Macon County, North Carolina
Waterfalls Near Franklin, NC
57 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Franklin, 3 of them inside 10 miles. The nearest is Burningtown Falls, 6.8 miles west of town. Dry Falls earns the best visitor rating nearby (4.9 stars from 1,145 Google reviews). The list includes falls across the line in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Distances are straight-line from the town center. Driving routes are longer.
Best Waterfalls Near Franklin at a Glance
30 Waterfalls Near Franklin, Ranked by Distance
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Burningtown Falls
Burningtown Falls is the closest named waterfall to Franklin, 6.8 miles to the west in Macon County. It ranks 12th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin.
- Rating
- 3.6 (10 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28734 (GPS 35.2072, -83.4981)
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Cullasaja Falls
Cullasaja Falls lies 7.8 miles southeast of Franklin in Macon County, number 2 of 30 by distance. It ranks 3rd for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. 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 8.9 miles southeast of Franklin in Macon County, number 3 of 30 by distance. It ranks 10th for review count among waterfalls near 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 11 miles west of Franklin in Macon County, number 4 of 30 by distance. It ranks 17th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin.
- Rating
- 4.4 (5 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28734 (GPS 35.1540, -83.5756)
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Dry Falls
Dry Falls lies 11 miles southeast of Franklin in Macon County, number 5 of 30 by distance. It draws more Google reviews than any other waterfall near Franklin. Picturesque cascade with a path under the rocks that offers a unique, reverse view of the waterfall.
- Rating
- 4.9 (1,145 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28741 (GPS 35.0685, -83.2390)
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Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls lies 11 miles southeast of Franklin in Macon County, number 6 of 30 by distance. It ranks 2nd for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Scenic cascade with a walking path under the rocks that offers a reverse view of the waterfall.
- Rating
- 4.6 (407 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28741 (GPS 35.0718, -83.2295)
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Thurston Hatcher Falls
Thurston Hatcher Falls lies 12 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 7 of 30 by distance. It ranks 18th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. 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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High Falls
High Falls lies 13 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 8 of 30 by distance. It ranks 7th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. 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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Onion Falls
Onion Falls lies 13 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 9 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.1976, -83.1529)
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Glen Falls
Glen Falls lies 13 miles southeast of Franklin in Macon County, number 10 of 30 by distance. It ranks 4th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin.
- Rating
- 4.9 (126 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28741 (GPS 35.0309, -83.2387)
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Estatoah Falls
Estatoah Falls lies 13 miles south of Franklin in Rabun County, number 11 of 30 by distance. It ranks 9th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. This scenic waterfall on private property can been seen from spots alongs Georgia State Route 246.
- Rating
- 4.5 (19 Google reviews)
- Address
- Sky Valley, GA 30537
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Mud Creek Falls
Mud Creek Falls lies 14 miles south of Franklin in Rabun County, number 12 of 30 by distance. It ranks 5th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Its own nearest town is Mountain City.
- Rating
- 4.9 (85 Google reviews)
- Address
- Sky Valley, GA 30537
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Highlands Falls
Highlands Falls lies 14 miles southeast of Franklin in Macon County, number 13 of 30 by distance. It ranks 19th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin.
- Rating
- 3.7 (3 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28741 (GPS 35.0703, -83.1742)
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Betsy Falls
Betsy Falls lies 14 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 14 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.2179, -83.1326)
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Satulah Falls
Satulah Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Franklin in Macon County, number 15 of 30 by distance. It ranks 13th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin.
- Rating
- 3.7 (10 Google reviews)
- Address
- Macon County, NC 28741 (GPS 35.0311, -83.1986)
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Onion Cliff Falls
Onion Cliff Falls lies 15 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 16 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.2148, -83.1207)
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Ammons Creek Falls
Ammons Creek Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Franklin in Rabun County, number 17 of 30 by distance. It ranks 20th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Its own nearest town is Mountain City.
- Rating
- 4.0 (2 Google reviews)
- Address
- Rabun County, GA 30537 (GPS 34.9834, -83.2668)
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Darnell Falls
Darnell Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Franklin in Rabun County, number 18 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Mountain City.
- Address
- Rabun County, GA 30537 (GPS 34.9832, -83.2660)
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Holcomb Creek Falls
Holcomb Creek Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Franklin in Rabun County, number 19 of 30 by distance. It ranks 15th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Its own nearest town is Mountain City.
- Rating
- 4.4 (9 Google reviews)
- Address
- Rabun County, GA 30537 (GPS 34.9816, -83.2657)
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Queens Falls
Queens Falls lies 17 miles west of Franklin in Macon County, number 20 of 30 by distance. It ranks 14th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. 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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Slatten Falls
Slatten Falls lies 19 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 21 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC 28736 (GPS 35.2043, -83.0549)
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Twin Falls
Twin Falls lies 19 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 22 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.1393, -83.0435)
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Maidenhair Falls
Maidenhair Falls lies 19 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 23 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.1409, -83.0424)
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Fairfield Falls
Fairfield Falls lies 19 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 24 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.1345, -83.0421)
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Spoonauger Falls
Spoonauger Falls lies 21 miles southeast of Franklin in Oconee County, number 25 of 30 by distance. It ranks 8th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Its own nearest town is Walhalla.
