Bridal Veil Falls
North Carolina · 60-foot drop · Nantahala National Forest · Last verified 2026-05-23
Flow at Bridal Veil Falls is 94 cfs today, around its seasonal average.
Right now
Streamflow
94 cfs
CHATTOOGA RIVER AT BURRELLS · 2h ago
Overnight
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
Saturday
84°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Today's daylight
Sunrise 6:18 AM · Sunset 8:47 PM · 14h 29m
Snapshot built 15m ago. Sources: USGS · NWS GSP.
Bridal Veil Falls is a 60-foot roadside curtain on a Cullasaja River tributary, 2.5 miles west of Highlands on the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. For generations it was the only North Carolina waterfall you could drive behind — the old road bend tucked under the curtain is still there, but cars were stopped a few years back. You can still walk behind it. Wheelchair-accessible from the pullout. Best after rain; thin in dry stretches.
Bridal Veil Falls is a 45-foot (13.7 m) waterfall located in the Nantahala National Forest, northwest of Highlands, North Carolina. With a short curve of roadway located behind the falls, it had the distinction of being the only waterfall in the state that one could drive a vehicle under, however this has since been closed and is now used for pedestrian access only.
A short history
For decades a section of US-64 looped behind the falls, making this the only North Carolina waterfall you could drive a vehicle under. The road was closed to automobiles in the 2010s for safety reasons but remains open to pedestrians.
The trail
0 miles each way, rated easy. Designated pullout on US-64 (Mountain Waters Scenic Byway), 2.5 mi west of Highlands. Free.
Is the water flowing right now?
Most waterfall sites don't tell you this. The waterfall itself is almost never gauged, but a USGS streamgage in the same watershed can tell you whether snowmelt has started, peaked, or run dry.
USGS gage 02176930 · 9.3 mi away
CHATTOOGA RIVER AT BURRELLS FORD, NR PINE MTN, GA
View live discharge data →
30-day streamflow
Below 30-day average↻ Same date last year: 307 cfs · 31% of last year — significantly drier
When to go (from the climate data, not our opinion)
Monthly averages from Open-Meteo's reanalysis dataset (2020–2024). Highlighted months are when we think the waterfall is at its best — but the numbers are the numbers regardless.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45 | 30 | 7.1 | 5.4 |
| Feb | 50 | 34 | 6.9 | 2.4 |
| MarBest | 57 | 39 | 6.2 | 1.2 |
| AprBest | 61 | 43 | 4.8 | 1.4 |
| MayBest | 68 | 52 | 4.6 | 0 |
| Jun | 75 | 59 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Jul | 79 | 64 | 4.4 | 0 |
| Aug | 78 | 62 | 5.4 | 0 |
| Sep | 72 | 56 | 6.4 | 0 |
| OctBest | 65 | 47 | 3.8 | 0 |
| NovBest | 55 | 39 | 3.1 | 0.4 |
| DecBest | 49 | 33 | 4.4 | 1.6 |
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API · ERA5 reanalysis 2020–2024.
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridal Veil Falls (this page) | — | 60 ft | easy | Y | Free |
| Kalakaleskies Falls | 0 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
| Sequoah Falls | 0 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
| Dry Falls | 1 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
| Laurel Falls | 1 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
| Naiad Falls | 1 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~60 ft)
- Buttermilk Falls60 ft
- Ozone Falls60 ft
- Plattekill Falls60 ft
- Rainbow Falls60 ft
- Rufus Morgan Waterfall60 ft
Same best season in North Carolina
- Big Bradley Falls75 ft
- Toxaway Falls150 ft
Questions visitors ask about Bridal Veil Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Bridal Veil Falls?
Bridal Veil Falls is 60 feet (18.3 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Bridal Veil Falls in a national or state park?
Yes — Bridal Veil Falls is inside Nantahala National Forest. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Bridal Veil Falls?
Yes — dogs are allowed (Nantahala National Forest permits leashed dogs in most areas). Always leash and pack out waste.
Is Bridal Veil Falls wheelchair accessible?
Yes — Bridal Veil Falls has a wheelchair-accessible viewing area with ADA parking. Conditions can change seasonally; verify with the land manager before driving.
Can you swim at Bridal Veil Falls?
No — swimming is not safe or not allowed at Bridal Veil Falls. This is a thin roadside curtain — no pool to swim in. The draw is being able to walk (formerly drive) behind it.
When is the best time to visit Bridal Veil Falls?
Peak flow is typically March, April, May, October, November, December. Season-wise: spring, fall, winter. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit Bridal Veil Falls?
No entrance fee. Nantahala National Forest is free to access. Some trailheads may charge a parking fee separately.
How far is Bridal Veil Falls from a major city?
Bridal Veil Falls is 2 miles from Highlands (about 3 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in North Carolina
Where it is
35.0719, -83.2289
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Official land manager
https://ncwaterfalls.com/waterfalls/bridal-veil-falls
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridal_Veil_Falls_(Macon_County)
Wikidata (Q4966079)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4966079
GeoNames (4457113)
https://www.geonames.org/4457113/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-23
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