5 best 'crowd-free' fall leaf hikes in US: Western NC waterfall trail picked by Backpacker

Iris Seaton, Asheville Citizen Times

Outdoor magazine Backpacker had some praise for a classic Western North Carolina hiking destination — and the fall color that surrounds it — on its list of five best crowd-free fall leaf hikes.

Backpacker, an online magazine that publishes trail guides, gear reviews, backcountry skills and more, chose hikes from across the nation to place among the five best on this September list. Among the five chosen by writers, Catawba Falls, complete with two years of improvements before its May reopening, received plenty of praise.

Here's what Backpacker writers said about the Old Fort-located trail, plus the whole list of five and more.

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Catawba Falls River Trail

The foliage in Pisgah National Forest is famously beautiful in the fall, and Catawba Falls is famously beautiful year-round, with a series of cascades carving their way down the mountainside.

Backpacker praised Catawba Falls River Trail for the variety of sights available through the hike, from the famous falls to the fall color to the "couple miles of wooded wonderland" filling the rest of the trail. The "shiny new observation tower" also received a mention, as well as free access and the relatively short, easy nature of the trail (despite the many stairs).

While the idea of Catawba Falls as "crowd-free" may be controversial, Backpacker argues that if you visit on weekdays, mornings or evenings, the area still fits the bill.

The magazine also provided a map of the area through affiliate trail map program Gaia GPS.

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Is Catawba Falls open in 2024?

Yes. Catawba Falls saw a two-year closure that ended with a May 31 reopening this year. The closure allowed for the U.S. Forest Service to install 580 hand-built stairs and 2.3 miles of new trail in an effort to improve safety measures at what was once a particularly dangerous area of the park.

Before the closure, the area received an estimated 10,000 visitors a week every summer. In previous reporting, McDowell County EMS officials told the Citizen Times that Catawba Falls used to be their No. 1 trail for injury and death.

More: 'Gateway to Pisgah National Forest,' Catawba Falls reopens with tower for safe viewing

Can you swim at Catawba Falls?

A bit less relevant as the weather cools, but as it is still one of the most commonly asked questions about the area, here's your answer: Yes, you can swim at Catawba Falls. The water that pools beneath the falls is a popular area for swimming and splashing.

Always remember the danger that can accompany swimming near waterfalls, however. Some waterfall pools have swirling water and currents that can drag even the strongest swimmers underwater. Never swim or wade upstream near a waterfall.

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The 5 Best Crowd-Free Fall Leaf Hikes

Backpacker's full list:

  • Old Baldy Loop, Whitefish Dunes State Park, Wisconsin

  • East Trail, Lost Maples State Natural Area, Texas

  • Sugarloaf Mountain, Marquette, Michigan

  • Sardine Peak, Ogden, Utah

  • Catawba Falls River Trail, Old Fort, North Carolina

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Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Backpacker's top 5 'crowd-free' fall leaf hikes features Catawba Falls

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