OLD FORT, N.C. (828newsNOW) — After more than two years of construction, the popular Catawba Falls Trail near Old Fort has reopened to hikers – now with hundreds more stairs and two new trails.
The primary trail follows the headwaters of the Catawba River, meandering upward, concluding at the base of a nearly 100-foot waterfall. Round trip, the hike is about 3.5 miles of gently sloping terrain, only becoming steep at the final approach to the falls.
The trail, which had been closed for construction since May 15, 2022, reopened to the public on May 31, 2024.
Most of the construction was done “between the lower and upper falls,” said Lisa Jennings, Recreation Program Manager for the Grandfather Mountain District of Pisgah National Forest.
Before the closure, “hikers would enter a boulder field,” Jennings said. With the goal of “get[ting] visitors safely to the Upper Falls,” workers added the “equivalent to climbing a 30-story building” of stairs, Jennings said.
Jennings hopes the staircases will “improve visitor safety.”
The Catawba River “supplies all the water to the Charlotte metro area,” Jennings said. She believes building new infrastructure at the falls may assist in preventing mudslides that negatively affect water quality in the Queen City.
Improvements at Catawba Falls included the erection of more than 1,000 feet of elevated walkways, over 500 stairs, three overlook platforms, widening the primary trail to facilitate vehicular rescue efforts and two new paths: the Wildflower Trail and a mountain ridge trail, an extra 2-mile loop above the falls.
The added walkways allow safer access for guests who wish to scale the eight-story tall waterfall. Before the improvements, visitors precariously attempted to scale the cliffside aided only by old ropes. Injuries were common.
Construction is ongoing at the trail with heavy machinery, materials and safety orange temporary fencing visible to guests. Workers hope to finish by the end of July, according to Jennings.
About $4 million was spent on the construction. Forty-five percent of the funds came from the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, 45 percent came from the United States Forest Service, and 10 percent came from additional local sources.
Keith and Kay Stanton were returning to Catawba Falls for the first time since the reopening.
“It’s nice,” Keith said Thursday. “You can definitely see more of the stream.”
Kay interjected, “I don’t like the stairs.”
“They took an easy trail and turned it into cardio with the stairs,” Keith said.
Jennings agreed, explaining that while the stairs have made the Upper Falls accessible, it still isn’t easy to get to the top.
If you are planning to visit Catawba Falls this summer, remember to pack a bottle of water and some snacks for the trek. Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
The trail is family- and pet-friendly. Dozens of dogs make the trek daily.
Parking at the Catawba Falls trailhead is limited.
“We know there’s a need for more parking,” Jennings acknowledged.
She asked visitors to “respect private property… Don’t park in people’s driveways or on the road.”
Catawba Falls Trail at 3074 Catawba River Road, Old Fort, NC 28762, is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.