Highlands, North Carolina
Looking for the best hiking in Highlands? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Highlands. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Hiking Spots in and near Highlands
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Highlands, North Carolina
Explore Dry Falls, North Carolina
4.60.42 mi / 95 ft gainDry Falls is located off of Hwy. 64, which has been designated as the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway, and the road does not disappoint. Hwy. 64 is a two lane road which hugs the northern side of Cullasaja Gorge, which has been carved by the Cullasaja River. Besides Dry Falls, Hwy. 64 leads you past...Read more -
Highlands, North Carolina
Bouldering Granite City
5.00.3 mi / 96 ft gainAt the foot of Blackrock Mountain just outside of Highlands, North Carolina, lies one of the most unique and secluded natural playgrounds around. Granite City is composed of several massive granite boulders, ranging between 10-40 feet tall. This spot is most popular for bouldering (mostly V0-V2...Read more -
Highlands, North Carolina
Hike the Whiteside Mountain Loop
5.02 mi / 595 ft gainWhiteside Mountain is simply breathtaking, there is no way around it. Views of the mountain from the South expose its sheer granite face, which runs almost its entire length East-to-West. However, the views of the mountain are just the beginning, as this hike climbs to higher heights than just ...Read more -
Highlands, North Carolina
Explore Cashiers Sliding Rock
0.2 mi / 70 ft gainThis waterfall is located just outside of Cashiers, NC. The trailhead to the waterfall is right off of the road and has a good amount of parking. The trial itself is very nice and has new steps at the beginning of the trail. The trail is very wide and is mostly flat the entire way there. Once you...Read more -
Highlands, North Carolina
Explore Cullasaja Falls
5.00.3 mi / 200 ft gainThis is an awesome waterfall that offers views from several different spots along the road as well as a quick hike down to the base! The small pull-off area is located towards the top of the falls. There isn't much space (3 maybe 4 cars at a time), but there are additional pull-off areas further ...Read more -
Cullowhee, North Carolina
Hike to Yellow Mountain Fire Tower via Cloud Catcher Lane
5.01.5 mi / 700 ft gainYellow Mountain Fire Tower features some of the best views, looking out over both the Northern Georgia mountains as well as seeing the flat-lands of South Carolina past the mountain ranges. This hike is pretty well known for its 12-mile round trip trek, starting in Cashiers, NC, however, there's ...Read more -
Mountain Rest, South Carolina
Hike along the Chattooga River to Spoonauger Falls
1 mi / 100 ft gainSpoonauger falls housed in Sumter National Forest, received its name after the Spoonauger family which historically lived above the falls. From Walhalla SC, drive north on Highway 28 until it meets SC 107 (right under 10 miles). Take a slight right onto SC 107 and drive another 10 miles until yo...Read more -
Mountain Rest, South Carolina
Hike to Kings Creek Falls
4.80.5 miThe trail to Kings Creek begins behind the bulletin board in the Burrells Ford primitive campground parking lot. It is an easy .5 mile trail to the falls. The falls are only 70ft high but they are beautiful, there is an area to the side of the falls with some nice sitting rocks and the area under...Read more -
Mountain Rest, South Carolina
Hike to King Creek Falls
0.6 miVery nice dog-friendly and family-friendly adventure! The hike is not long at all and the end result is a beautiful 70 ft waterfall with a pooled area at the bottom! Old logs are around for sitting on and relaxing while enjoying your lunch or snacks...Read more -
Mountain Rest, South Carolina
Hike to Big Bend Falls
5.06.5 miThe hike to Big Bend Falls begins on the Chattooga River Trail at the Burrell's Ford Campground. To get here you take Burrell's Ford Road off of SC 107. There will be a good sized gravel parking area off to the left about 3 miles down Burrell's Ford Road. When you park the car you can walk down t...Read more -
Cashiers, North Carolina
Hike to Silver Run Falls
0.25 mi / 100 ft gainThe hike to this waterfall is very short and well worth it. The waterfall is about 40 feet tall and has a large volume of water. This makes for a great place to swim. The bottom of the pool is about 15 feet deep and offers cool mountain water. To get there it is just outside of Cashiers, North C...Read more -
Cashiers, North Carolina
Hike to Chimney Top
3.31.7 mi / 1000 ft gainUpon entering High Hampton Inn, follow the entrance road past the registration building, cart shed and parking lot. Take a right down a gravel road that follows alongside Hampton Lake. This gravel road continues for half a mile, even winding through part of the golf course and crossing over the c...Read more -
Dillard, Georgia
Hike to Rabun Bald
5.03 mi / 4696 ft gainStarting at the trailhead you begin by following the yellow blazes. The trail isn't well marked so keep an eye out for the blazes you see. The trailhead starts at the dead end of Kelsey Mountain Trail. The path immediately starts to incline and doesn't stop. A few minutes in you will come to a fo...Read more -
Cullowhee, North Carolina
Hike to High Falls
3.51.5 mi / 600 ft gainThis is an awesome hike if you're up for a challenge! The hike in isn't bad at all and the trail itself isn't super long but the climb back out will be a little more difficult due to the rock steps and lengthy uphill. This hike starts from a parking lot, just across the road from Lake Glenville a...Read more -
Cashiers, North Carolina
Explore Whitewater Falls
4.00.5 mi / 100 ft gainWhitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains with the upper falls alone dropping over 400 feet. The walk to the falls is very short and friendly for all ages and abilities - the path is paved so the falls are wheelchair accessible. The falls are beautiful in all seasons b...Read more -
Glenville, North Carolina
Hike to Frolictown Falls
1.5 mi / 350 ft gainThis is an awesome hike to do if you're short on time or have hours to kill. Because it is so easy to access, it doesn't take very long to get down to it and can be accessed by two separate trails. Both trails are well maintained, however, while there are some blazes, it is not heavily marked. Th...Read more