Exploring the Linville Gorge Wilderness area on foot is a favorite pastime of many adventurers that love trekking through the mountains of North Carolina. The many trails within the Gorge offer a variety of adventures but one thing many have in common is water. From Linville Falls to many other waterfalls found within the Gorge, there is much to discover! Today, let’s take a look at one waterfall located just outside of the Gorge that not many get to see.
There are two trails that will take you to Steels Creek Falls along Steels Creek. One of them is 1.6 miles long; and the other is 6.8 miles long. Neither is a piece of cake to navigate.
AllTrails/Shiela Birchfield For this reason, few people ever get to see Steels Creek Waterfall.
From the top, it’s impressive and seems to drop very quickly in a series of smaller falls for a total of perhaps 50 or 60 feet.
AllTrails/Lance Carroll
After a heavy rain, the water gushes through the narrow chutes.
AllTrails/Lance Carroll But catch Steels Creek Waterfall on an ordinary day and you’ll discover something else entirely.
A waterfall that actually drops about 40 feet (not 50 or 60 feet as it seems when you’re at the top). And a waterfall that zigs and zags its way down a series of cascades filled with small pools carved into the rock.
AllTrails/Matthew Robinson
The effect is absolutely stunning!
AllTrails/Justin P What’s more: what seems to be a quickly dropping waterfall from the top of the falls, actually goes on for 80 or 90 feet as it moves down the mountain in this 40-foot drop. You don’t find waterfalls this beautiful and quirky just anywhere in North Carolina!
If you have the chance (and the stamina) to take one of the two trails (links below) to reach Steels Creek Waterfall, then do it!
AllTrails/Matthew Robinson
Folks also commonly pack in some gear on that longer trail and spend the night. Imagine waking up next to Steels Creek just outside of Linville Gorge!
Google Maps/Paul Kern
You can reach Steels Creek Falls by way of the Steels Creek Trail (1.6 miles) or the longer Newt Falls/Steels Creek Falls Trail (6.8 miles).
AllTrails/Shiela Birchfield
For this reason, few people ever get to see Steels Creek Waterfall.
AllTrails/Lance Carroll
But catch Steels Creek Waterfall on an ordinary day and you’ll discover something else entirely.
AllTrails/Matthew Robinson
AllTrails/Justin P
What’s more: what seems to be a quickly dropping waterfall from the top of the falls, actually goes on for 80 or 90 feet as it moves down the mountain in this 40-foot drop. You don’t find waterfalls this beautiful and quirky just anywhere in North Carolina!
Google Maps/Paul Kern
Have you explored many falls in the Tar Heel State before? What’s your favorite waterfall in North Carolina?
(Editor’s Note: A gracious and very polite reader claiming to have explored 700 waterfalls in North Carolina contacted us to let us know we’d referred to Steels Creek Falls as being inside Linville Gorge when it is, in fact, not found within the Gorge. But it is close by and is still one of the most unique underrated falls in the state! Thanks to that reader who took the time to so gracefully reach out and help us set the record straight. My contact information is found at the bottom of the article and I’m always appreciative when someone takes the time to send a polite note about North Carolina!)
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Newland, NC 28657, USA
