Swain County, North Carolina
Waterfalls Near Cherokee, NC
Cherokee has 38 named waterfalls within 30 miles, 4 of them inside 10 miles. Little Creek Falls is the closest at 3.9 miles to the northwest. Dry Falls earns the best visitor rating nearby (4.9 stars from 1,145 Google reviews). Most of the falls are southeast of Cherokee. The list includes falls across the line in Tennessee.
Distances are straight-line from the town center. Driving routes are longer.
Best Waterfalls Near Cherokee at a Glance
30 Waterfalls Near Cherokee, Ranked by Distance
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Little Creek Falls
Little Creek Falls is the closest named waterfall to Cherokee, 3.9 miles to the northwest in Swain County.
- Address
- Swain County, NC (GPS 35.5062, -83.3724)
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Mingo Falls
Mingo Falls lies 4.6 miles northeast of Cherokee in Swain County, number 2 of 30 by distance. It ranks 7th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee.
- Rating
- 4.9 (49 Google reviews)
- Address
- Swain County, NC 28719 (GPS 35.5320, -83.2746)
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Soco Falls
Soco Falls lies 8.3 miles east of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 3 of 30 by distance. It ranks 6th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Maggie Valley.
- Rating
- 4.8 (65 Google reviews)
- Address
- Jackson County, NC 28751 (GPS 35.4926, -83.1693)
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Flat Creek Falls
Flat Creek Falls lies 9.6 miles northeast of Cherokee in Swain County, number 4 of 30 by distance. It ranks 15th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Maggie Valley.
- Rating
- 3.8 (8 Google reviews)
- Address
- Swain County, NC 28719 (GPS 35.5495, -83.1721)
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Woodfin Falls
Woodfin Falls lies 12 miles east of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 5 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Maggie Valley.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.4493, -83.1008)
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Wilson Falls
Wilson Falls lies 12 miles northwest of Cherokee in Sevier County, number 6 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Gatlinburg.
- Address
- Sevier County, TN (GPS 35.5892, -83.4851)
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Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls lies 15 miles northwest of Cherokee in Sevier County, number 7 of 30 by distance. It ranks 14th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Gatlinburg.
- Rating
- 4.8 (9 Google reviews)
- Address
- Sevier County, TN 37738 (GPS 35.6623, -83.4641)
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Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls lies 16 miles northwest of Cherokee in Sevier County, number 8 of 30 by distance. It ranks 5th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Waterfall amid rocks & old-growth forest, at the end of a popular 2.6-mi. round-trip trail.
- Rating
- 4.6 (66 Google reviews)
- Address
- Sevier County, TN 37738 (GPS 35.6739, -83.4496)
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Ramsey Cascades
Ramsey Cascades lies 16 miles north of Cherokee in Sevier County, number 9 of 30 by distance. USGS notes: Located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 19 km (12 mi) east of Gatlinburg.
- Address
- Sevier County, TN (GPS 35.7085, -83.3000)
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Hen Wallow Falls
Hen Wallow Falls lies 20 miles north of Cherokee in Cocke County, number 10 of 30 by distance. It ranks 3rd for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. A hike through a lush forest with rhododendrons leads to this waterfall that fans out at the base.
- Rating
- 4.7 (114 Google reviews)
- Address
- Cocke County, TN 37722 (GPS 35.7602, -83.2380)
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Thurston Hatcher Falls
Thurston Hatcher Falls lies 20 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 11 of 30 by distance. It ranks 16th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. USGS notes: On Rough Run, 3.7 km (2.3 mi) E of Buck Knob and 5.6 km (3.5 mi) NW of Glenville.
- Rating
- 4.4 (5 Google reviews)
- Address
- Jackson County, NC 28723 (GPS 35.2059, -83.1651)
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Betsy Falls
Betsy Falls lies 20 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 12 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.2179, -83.1326)
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High Falls
High Falls lies 21 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 13 of 30 by distance. It ranks 10th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Rating
- 4.6 (24 Google reviews)
- Address
- Jackson County, NC 28723 (GPS 35.2037, -83.1601)
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Mouse Creek Falls
Mouse Creek Falls lies 21 miles northeast of Cherokee in Haywood County, number 14 of 30 by distance. It ranks 4th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Tiered cascades & a swimming hole reached by a trail that follows an old railway line.
- Rating
- 4.7 (104 Google reviews)
- Address
- Haywood County, NC 28785 (GPS 35.7343, -83.1334)
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Onion Cliff Falls
Onion Cliff Falls lies 21 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 15 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.2148, -83.1207)
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Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls lies 21 miles northwest of Cherokee in Sevier County, number 16 of 30 by distance. It draws more Google reviews than any other waterfall near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Gatlinburg.
- Rating
- 4.7 (195 Google reviews)
- Address
- Sevier County, TN 37862 (GPS 35.6775, -83.5932)
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Burningtown Falls
Burningtown Falls lies 21 miles southwest of Cherokee in Macon County, number 17 of 30 by distance. It ranks 12th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Franklin.
- Rating
- 3.6 (10 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28734 (GPS 35.2072, -83.4981)
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Onion Falls
Onion Falls lies 21 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 18 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.1976, -83.1529)
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Slatten Falls
Slatten Falls lies 24 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 19 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC 28736 (GPS 35.2043, -83.0549)
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Queens Falls
Queens Falls lies 24 miles southwest of Cherokee in Macon County, number 20 of 30 by distance. It ranks 13th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Robbinsville.
