Corbin Creek Falls

Transylvania County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina
Access status: Fee recreation area; maintained trail reaches only the lowest section of a long cascade
The walk: About 2 miles return
Ground & access: Paved trail, long stair descent and a steep switchbacking trail; the climb back is the hard part. Rocks are slippery and there is no full view of the long cascade from any one point.

Waterfall Hero Hikes: Corbin Creek Falls (Whitewater)

Corbin Creek Falls, NC
Photo credit
Photo: RC10quad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From the Whitewater Falls Recreation Area parking, follow the paved Whitewater Falls Trail to the first overlook, then the stairs down to the second overlook of Upper Whitewater Falls. Continue down to the Foothills Trail and turn left, switchbacking down to the Whitewater River and its footbridge. In another 0.1 miles a small footbridge crosses Corbin Creek with the lowest part of the falls immediately upstream. An obvious path on the left bank leads a little way up the cascades. Return the same way, climbing back to the parking.

Plan your visit

Whitewater Falls Trail and the Foothills Trail to the footbridge at the foot of Corbin Creek Falls

Waterfall Hero gives 2 miles for the whole out-and-back hike from the Whitewater Falls parking.

Paved trail, long stair descent and a steep switchbacking trail; the climb back is the hard part. Rocks are slippery and there is no full view of the long cascade from any one point.

Where to start

Whitewater Falls Recreation Area off NC 281, 8.6 miles south of US 64. The Forest Service charges $3 per vehicle at self-service fee stations or online; a $15 annual pass covers Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain and Whitewater Falls.

Timing & water

Open year round. The Forest Service reports very high visitor volume at midday and on holidays and suggests morning or evening visits.

Before you go

$3 per vehicle day-use fee, payable at self-service stations or on recreation.gov; $15 annual pass available. No reservation.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Transylvania County, North Carolina.

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