Waterfalls around Charlotte at a glance
There are 318 named waterfalls within 100 miles of downtown Charlotte. The nearest is Little Long Creek Falls, about 23 mi WNW in a straight line. Most of the falls around the city lie to the west: 236 of the 318. The radius reaches into 3 states, led by North Carolina (239), South Carolina (74) and Tennessee (5).
Distances here are straight lines from the city centre. Roads bend around ridges and rivers, so a fall 20 miles out can take an hour to reach. Search your own street or tap Find falls near me above to measure from where you are.
How far you have to drive
| Within | Named waterfalls |
|---|---|
| 10 miles of Charlotte | 0 |
| 25 miles of Charlotte | 3 |
| 50 miles of Charlotte | 7 |
| 100 miles of Charlotte | 318 |
Well-known falls within reach of Charlotte
Linville Falls (79 miNW), Hickory Nut Falls (81 miW) and Rainbow Falls (81 miWNW) are among the best-known waterfalls within 100 miles. Each is described on its state page: waterfalls in North Carolina.
The 15 nearest waterfalls to Charlotte
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Long Creek Falls | 23 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Long Creek Falls | 23 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| High Shoals | 23 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Great Falls | 42 mi ENE | not recorded | Stanly County, North Carolina |
| Uwharrie Falls | 44 mi ENE | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Great Falls of Catawba | 45 mi S | not recorded | Chester County, South Carolina |
| Cedar Falls | 48 mi S | not recorded | Kershaw County, South Carolina |
| Granite Falls | 51 mi NW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Little River Falls | 51 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Upper High Shoals Falls | 51 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| High Shoals Falls | 51 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Big Bear Falls | 52 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Beautimos Falls | 53 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Black Mountain Falls | 54 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
| Pot Branch Falls | 54 mi WNW | not recorded | North Carolina |
Tallest recorded waterfalls near Charlotte
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 18 of the 318 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Shunkawauken Falls | 148 ft | 77 mi W |
| Rainbow Falls | 138 ft | 99 mi W |
| Goliath Falls | 118 ft | 74 mi NW |
| Upper Creek Falls | 98 ft | 77 mi NW |
| Incredible Falls | 98 ft | 84 mi N |
| Pearson's Falls | 89 ft | 84 mi W |
| Middle Fork Rock Creek Falls | 79 ft | 87 mi WNW |
| Big Bradley Falls | 75 ft | 82 mi W |
| Crabtree Falls | 66 ft | 84 mi WNW |
| Little Bradley Falls | 49 ft | 82 mi W |
Counties with the most falls near Charlotte
Greenville County, SC (6), Henderson County, NC (6), Wilkes County, NC (5), Mitchell County, NC (5) and Stokes County, NC (5). County is from the USGS record, so falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap are not counted here.
Before you go
The map shows where falls are, not whether a trail reaches them or the land is open. Check the land manager for closures, fees and parking, and stay on the trail near the water. See waterfall safety, waterfall hikes near me and the best time to see waterfalls.
Waterfalls near other cities: Boone, Greenville, Asheville, Brevard, Roanoke.