Catawba Falls Group Hike

every Friday
March 27, 2026 - November 6, 2026

Just east of Asheville is the spectacular Catawba Falls, situated at the headwaters of the Catawba River. This hike starts on a wide, well-graded trail along the Catawba River to Lower Catawba Falls. You'll then climb the observation tower (580 stairs in total!) to see a spectacular east-facing view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Then continue to Upper Catawba Falls, which was off limits to hikers until 2024. This hike is about 3.5 miles round trip, overall moderate (but not technical). It's a great way to see both sweeping mountain views and waterfalls... it's a beautiful hike year round!

This is an ideal tour for solo travelers or small groups, folks visiting Asheville without a vehicle, or hikers who want an easy way to see one of Western NC's most popular waterfalls.

Cost:

$120 per person

Cost includes a guided half day hike, snacks, and transportation between Asheville and the trailhead. This hike requires 2 participants to operate; maximum group size is 6 hikers. If the minimum has not yet been met, we'll reach out to the registered participant 48 hours before the trip to discuss options.

Sign-Up Details:

In order to sign up for this trip, please go to our trip calendar and select your desired trip date. This hike is available every Friday, late March - early November.

Itinerary:

This small group hike meets in downtown Asheville at 8:30am. The guide will review the hike and you'll head to the trailhead (drive time is about 35 minutes). The hike is 3.5 mile round trip on wide, well-graded trails along the Catawba River. This hike visits both Lower Catawba Falls and Upper Catawba Falls. We consider this hike easy-moderate - the trails are easy and non-technical, with a total of 580 stairs to climb between the two falls. The observation tower provides sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This area has a wide diversity of wildflowers in the spring and summer, and stunning foliage colors in the fall.

Snacks and transportation are included in the trip cost. Total time is approximately 3.5-4 hours, returning to Asheville in time to grab lunch from one of our many fantastic restaurants! Trekking poles, bottled water, and/or a daypack can be provided to hikers upon request, at no additional charge.

Hikers should arrive prepared for all weather conditions and pack a rain jacket, an extra warm layer, and water. In the event of severe or dangerous weather conditions, your hike may be canceled/rescheduled. We recommend wearing sturdy hiking shoes and bringing a camera to capture the magnificent waterfalls.

Guides:

Your guide for most dates will be Eli "Little Bit" Adams. Born and raised in South Florida, Eli fell in love with the outdoors during a year-long stay in Hawaii and pursued a career in environmental education. With years of experience in adventure guiding, from kayaking hidden mangrove tunnels to sumiting local mountains, she has been a naturalist and hiking guide in the Blue Ridge Mountains for over four years. She earned the trail name "Little Bit" because of her keen eye for small forest discoveries.

For days where Eli is not available, another BRHC guide may lead this tour. All of our guides have extensive backcountry knowledge and experience, and are certified in Wilderness First Aid (or higher) and CPR.

Cancellation Policy:

Payment in full is required to register. Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hike may be cancelled up to 1 week before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% fee). Within 1 week, a 50% refund will be offered. Within 48 hours, a refund will only be offered if Blue Ridge Hiking Company cancels the trip due to severe weather or having not met the trip minimum.

If your guide does an outstanding job, please show your appreciation with a tip! Our team of well trained, professional guides never expects but always appreciates a tip. Industry standard gratuity is 20-25% of the trip cost.

If you have any questions regarding this trip, you can reach us by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.