- Rating
- 3.0 (10 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28781 (GPS 35.2746, -83.6582)
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Upper Vernal Falls
Upper Vernal Falls lies 24 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 21 of 30 by distance. USGS notes: 35 ft. high; in Nantahala National Forest on an unnamed tributary of Wolf Creek, 2.85 mi. W of Pinhook Gap
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.2633, -82.9722)
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Lower Vernal Falls
Lower Vernal Falls lies 24 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 22 of 30 by distance. USGS notes: 80 ft. high; in Nantahala National Forest on an unnamed tributary of Wolf Creek, 2.8 mi. W of Pinhook Gap
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.2628, -82.9711)
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Dill Falls
Dill Falls lies 25 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 23 of 30 by distance. It ranks 9th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Brevard.
- Rating
- 4.7 (31 Google reviews)
- Address
- Jackson County, NC 28783 (GPS 35.2840, -82.9435)
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Cullasaja Falls
Cullasaja Falls lies 25 miles south of Cherokee in Macon County, number 24 of 30 by distance. It ranks 2nd for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. National forest waterfall cascading through a gorge from 250 ft., with a roadside viewpoint & trail.
- Rating
- 4.7 (170 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28741 (GPS 35.1170, -83.2700)
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Quarry Falls
Quarry Falls lies 27 miles south of Cherokee in Macon County, number 25 of 30 by distance. It ranks 11th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Franklin.
- Rating
- 4.5 (14 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28741 (GPS 35.0926, -83.2673)
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Berties Falls
Berties Falls lies 27 miles southwest of Cherokee in Macon County, number 26 of 30 by distance. It ranks 17th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Franklin.
- Rating
- 4.4 (5 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28734 (GPS 35.1540, -83.5756)
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Upper Falls
Upper Falls lies 27 miles southeast of Cherokee in Haywood County, number 27 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Brevard.
- Address
- Haywood County, NC (GPS 35.3182, -82.8674)
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Courthouse Falls
Courthouse Falls lies 28 miles southeast of Cherokee in Transylvania County, number 28 of 30 by distance. It ranks 8th for review count among waterfalls near Cherokee. Its own nearest town is Brevard.
- Rating
- 4.7 (38 Google reviews)
- Address
- Transylvania County, NC 28708 (GPS 35.2715, -82.8940)
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Schoolhouse Falls
Schoolhouse Falls lies 28 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 29 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.1632, -83.0065)
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Maidenhair Falls
Maidenhair Falls lies 28 miles southeast of Cherokee in Jackson County, number 30 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.1409, -83.0424)
Where the Waterfalls Are
Cherokee sits in or near the Nantahala Mountains and Cullasaja Gorge area of North Carolina. The southwestern mountains are steep, heavily forested and among the rainiest parts of North Carolina. In Macon County, the Cullasaja River descends through a narrow gorge on its way from Highlands toward Franklin, passing Bridal Veil Falls and Dry Falls, both of which allow visitors to walk behind the water, and the long roadside drop of Cullasaja Falls. Jackson County, around Cashiers and Cullowhee, holds many falls on the upper Tuckasegee and nearby escarpment streams. Graham County falls near Robbinsville lie deep in the Nantahala National Forest, while Swain and Haywood counties include falls on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains. Read the North Carolina waterfall guide.
By direction from Cherokee: 16 to the southeast, 5 to the south, 5 to the northwest, 4 to the east, 3 to the northeast, 3 to the southwest, and 2 to the north. They are spread across Jackson County (15), Macon County (8), Sevier County (5), Haywood County (4), Swain County (3), and Transylvania County (2). The average distance is 21.6 miles.
By Distance
Within 10 miles of Cherokee
Little Creek Falls (3.9 mi), Mingo Falls (4.6 mi), Soco Falls (8.3 mi), Flat Creek Falls (9.6 mi)
10 to 20 miles of Cherokee
Woodfin Falls (12 mi), Wilson Falls (12 mi), Rainbow Falls (15 mi), Grotto Falls (16 mi), Ramsey Cascades (16 mi)
20 to 30 miles of Cherokee
Hen Wallow Falls (20 mi), Thurston Hatcher Falls (20 mi), Betsy Falls (20 mi), High Falls (21 mi), Mouse Creek Falls (21 mi), Onion Cliff Falls (21 mi), Laurel Falls (21 mi), Burningtown Falls (21 mi), Onion Falls (21 mi), Slatten Falls (24 mi), Queens Falls (24 mi), Upper Vernal Falls (24 mi), Lower Vernal Falls (24 mi), Dill Falls (25 mi), Cullasaja Falls (25 mi), Quarry Falls (27 mi), Berties Falls (27 mi), Upper Falls (27 mi), Courthouse Falls (28 mi), Schoolhouse Falls (28 mi), Maidenhair Falls (28 mi), Twin Falls (28 mi), Dismal Falls (28 mi), Fairfield Falls (28 mi), Bridal Veil Falls (28 mi), Dry Falls (28 mi), Second Falls (28 mi), Yellowstone Falls (29 mi), Highlands Falls (29 mi)
Nearby Towns With Waterfalls
Waterfalls Near Cherokee: FAQs
How many waterfalls are near Cherokee, NC?
38 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Cherokee: 4 within 10 miles, 5 10 to 20 miles, 29 20 to 30 miles. Distances are straight-line from the town center.
What is the closest waterfall to Cherokee?
Little Creek Falls in Swain County is the closest, about 3.9 miles northwest of Cherokee.
What is the best-rated waterfall near Cherokee?
Dry Falls has the highest Google rating among nearby falls with at least 10 reviews: 4.9 stars from 1,145 Google reviews.
Which counties are the waterfalls near Cherokee in?
Jackson County (15), Macon County (8), Sevier County (5), Haywood County (4), and Swain County (3).
How does Cherokee compare with other North Carolina towns?
Cherokee ranks 9th of the 31 North Carolina towns in our directory for the number of waterfalls within 30 miles.