Glen Falls Hike
Waterfall | North Carolina
1.7 mi round trip
500 ft
Easy
Glen Falls Hike at a Glance
The Glen Falls hike is 1.7 mi round trip with 500 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 3,280 ft |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1.7 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 500 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 50 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 460 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 1.7 mi distance and 500 ft of gain for this hike are verified (ashevilletrails.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Glen Falls
Glen Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina, on land managed by Nantahala National Forest (Nantahala Ranger District).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Glen Falls Trail: 1.7 miles round trip with about 500 feet of elevation gain, from Glen Falls USFS trailhead (off NC 106, southwest of Highlands). Distance from ashevilletrails.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- Parking at the USFS trailhead is free. (ashevilletrails.com)
- Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. (ashevilletrails.com)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Nantahala National Forest (Nantahala Ranger District) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Glen Falls?
The Glen Falls Trail to Glen Falls is 1.7 miles round trip with about 500 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Glen Falls hike start?
It starts from Glen Falls USFS trailhead (off NC 106, southwest of Highlands).
Is there a fee to hike to Glen Falls?
Parking at the USFS trailhead is free.
Are dogs allowed on the Glen Falls trail?
Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Glen Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- ashevilletrails.com
- Distance
- ashevilletrails.com
- Falls location
- ncwaterfalls.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Glen Falls.