Whiteoak Falls

Macon County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Macon County, North Carolina
Access status: National forest; roadside parking and a very short path
The walk: About 0.1 miles return
Ground & access: Easy short path. Rocks near the falls are slippery.

Waterfall Hero: Whiteoak Falls (Nantahala)

Whiteoak Falls is a 25-foot waterfall on Whiteoak Creek just above its meeting with the Nantahala River, in the Nantahala River Gorge in Nantahala National Forest. You can see it upstream from the bridge. For a better view, cross the bridge and take the path up the right bank (facing downstream) of the creek about 50 feet to a view of the falls and the cascades below. The path continues about 100 feet to the pool at the base of the main drop.

Plan your visit

Old River Road pull-off just past the Whiteoak Creek bridge off Wayah Road, short path upstream to the falls

Waterfall Hero gives a hike length of 0.1 miles. The first view is about 50 feet up the path; the base is about 100 feet farther.

Easy short path. Rocks near the falls are slippery.

Where to start

Pull-off on the right immediately after the bridge over Whiteoak Creek on unpaved Old River Road, which leaves Wayah Road 4.1 miles from US 74. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.25018, -83.64048.

Timing & water

Old River Road is unpaved.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Nantahala National Forest, Nantahala Ranger District.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Macon County, North Carolina.

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