to Hawksnest… which is exactly how I first saw it.

In the summertime, it can be combined with the Hawksnest zipline course. That being said, the 25-foot-tall Otter Falls is wonderful enough to be worth visiting in its own right.

It’s formed by Valley Creek, which dumps over huge mossy rocks and tumbles over smaller boulders into a pool. There are several different viewing platforms from which to see it.

The parking area for the trailhead is on Skyland Drive in Seven Devils NC, and the trail is less than a decade old. We found the hike in relatively easy because it’s all downhill, but of course that means the hike out takes you all the way back up.

6. Crab Orchard Falls (Banner Elk NC)

Distance from Blowing Rock: 12.8 miles

Level of Difficulty: Easy • Trail Length: 1.5 miles round-trip

Crab Orchard Falls is found in Valle Crucis, another popular destination for day-trippers from Blowing Rock and Boone NC.

It’s located on private property, at the Valle Crucis Conference Center. Luckily, the powers-that-be allow waterfall enthusiasts to visit, and there’s even a designated parking area near the trailhead.

The trail is short and well-maintained, but there are some steep spots. The waterfall spills over several wonky rock ledges and ultimately tumbles into an inviting pool.

There are great, large boulders there to clamber on for different viewpoints.

READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Banner Elk NC

7. Laurel Creek Falls (Boone NC)

Distance from Blowing Rock: 20.2 miles

Level of Difficulty: Easy • Trail Length: 0.3 miles round-trip

Also known by the unfortunate nickname “Trash Can Falls,” Laurel Creek Falls is a cherished local waterfall with a well-used swimming area.

This Boone NC waterfall is 30 feet tall, and slides down a well-worn route in a rugged rock face.

Though it’s not technically a roadside waterfall, the trail is barely more than a 1/4-mile round-trip. But while the hike is easy, it’s worth knowing that the path is lined with poison ivy, so it does require some caution.

Don’t be deterred by the silly nickname: “Trash Can Falls” was derived from the dumpster that visitors would use as a marker for the unmarked trail to the falls.

Cascades Trail — Cascades Waterfall, Photo by Dawson Tozier

8. Cascade Falls (Purlear NC)

Distance from Blowing Rock: 21.2 miles

Level of Difficulty: Moderate • Trail Length: 1.2 miles round-trip

This beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway waterfall is located at E.B. Jeffress Park.

The 150-foot-tall Cascades is a spot that I pass numerous times each year while driving along the Parkway, and it’s always difficult to resist stopping for a few minutes to have another peek.

As with many of the waterfalls near Blowing Rock, the trail in is a downhill romp, while the hike back out is an uphill slog. But the Cascades has several great viewpoints along the way, so there’s always a good place to rest for a spell.

In my experience, the best view of the waterfall is the very lowest spot at the bottom of the steps (a.k.a. the end of the trail).

Waterfalls Park NC — Waterfalls Park, photo by Dawson Tozier

9. Waterfalls Park (Newland NC)

Distance from Blowing Rock: 21.5 miles

Level of Difficulty: Easy • Trail Length: Roadside

This roadside waterfall is located in a small public park, Bobby McLean Memorial Park, in Newland NC.

That being said, there are trails leading to different viewpoints, as well as a picnic area and a photogenic footbridge.

The 50-foot-tall waterfall is formed by several cascades as a beautiful creek cuts through thickets of rhododendrons.

Waterfalls Park is a ridiculously idyllic place to have a picnic. The town of Newland is nearby, with restaurants offering takeout if you don’t have time to pack a picnic.

10. Linville Falls

Linville NC • Distance from Blowing Rock: 25.9 miles

Level of Difficulty: Moderate • Trail Length: 1.6 miles round-trip

Located in the northern part of the Linville Gorge, Linville Falls is perhaps the most celebrated waterfall on the entire 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway.

It’s a gorgeous double cascade, with a stunning pool that has the coolest viewing platform beside it, followed by a waterpark-like slide and plunge that swirls through a mammoth rock face.

Linville Falls also has a visitor center (with another great waterfall on the far end of the parking area), three great viewing platforms above it, and a precariously accessed viewpoint at the base of it.

I’ve visited this one multiple times, including camping there. If you have a little extra time, I highly recommend continuing on to Wiseman’s View in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area! -by Jonathon Engels; featured image by Waterfalls Hiker