WaterfallNear Me

White Owl Falls

Transylvania County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
13 ft (4 m)
Location
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Access status
Short roadside scramble path in national forest; wade for the best view
The walk
Less than 0.2 miles each way
Ground & access
Faint, narrow scrambling path; slippery concrete chute; road walking beside NC 281. The best view needs a wade across the river.
NC Waterfalls: White Owl Falls

White Owl Falls is a 20 foot cascading falls on the Thompson River in Nantahala National Forest, a short way downstream of the NC 281 bridge. From the pullout, walk a little over 100 yards down the road and cross at the start of the guardrail. Step over the guardrail and find the faint path. It descends a concrete water chute, which can be slippery and can be bypassed. From the bottom of the chute the narrow path runs along the base of the riprap on the road bank, with some rock scrambling, to the top of the falls and then down to the base. For the best view you must wade the river. Return the same way.

Plan your visit

Short scramble path from NC 281 down a concrete water chute and along the road bank to White Owl Falls on the Thompson River

NC Waterfalls gives the hike distance as less than 0.2 miles, including a little over 100 yards of road walking.

Faint, narrow scrambling path; slippery concrete chute; road walking beside NC 281. The best view needs a wade across the river.

Where to start

Pullout on the right of NC 281, 3.7 miles south of US 64 west of Lake Toxaway, less than 0.1 mile south of Brewer Road. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.07753, -82.99696.

Timing & water

Year-round. Wading is only safe at normal water levels.

Before you go

No fee or reservation is mentioned.

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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