United States · North Carolina
High Shoals Falls
High Shoals Falls is a waterfall in Burke County, North Carolina, United States.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
High Shoals Falls drops over a series of steps, inside South Mountains State Park. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is North Carolina, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at High Shoals Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from North Carolina are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring rains make March to May the full-flow months in the South-east; summer thunderstorms bring short surges.
Getting there
- Base town North Carolina, United States
- Country United States
- Region North Carolina, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
High Shoals Falls
United States
Height—Width—
Most similar
Churchill River
Canada
Height—Width—
Also a cascade waterfall and in Canada
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
We don't have a reliable crest width for High Shoals Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
35.59442, -81.63555
Quick answers
Where is High Shoals Falls?
High Shoals Falls is in United States (North Carolina), inside South Mountains State Park. The nearest base is North Carolina, United States. Its coordinates are 35.5944, -81.6355.
When is the best time to visit High Shoals Falls?
Peak flow is March to May. Spring rains make March to May the full-flow months in the South-east; summer thunderstorms bring short surges.
What can you do at High Shoals Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to High Shoals Falls?
The usual base is North Carolina, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to High Shoals Falls
McGalliard Falls
McGalliard Falls is a waterfall in Burke County, North Carolina.
Toms Creek Falls
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Linville Falls
Gateway to the deepest gorge in the eastern US
Crabtree Falls (Yancey County)
Crabtree Falls is a waterfall located near the boundary of McDowell County and Yancey County, North Carolina.