ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT ERIC CHAMPLIN OR SUMMIT19 STUDIO LLC. In the early 1900s, the river’s turbulent flow was dammed by a small concrete dam and harnessed by a hydroelectric facility. Good place for that last coffee and a pit stop. by Three Rivers Land Trust | Jan 24, 2018. Who else is ready for a warm summer night at #CatawbaFalls? He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. It's a really beautiful waterfall at the end of a (sometimes steep) trail just down the mountain from us in Old Fort, North Carolina. It was ironically on the way home from this same trip that I visited a newly acquired US Forest Service access to the beautiful Catawba Falls. This hike follows the mighty Catawba River way up near its headwaters. This trail is maintained thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and donations from supporters of the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The US Forest Service is working on a safe trail to the upper Catawba Falls but it is not complete yet. Thanks to Foothills Conservancy for providing the public access to this beautiful gem. The hike returns to the main trail, crossing the stream, Clover Patch Branch, and resuming the climb. Catawba Falls is near the town of Old Fort, and it is just off Interstate 40 on Catawba River Road. Large boulders below the falls make a great place to relax, grab a dip in the waterfall’s cool flow or enjoy some quick mid-hike refreshments before the return hike. But there is a very good reason. Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out. You can learn more about Foothills Conservancy on their website at https://foothillsconservancy.org/. Josh said: Hiked the Catawba Falls trail today (6/25/17). Burke County Public Health reported 33 new COVID-19 cases and one death related to … Contact us today! It took an act of Congress to obtain the extension of the proclamation boundary to include this property, before they could even seek the funds for US Forest Service to acquire the tract. The trail winds along the river and ends at a cliff and this really beautiful waterfall and pool (great for swimming in summer by the way).& Consider stopping by Catawba Falls on your next trip to Asheville. A new fishing platform is currently scheduled to open to the public in 2021. (Please don’t climb on the dam ruins or near the rocks surrounding waterfalls, as they’re often very slippery!). Showing approx location of sites. Passing one mile, the trail becomes rocky, scrambling over boulders and crossing Chestnut Branch, as the sound of rushing water grows louder. We'd love to know! The hike departs a signed trailhead near Old Fort, just east of Asheville on I-40 (view maps and driving directions). A steep side trail descends to the river’s banks at .9 mile, catching views of a tumbling waterfall on the river beside a small cave. Fortunately, both of these properties are now in public ownership. For more information you can contact the Grandfather Ranger District at (828) 652-2144. Catawba County is now at 16,036 virus cases, with 92 hospitalizations and 14,704 recoveries. The three mile out-and-back, gently climbing hike with a 100 foot waterfall as your destination makes it very family friendly as … Moderate elevation and no major rocks or roots. February 12. The rustic remnants and ruins of the electrical plant still stand in the quiet, sun-dappled forest today, covered in moss and lichen, and slowly receding into the forest. As I pulled out, I was uncertain of any location except that I was heading… VISIT OUR SHOP ABOUT US OUR STORY CONTACT US. Looking back, I realized that I have not visited Catawba Falls this year. With the help of conservation-minded landowners, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and private donations, roughly 13 miles of the river was protected. Lacrosse (M) BELMONT ABBEY 13-9 Copyright © 2018 Three Rivers Land Trust | 204 East Innes Street, Suite 280 Salisbury, NC 28144 | Phone: 704-647-0302, Low Water Bridge Graveyard and Champion Shortleaf Pine Hike, 2021 Spring and Fall Uwharrie Trail Thru Hike. Catawba Falls is located south of Mount Mitchell, the tallest summit east of the Mississippi River, and one of the most beautiful, scenic hiking areas we’ve explored. Blewett Falls Tailrace Fishing Area - Updated March 9, 2020 - Due to storm damage received during Hurricane Florence and associated construction activity in the area Blewett Tailrace Fishing Platform is closed to the public. Note: slippery rocks and fast moving water can be extremely dangerous! And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions. A few years before that, I was on a trip to Washington D.C. to talk to our legislative leaders about the Land and Water Conservation Fund and our projects that we were seeking funding for, at that time it was the acquisition of King Mountain in the Uwharries. It's in the southern tip of the Pisgah National Forest's Grandfather Ranger District, just south of the Old Fort grade on I-40. The 100-foot-tall Catawba Falls, which is actually the lower of two falls in the 88 acres obtained by the Forest Service in 2010, may be the state’s prettiest waterfall. At just over 2.5 miles, roundtrip, and with just over 300 feet of climb, its a moderate hike thats great for families with kids, families with dogs or just about anyone in search of some b… We are not a resort, just a family style campground that offers you a friendly and inexpensive place to stay while you visit our lovely mountains. The Catawba Indian Nation intends to open the first part of its planned $273 million Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain by next fall, Tribal Administrator Elizabeth Harris said. Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route. The trail reaches the trailhead at 2.7 miles, completing the adventure. Tribal Administrator Elizabeth Harris said "After clearing is complete, we will begin building an introductory facility." Catawba Falls cascades over a rocky, blocky outcrop, spilling in multiple tiers and tendrils over the moss and plant-covered cliff. Whatever event you have in mind.. we can make it happen. Get directions, find nearby businesses and places, and much more. © 2014 - 2020 Trailful Outdoor Co. // Made in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our photos do not truly capture it. There is a parking area now complete with restrooms, and it is just a short walk from there to the falls. This fantastic day hike explores waterfall after waterfall in a sun-dappled valley, hiking just over two miles through a shady forest to the seeping wall of vibrant green moss and tendrils of water known as Catawba Falls. Catawba Valley Community College, located in Hickory North Carolina, has three schools, School of Academics And Educational Opportunities, School of Workforce Development And The Arts, School of Health and Public Services, offering over 50 degrees and 700 courses. The hike arcs through a switchback and rounds a curve, the lower stretches of the towering waterfall suddenly appearing in the near distance. 35.613083, -82.230667     //     N35 36.785 W82 13.840. Catawba Falls Trail Details Difficulty: Easy Length: 1.5 miles each way; 3 miles round-trip Region: Old Fort, McDowell County, Pisgah National Forest Duration of hike: About 3 hours total Elevation gain: 465 feet to the falls Type: Out & Back Blazes: None Facilities & Parking: Parking lot and restrooms Features: Waterfalls, Pet Friendly, Kid Friendly Directions to Trail Head | Open in Google … The lower falls were interesting as the water gets diverted as it cascades down creating several mini-falls. His mission? Foothills Conservancy is a nationally accredited regional land trust, is dedicated to working cooperatively with landowners, communities, and public and private conservation partners to preserve and protect important natural areas and open spaces of the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills, including watersheds, environmentally significant habitats, forests, and farmland, for this and future generations. Foothills Conservancy out of Morganton NC worked for several years to obtain a critical access to Catawba Falls. The trail meanders through a shady forest, fording several usually-shallow crossings to visit several small waterfalls, a beautiful waterfall at the old electric dam, and the tall cascades of Catawba Falls as it tumbles down a multi-tiered, moss-covered cliff. When we were there the parking lot was open, but the restrooms were closed. There are an average of 2,400 courses a year. There won’t be many more waterfall hikes in 2014 for me. Eric Champlin is a creative director and photographer who loves to explore southeast. I love Catawba Falls. The trail reaches the Catawba River at just under .2 mile, following yellow trail blazes on a newly-opened section of trail. There is a McDonald’s restaurant just before you take the road to the falls. I’ve written about the Land and Water Conservation Fund before, which is an important source of funding for expanding national public lands. Please don’t climb, stand on, swim near, or jump from any waterfall. LWCF derives its funding not from taxes, but rather from royalties paid by private gas companies who are extracting publicly owned oil and minerals from federal waters in the outer continental shelf. The Catawba Indian Nation plans to build a 60,000-square-foot initial casino that will open this fall. The hike goes to the lower Catawba Falls, where there is a nice flat area for viewing the falls. Baseball @ Lincoln Memorial 12-11. Hike the Catawba Falls Trail east of Asheville, trekking through a mossy, shady forest valley to a beautiful series of waterfalls on the Catawba River. I would plan on them being closed in the colder months. Your Dream Wedding We host stunning weddings year-round at Catawba Falls Events, taking advantage of our various indoor and outdoor locations. LOCATION:east of Asheville, in the Pisgah National Forest, PACK:our Osprey day pack and our hiking gear list, OFFICIAL MAP: Nat Geo 779 Trails Illustrated Map (find it at Trailful Outdoor Co.). The trail to Catawba Falls is mostly flat and easy, though there is some elevation gain. Upper Catawba Falls Hurricane Sandy is all but a memory here in NC. There is a trail to the upper Catawba Falls but it is extremely difficult and dangerous, and is officially closed for now. A temporary gaming facility at the site could be ready to open by the fall, Harris said, the Observer previously reported. Catawba Falls is near the town of Old Fort, and it is just off Interstate 40 on Catawba River Road. Even on the lower Catawba Falls, you must be careful on the slippery rocks around the waterfall or you could fall and be seriously injured. Jan 24, 2013 - Foothills Conservancy worked to protect 88 acres of the Catawba headwaters adjoining the Pisgah National Forest. The Catawba Nation and the State of North Carolina signed a compact today that allows the state to share in revenues generated by the new Two Kings Casino Resort, which will be located in the City of Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, NC. Catawba Falls, one of Western North Carolina's exceptional Blue Ridge waterfalls over 100 ft high, is now fully accessible to the public and a highly recommended destination. Celebration Helping you to find the perfect space on our property for your wedding is of vital importance to us. All rights reserved. There is a parking area now complete with restrooms, and it is just a short walk from there to the falls. Today, Catawba Falls is open to visitors and a highly recommended destination. The headwaters of the Catawba River are beautifully scenic. Catawba Falls is a destination that most people can tackle. The Falls themselves were on US Forest Service land, but the 88-acre property that provided the only physical access to the falls was privately owned. WILMINGTON — Family-owned and Morganton-based Catawba Valley Brewing Co., one of Southeast’s older and larger craft brewers, has expanded to … Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, a regional land trust, announced today that it has sold to the U.S. Forest Service 88 acres which provide long-sought public access to Catawba Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Old Fort. Today, Catawba Falls is open to visitors and a highly recommended destination. Free parking is available at the trailhead. At just over 2.5 miles, roundtrip, and with just over 300 feet of climb, it’s a moderate hike that’s great for families with kids, families with dogs or just about anyone in search of some beautiful waterfalls. 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