About Bridal Veil Falls (Highlands, NC)
Bridal Veil Falls spills roughly 45 feet beside US-64 on the way between Highlands and Franklin, North Carolina, in Nantahala National Forest. Park in the roadside lot, take a few steps, and you are at the base. It is not in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so no parking tag is needed.
Drive-behind access is closed
For decades visitors drove a short loop road behind the curtain of water. That has ended: the road behind the falls is closed to vehicles for safety reasons, and the highway has been re-routed around the front of the falls. Walking behind the water is still allowed, but the rock is wet and slick all year, so wear shoes with grip and keep children close.
Getting there
The falls are about 2 miles northwest of Highlands on US-64, on the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. From Cherokee or Gatlinburg, plan on roughly two hours of mountain driving. The lot is small and fills on fall weekends. For the town side of the trip, see the Highlands Chamber of Commerce.
When to go
- Spring: The fullest flow.
- Summer: Cool mist and the quietest light on the water.
- Fall: Color above the falls; the lot is crowded.
- Winter: The edges can freeze, and the pavement near the falls can ice.
Pair it with its neighbors
Dry Falls, another walk-behind waterfall, is a couple of minutes west on the same highway. Cullasaja Falls, farther west, is only a roadside look and has no safe place to stop long. Highlands, at about 4,000 feet, makes a good lunch stop between them.
Good to know
- How tall is Bridal Veil Falls (Highlands, NC)?
- Bridal Veil Falls (Highlands, NC) drops about 45 feet.
- Can you swim or climb at the falls?
- Please don’t climb on or around waterfalls. Wet rock and algae are extremely slick, and falls from waterfalls are a leading cause of death in the Smokies. Enjoy the view from the trail.
