‘Most beautiful’ waterfall is not only dangerous, but illegal, to visit — and hikers are risking their lives anyway By . Brooke Steinberg. Published April 28, 2025, 12:40 p.m. ET.

Nestled among beautiful woodland in the Nantahala National Forest lies the spectacular, 75-ft-tall Dry Falls. Although the name might seem bizarre for a waterfall, it's pretty bang on.

To reach the waterfall, visitors will need to embark on a three-mile hike through native woodland, an easy-going walk that should take roughly an hour and forty-five minutes to complete.