8 Best Hikes Near Highlands, NC

North Carolina has a plethora of cute mountain towns and Highlands is one of my favorites! With a population of just over 1,000, the town is so quaint and charming. I always have to stop by Mountain Fresh Grocery for some coffee and a snack when I’m passing through. I’ve yet to try it, but I’ve heard their pizza is to die for (MULTIPLE people tell me this every time I share this place on my IG stories, so it must be pretty dang good).

I love hiking in Highlands because you get a lot of bang for your buck. Cute town? Check. Lots of waterfalls? Check. Stunning mountain views? Check. Plenty of amazing restaurants and places to stay? Check. The best part is that all of these hikes are located within just 20-30 minutes of the town. I wish I didn’t live so far away, but that just gives me an excuse to stay overnight when I visit.

In this blog post, I’ll be sharing eight of my favorite hikes near Highlands, NC. The hikes I mention are hikes I’ve done myself and highly recommend. I tried to include a good variety ranging from views that are nearly roadside with very little walking required to hikes that will undoubtedly make you work up a sweat.

Hiking Trails in Highlands, NC

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Whiteside Mountain Trail

• Length: 1.9mi loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Kid Friendly: Yes

Whiteside Mountain Trail is located just 10 minutes outside of Highlands. You would never guess it’s so close to the town when your on this hike. The jaw-dropping cliff walls exceed 700ft!

You can choose to hike this one clockwise or counterclockwise since it’s a loop. If you hike it clockwise (by going up the stairs), you’ll start with a pretty steep ascent up the mountain and then your descent will be a lot more gradual. It’s just the opposite if you hike it counterclockwise (by going up the road to the left).

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of hikes with one tiny lookout at the top. My favorite thing about Whiteside Mountain is the fact that there are SO many different viewpoints and lookouts along the top from which you can see the incredible cliffs. It’s a heavily trafficked trail, but there’s ample room for everyone to spread out and have their own space.

A little history moment for you: The town of Highlands was founded in 1875. At this time, a road to Whiteside Mountain did not exist. What is now know as the historic Kelsey Trail was developed as a solution. This trail became a popular activity for Highlands residents. Now the trail is protected by the Highlands Plateau Greenway, a non-profit that maintains and protects many of the hikes near Highlands, NC. I haven’t hiked the Kelsey Trail yet, but it’s on my list!

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Silver Run Falls

• Length: 0.2mi out & back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Kid Friendly: Yes

If you find yourself in need of a backup plan due to the parking situation at Whiteside (there’s a decent amount of parking but it’s a popular spot so it’s not uncommon for the parking lot to be full), finish up at Whiteside and want something else to do, or simply want to go on a quick waterfall adventure, check out Silver Run Falls!

The parking area is a small pull-off along NC Highway 107. There’s a large sign for the trailhead at the righthand side of the parking lot, so it’s impossible to miss. Follow this trail and in just minutes, you’ll be standing in front of this gorgeous 20ft waterfall.

There’s plenty of room to admire the waterfall from afar (as I’m doing in the shot above), but I figured I’d mention that the swimming hole at this waterfall is 10/10. It’s deep, easily accessible, and would make for a great summer adventure!

Also Read: 25 Stunning Waterfalls in North Carolina

Glen Falls

• Length: 2.4mi out & back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Kid Friendly: Yes

If you love chasing waterfalls, Highlands is the PERFECT place to get your fix. There are so many good waterfalls in the Nantahala National Forest and Glen Falls is no exception. This short hike features a beautiful three-part waterfall that’s sure to keep you saying “wow” over and over!

In order to reach the waterfalls, you’ll descend through a beautiful forest. I did this hike during fall and the colors were nothing short of incredible.

You’ll first come across an overlook at the upper falls. Continue your descent to reach the middle falls (shown above), which was my favorite spot along this trail. The lower falls are located at the end of the trail and it is from this point you’ll turn around and hike back out. It’s a pretty steep climb (both down and out), so trekking poles aren’t a bad idea!

Chinquapin Mountain Trail

• Length: 3.1mi out & back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Kid Friendly: Yes

For a moderate hike with incredible mountain views, check out Chinquapin Mountain Trail. Both Glen Falls and Chinquapin Mountain Trail leave from the same parking area. Therefore, I recommend doing both for an adventure filled day full of waterfalls of mountain views! The best of both worlds.

You’ll start on the same trail that takes you to Glen Falls, but you’ll immediately veer right onto the Chinquapin Mountain Trail. It’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, so be on the lookout. You’ll hike through the forest, cross a few creeks, and endure some switchbacks to reach the top.

