Asheville’s #1 Family Photographer reveals the very Best Kid Friendly Waterfalls in Asheville!
Hiking to Waterfalls is a much beloved summer tradition in Asheville whether you’re local to the area or visiting Western North Carolina! There are over 300 waterfalls in WNC and there’s nothing quite like making a day of it followed by the gratifying and refreshing feeling of taking the plunge into those clean, brisk mountain waters found only at the base of our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfalls after a long, hot summer hike! As a WNC native, Asheville local and mother to an energetic and adventurous seven year old boy, I am the perfect person to relay the very Best Kid Friendly Waterfalls in Asheville (and it’s surrounding mountain towns)!
What qualifies as a Kid Friendly Waterfall?
While certainly beautiful, many of the 300+ waterfalls in and around Asheville, NC would not qualify as Kid Friendly because of their distance from Asheville, the difficulty of the trail and / or the dangerous terrain around the waterfall (think: cliffs, narrow foot paths on a cliffside, bouldering large rocks, etc.) For the purpose of this post, the criteria used to define a Kid Friendly Waterfall in Asheville is as follows:
- Distance from the city of Asheville is 1.5hrs or less.
- The Hike is relatively short, flat and easily traversed by young children, walking independently.
- There’s a swimming hole to splash around in at the base of the waterfall.
Essential Safety Information for Swimming at Kid Friendly Waterfalls in North Carolina:
- Swim only at the base of the waterfall.
- It is extremely dangerous to explore, swim or play at the top of waterfalls. The rocks beneath the water are unbelievably slippery and there are dozens of fatalities each summer because of folks underestimating the current and the slippery rocks.
- Children should always wear secure footwear (water shoes like native, keen or teva are great)
- Mountain rivers water falling from waterfalls can be very cold, even in the summer. It’s important for young children to wear floatation devices if going into the pools deeper than knee length as the temperature of the water could take their breath away rendering inexperienced swimmers unable to swim as well as they could in warmer waters.
Bust Your Butt Falls
Bust Your Butt Falls is a roadside waterfall located near Highlands, NC (about an hour or so from Asheville), this is a very popular swimming hole in the summer because it’s beautiful, easily accessible and there’s a natural slide, swimming hole and even a rope swing if you’re feeling adventurous!
Graveyard Fields (Lower Falls)
Graveyard Fields is an easy hike (.6 miles round trip) located along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Mile Post 418 and is one of the most popular day trips from Asheville! Although there are two waterfalls to explore at Graveyard Fields (upper and lower falls), I recommend lower falls for kids because it’s a shorter, easier hike!
Hooker Falls in DuPont State Forrest Best Kid Friendly Waterfalls in Asheville
DuPont State Forrest is a short 45 minute – 1hr drive from Asheville and other mountain towns (like Brevard and Hendersonville). The forrest is home to multiple waterfalls and other scenic locations featured in films like the Hunger Games and Last of the Mohicans. Hooker Falls is a short, .8 mile roundtrip hike to a 12ft waterfall that spreads all the way across the river! The water at the base of the falls is shallow and gentle, making it the perfect place for swimming and picnicking with your children!
Silver Run Falls
Silver Run Falls is a gorgeous 25ft waterfall located in Jackson County, near Cashiers (about an hour and some change from Asheville). Parking can be challenging here but this spot is very much worth the hassle! The best part about this waterfall is that there’s a great pool at the base of the waterfall with a gentle current and has a sloped entry with soft sand which is perfect for littles!
By this point, you may be thinking to yourself: “gosh! these family portraits are gorgeous!” (thank you!)
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