- Rating
- 4.8 (23 Google reviews)
- Address
- Oconee County, SC 29664 (GPS 34.9745, -83.1096)
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Timpson Falls
Timpson Falls lies 21 miles south of Franklin in Rabun County, number 26 of 30 by distance. It ranks 16th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Its own nearest town is Clayton.
- Rating
- 4.8 (6 Google reviews)
- Address
- Rabun County, GA 30525 (GPS 34.8870, -83.4846)
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Schoolhouse Falls
Schoolhouse Falls lies 21 miles east of Franklin in Jackson County, number 27 of 30 by distance. Its own nearest town is Cullowhee.
- Address
- Jackson County, NC (GPS 35.1632, -83.0065)
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Kings Creek Falls
Kings Creek Falls lies 21 miles southeast of Franklin in Oconee County, number 28 of 30 by distance. It ranks 6th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Its own nearest town is Walhalla.
- Rating
- 4.9 (68 Google reviews)
- Address
- Oconee County, SC 29664 (GPS 34.9662, -83.1113)
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Kennedy Falls
Kennedy Falls lies 22 miles west of Franklin in Cherokee County, number 29 of 30 by distance. It ranks 21st for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Its own nearest town is Andrews.
- Rating
- 1.0 (2 Google reviews)
- Address
- Cherokee County, NC 28901 (GPS 35.2006, -83.7649)
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Big Bend Falls
Big Bend Falls lies 22 miles southeast of Franklin in Rabun County, number 30 of 30 by distance. It ranks 11th for review count among waterfalls near Franklin. Its own nearest town is Mountain City.
- Rating
- 4.7 (12 Google reviews)
- Address
- Rabun County, GA 29664 (GPS 34.9531, -83.1188)
Where the Waterfalls Are
Franklin 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 Franklin: 20 to the east, 18 to the southeast, 6 to the south, 5 to the west, 3 to the north, 3 to the northeast, and 2 to the southwest. They are spread across Jackson County (16), Macon County (10), Rabun County (9), Transylvania County (8), Oconee County (6), and Swain County (3). The average distance is 20.3 miles.
By Distance
Within 10 miles of Franklin
Burningtown Falls (6.8 mi), Cullasaja Falls (7.8 mi), Quarry Falls (8.9 mi)
10 to 20 miles of Franklin
Berties Falls (11 mi), Dry Falls (11 mi), Bridal Veil Falls (11 mi), Thurston Hatcher Falls (12 mi), High Falls (13 mi), Onion Falls (13 mi), Glen Falls (13 mi), Estatoah Falls (13 mi), Mud Creek Falls (14 mi), Highlands Falls (14 mi), Betsy Falls (14 mi), Satulah Falls (15 mi), Onion Cliff Falls (15 mi), Ammons Creek Falls (15 mi), Darnell Falls (15 mi), Holcomb Creek Falls (15 mi), Queens Falls (17 mi), Slatten Falls (19 mi), Twin Falls (19 mi), Maidenhair Falls (19 mi), Fairfield Falls (19 mi)
20 to 30 miles of Franklin
Spoonauger Falls (21 mi), Timpson Falls (21 mi), Schoolhouse Falls (21 mi), Kings Creek Falls (21 mi), Kennedy Falls (22 mi), Big Bend Falls (22 mi), Little Creek Falls (22 mi), Upper Falls (23 mi), Dick's Creek Falls (23 mi), Dismal Falls (23 mi), Corbin Creek Falls (23 mi), Upper Vernal Falls (24 mi), Stekoa Falls (24 mi), Lower Vernal Falls (24 mi), Woodfin Falls (24 mi), Rainbow Falls (24 mi), Soco Falls (25 mi), Lower Falls (25 mi), Mingo Falls (25 mi), Windy Falls (25 mi), Dill Falls (26 mi), Toxaway Falls (26 mi), Hemlock Falls (26 mi), Hidden Falls (27 mi), Leatherwood Falls (28 mi), Wilson Falls (28 mi), Flat Creek Falls (28 mi), Courthouse Falls (28 mi), Wilson Falls (29 mi), Whitewater Falls (29 mi), Bird Rock Falls (30 mi), Sids Falls (30 mi), Isaqueena Falls (30 mi)
Nearby Towns With Waterfalls
Waterfalls Near Franklin: FAQs
How many waterfalls are near Franklin, NC?
57 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Franklin: 3 within 10 miles, 21 10 to 20 miles, 33 20 to 30 miles. Distances are straight-line from the town center.
What is the closest waterfall to Franklin?
Burningtown Falls in Macon County is the closest, about 6.8 miles west of Franklin.
What is the best-rated waterfall near Franklin?
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 Franklin in?
Jackson County (16), Macon County (10), Rabun County (9), Transylvania County (8), and Oconee County (6).
How does Franklin compare with other North Carolina towns?
Franklin ranks 3rd of the 31 North Carolina towns in our directory for the number of waterfalls within 30 miles.