Cardinal MountainHiking & waterfalls
Franklin sits inside the Nantahala National Forest, so trailheads and waterfalls start close and keep going.
You could spend a week here and not run out. A few worth building a day around:
Wayah Bald
A 5,385-foot summit with a historic stone lookout tower on top, reached by an easy walk from the parking area. On a clear day you can see into Georgia and Tennessee. Both the Appalachian Trail and the Bartram Trail run across it. This is the one to do first.
Rufus Morgan Falls
A one-mile loop through quiet woods ending at a waterfall of around sixty feet. Short, shaded, and rewarding — good for an afternoon when you don’t want to commit to a whole day. The trail is named for a naturalist who helped build the Appalachian Trail.
Dry Falls
Roughly 75 feet of water pouring over an overhanging bluff, with a paved walkway that takes you behind the curtain without getting soaked. Northeast of town on US-64 toward Highlands. The most photographed waterfall in the county for good reason.
Bridal Veil and Cullasaja Falls
Both on the same stretch of US-64. Bridal Veil is right beside the road — the old highway used to run underneath it. Cullasaja drops around 250 feet through the gorge, visible from a pull-off, with a steep rough scramble down for anyone determined.
Pickens Nose
Three quarters of a mile each way to a set of rock overlooks with long views south. Moderate, and worth the care near the edges — the drops are real.
The Bartram Trail
A hundred miles of trail through North Carolina following the route of the botanist William Bartram. Several sections start within a short drive, so you can walk a piece of it for an hour or a day.
This content is actively being updated with drive times from the campground gate.