Catawba Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Catawba Falls |
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Catawba Falls, December 2009
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| Location | McDowell County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°36′14″N 82°14′43″W / 35.603858°N 82.245154°W |
| Type | Cascade |
| Total height | 100 ft (30 m) (estimated) |
| Number of drops | 2 |
| Upper Catawba Falls | |
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Upper Catawba Falls, December 2009
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| Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | McDowell County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°36′14″N 82°14′43″W / 35.603858°N 82.245154°W |
| Type | Cascade |
| Total height | 100 ft (30 m) (estimated) |
| Number of drops | 2 |
Catawba Falls is a beautiful series of waterfalls located on the Catawba River in McDowell County, North Carolina. You can find these falls near the town of Old Fort, North Carolina. It's a great spot to visit in the Blue Ridge Mountains!
Discover Catawba Falls
What Makes Catawba Falls Special?
The Catawba River creates two main waterfalls close to each other. The first one is called Upper Catawba Falls. It has a part where the water falls freely without touching the rocks. A little further downstream, you'll find the main Catawba Falls. This one is taller and has several free-fall sections and cascades, where the water tumbles over rocks.
How Did We Get to Visit Catawba Falls?
Catawba Falls is part of the Pisgah National Forest, which means it's public land. However, for many years, it wasn't easy for people to visit the falls. The trails to get there went through private land, and using them was not allowed. There was also an access point from Interstate 40 that was not permitted.
Good news came in 2005 and 2007! A group called the Foothills Conservancy bought about 88 acres (36 hectares) of land near the falls. This land was perfect for creating a proper starting point for a trail. In 2010, after the government agreed, this land was given to the US Forest Service. This meant that access to Catawba Falls was finally opened for everyone to enjoy!
In 2012, the Forest Service built a new parking area, making it even easier to visit. They also plan to make more improvements in the future. This includes building a footbridge over a tricky river crossing on the trail. They also want to create a new, safer trail to the upper falls, avoiding a part that is steep and a bit dangerous.