Once you reach the top, it’s really up to you as to how many of the lookouts you visit. They start at 5 and count down to 1, each with its own spur trail leading to the lookout. I really enjoyed the views at Lookouts 5 and 3.

The trail to Lookout 5 was brief and easy. You can even see Whiteside Mountain in the distance to your left! The hike to Lookout 3 is longer and downhill, which means you have to climb back out. In my opinion, the the views from Lookout 3 are 100% worth the extra work!

Yellow Mountain Trail

• Length: 3.0mi out & back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Kid Friendly: Yes

I first want to clarify that I’m talking about the shortcut to Yellow Mountain Fire Tower via Cloud Catcher Lane in this blog post. Alternatively, you can begin at Cole Gap and hike 12mi roundtrip. More information on that route here.

To access the trailhead at Cloud Catcher Lane, use this address: 1898-1890 Cloud Catcher Ln, Cullowhee, NC 28723. You’ll drive up a narrow gravel road and then come to a clearing where the road ends. This clearing serves as the parking area. Take the trail in the back left corner to begin the hike. It’s marked with a short, brown US Forest sign.

The 360-degree mountain views from this fire tower make you feel like you’re on top of the world. Don’t let the fact that this is a shortcut fool you! It’s still strenuous since you’re hiking at a pretty steep incline the entire way up. I’m considering it kid friendly, but I would narrow that down to older kids who are good on their feet.

Also Read: How to Spend a Weekend in Asheville, NC

Sunset Rock Trail

• Length: 1.4mi out & back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Kid Friendly: Yes

In terms of mountain views, Sunset Rock is probably one of the most well-known hikes near Highlands, NC. It’s just minutes from the town center, making it a really convenient spot for a quick adventure! I’ve done this hike for sunset a few times and it never disappoints.

The parking area is located across from the Nature Center on Horse Cove Road. From there, you’ll walk up a gravel road until you reach the short spur trail for Sunset Rock on your right. From the top, you’ll be able to look down on Highlands and have a great view of the surrounding mountains.

After you finish this hike, it’s the perfect opportunity to go into town and stop by Mountain Fresh Grocery for some pizza!

Pro Tip: At the top of the gravel road, veer left to visit Sunrise Rock. It’s not quite as impressive as Sunset Rock IMO but worth stopping to see for a different viewpoint if you’re up there!

Dry Falls

• Length: 0.4mi out & back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Kid Friendly: Yes

What would this list be without Dry Falls? Arguably the most well-known attraction around Highlands, this incredible waterfall should be at the top of your list of hikes near Highlands, NC.

The parking area for Dry Fall is pretty large compared to many of the others on this list. It does get full because this is a popular spot, but the turnover is quick since it’s such a short hike. I’ve never had to wait more than a few minutes for a parking spot, even on a busy day.

Dry Falls is one of the many waterfalls along the Cullasaja River. It can be viewed from the upper viewing platform, which is handicap accessible and stroller friendly, or you can choose to take the stairs down to the waterfall for a closer look. I’ve been to this waterfall so many times, and I’ll never say no to revisiting. Being able to walk behind this extremely powerful, 65ft waterfall never gets old.

Secret Falls

• Length: 1.3mi out & back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Kid Friendly: Yes

I took MANY trips to do some of the hikes in Highlands, NC before ever visiting this waterfall simply because I didn’t realize it was there. There was only one other car in the parking area when I visited on a Saturday afternoon. It truly seems to be a bit of a secret.

The trailhead is located deep in the forest. You’ll have to drive down a gravel road for a good bit (around 10 minutes or so) before arriving. The parking area is located on your right and easy to miss because it’s small and not marked. Check out my in-depth guide on hiking to Secret Falls here.

For the most part, this trail is very easy. I’m giving it a moderate rating solely for the descent down to the base of the waterfall. The trail forks when you get close to reaching the waterfall. The path to your left takes you to the top and the path to your right takes you to the base. In order to the base, you have to go down some pretty steep stairs. This portion of the trail has suffered some serious erosion, so make sure to be extra careful and watch your step.

There’s a sandy/beachy area to the left of the waterfall where you can relax and take in the beauty of this 50ft waterfall. If you happen to be there on a warm day, this waterfall has a great swimming hole!

There are so many amazing hikes in Highlands, NC! Have you done any of these or others that I didn’t mention? If so, which one is your favorite? It’s hard to pick, but I think Whiteside is my favorite from this list. Scaly Mountain Trail and Satulah Mountain Trail are two more on my to-do list in this area that I haven’t done quite yet!