The lower falls are a very picturesque series of cascading drops coming together for the final drop into the plunge pool.
At about the 1 mile mile mark, you reach this spot. The terrain is too steep to build trails on, so a multi million dollar series of wood and steel staircases elevate you alongside the lower falls to the upper falls.
The entire series of waterfalls here comprise Catawba Falls very near the headwaters of the Catawba River.
The upper falls is the best spot to get wet. The plunge pool almost always has folks cooling off in it this time of year. No exception today. Many folks were cooling off after the hot hike up to here.
A unique shot of the upper falls without people!
Alongside the lower falls
Start of the stairs
Fresh evidence of TS Helene can be seen in many places along the trail and at the falls.
There are two dams with concrete building ruins along the trail. I assume these were to generate power.
One of the many Helene scars on the hillside.
Ford of a tributary
The trail from the parking area is a loop culminating at the upper falls, above. The trail is divided into two sections with the River Trail taking you up 1.4 miles plus 580 stairsteps and the Ridge Trail which is 2.1 miles and graded to allow emergency vehicle access.
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