A Guide to Cullasaja Gorge: Scenic Drives, Waterfalls & Mountain Views

The Mountain Waters Scenic Byway passes through Nantahala National Forest, connecting mountain scenery with waterfalls and recreation areas. Its Cullasaja Gorge section follows US 64 between Highlands and Franklin, where the road winds alongside the river and descends through the mountains.

For visitors staying in Highlands, the drive begins almost as soon as you leave town. Bridal Veil Falls is an early stop, followed by Dry Falls. Continue west and the road draws closer to the river, with wooded slopes and rock walls framing the route toward Cullasaja Falls.

Allow more time than the distance on a map suggests. This is a narrow, winding mountain road, and the experience is better when you can enjoy each stop without watching the clock. Plan your route before setting out, and pull over only where there is a suitable place to park fully clear of traffic.

Bridal Veil Falls is a memorable introduction to the gorge. Located just west of Highlands along US 64, the waterfall drops beside the road, making it possible to see the cascade without taking a hike. Its roadside setting makes it an easy first stop before the route begins winding deeper into the gorge.

Take a moment to step out, listen to the water, and photograph the falls from a safe stopping place. The experience can look different with the season: lush greenery frames the waterfall in warmer months, while changing leaves add color to the surrounding slopes in fall.

Because Bridal Veil Falls is so close to town, it also works well for visitors who have limited time. Pair it with Dry Falls for a shorter outing, or continue through the gorge if you have a full afternoon to explore.

A little farther west, Dry Falls gives you a chance to leave the car and experience a waterfall up close. A short path leads down from the parking area toward the 75-foot cascade, then continues behind it. From the walkway, you can look out through the falling water toward the forest beyond.

Dry Falls is one of the most rewarding stops on the drive because it changes your perspective on the landscape. After watching waterfalls from the road, you can feel the spray and hear the water from directly behind the cascade. Take care on the path, which may be wet underfoot.

Give yourself time to enjoy the viewing areas instead of rushing back to the car. If you are planning a trip around this particular stop, our guide to visiting Dry Falls near Highlands has more detail on what to expect.

Cullasaja Falls is the gorge’s namesake waterfall and one of the most dramatic sights on the route. The Cullasaja River tumbles down a steep series of cascades, with the falls framed by forest and the mountain slopes around them. Unlike Dry Falls, this is primarily a roadside viewing experience.

That distinction matters when planning your stop. The road near Cullasaja Falls is narrow and winding, and there is no developed visitor trail to the base. Pull-offs are limited. If there is no safe space available, enjoy the view from the drive and continue to your next stop rather than parking along the roadway.

If you are hoping to photograph Cullasaja Falls, allow some flexibility. Traffic, available parking, foliage, and weather can all affect the view you get on a particular day. The waterfall is part of the wider gorge experience, even if you only glimpse it as the road curves past.

It is tempting to focus the entire trip on the named waterfalls, but the stretches between them are part of what makes Cullasaja Gorge special. The river runs below the road, rock walls rise beside it, and the views change as you descend from Highlands toward Franklin.

For photographers, that variety offers more than the standard waterfall shot. Look for reflections and textures at established stopping areas, the contrast between dark rock and moving water, or layers of forest running up the slopes. In fall, the changing leaves bring color to the gorge; after rainfall, the water can give the landscape a different character.

Keep your attention on the road while driving and save photographs for appropriate pull-offs. There are sections where a view appears suddenly but stopping is unsafe. You can still enjoy those moments as part of the drive.

If you want a break between waterfalls, consider Cliffside Lake Recreation Area along the byway. It offers a change of pace from the steep gorge: a place to pause by the water, enjoy the surrounding forest, and make more of the outing than a series of quick photo stops. The Forest Service lists Cliffside Lake among the attractions on the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway.

Pack something to eat or leave time to sit for a while before continuing toward Franklin or turning back to Highlands. Check current access, facilities, and any applicable fees before visiting, as recreation area arrangements can change.

For travelers who enjoy a scenic drive but do not want to spend the whole afternoon in the car, a stop like this helps give the trip an easy rhythm: drive, explore, rest, then set off again.

Cullasaja Gorge is worth seeing at different times of year, and each season offers a reason to return.

Spring brings fresh greenery and waterfalls framed by the forest’s changing colors. Summer is ideal for combining the drive with a longer day outdoors, though popular stops can be busy. Fall draws visitors for the foliage along US 64, when the winding road becomes a route through reds, golds, and oranges. The Highlands Chamber highlights the gorge as a fall color drive for this reason.

In winter, the bare trees can open different views through the forest, but mountain weather deserves extra consideration. Check road and site conditions before setting out, particularly during or after freezing weather.

Whatever the season, bring shoes suitable for damp paths if you plan to visit Dry Falls, and leave enough daylight to enjoy the drive without rushing.

One of the easiest ways to explore Cullasaja Gorge is to build a day around it rather than trying to fit it between other plans. Start with breakfast in Highlands, then head west on US 64. Stop at Bridal Veil Falls, take the walkway behind Dry Falls, and continue through the gorge toward Cullasaja Falls.

From there, you can carry on to Franklin or return along the same route. Seeing the gorge from the opposite direction brings a different perspective on the river and mountain slopes. If you would rather spend more time outdoors than driving, choose fewer stops and linger at each one.

The gorge is also a starting point for a longer Highlands waterfall trip. Explore our guide to waterfalls near Highlands, NC for ideas elsewhere in the area, from short walks to waterfall hikes.