Soco Falls - Your Complete Guide

On your next adventure to the Smoky Mountains, make a visit to Soco Falls, NC, a priority! Locals will tell you that it’s one of the best waterfalls in or near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we would agree.

We’ve visited there several times and have always had a lot of fun. So here’s all you need to know to experience the most out of Soco Falls

Published October 7, 2024

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Where is Soco Falls?

Soco Falls is not actually in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but it’s close. The waterfall is located on Highway 19 in Maggie Valley, NC, just south of the park and a little (11 miles) east of Cherokee, NC. It’s 54 miles from Gatlinburg, which will take you a little over two hours to drive.

Pro Tip

If you’re driving to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the south or the east, you might want to make this the first or the last stop on your trip. That will save you some time since you’re driving past it anyway.

(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge the image.)

Map showing the route from Gatlinburg to Soco Falls

The Hike to Soco Falls

The hike to Soco Falls is one of the best parts of the experience. It’s short, only 0.1 miles out & back. You will quickly come to a fork in the trail. Go right, and you will arrive at a viewing platform overlooking the falls. The view is framed by trees, which, though beautiful (especially in fall), sometimes obscure the falls.

In spring and summer, the platform is surrounded by wildflowers.

Twin waterfalls seen through fall-colored trees

Now comes the fun part! Walk back down to the fork and take the left fork. This is the way to the base of the falls. It requires some climbing with the aid of a rope (which is already there – you don’t have to “BYOR” – bring your own rope…)

The climb down is not very far, but it is steep, and the rope helps immensely. Don’t worry. If we can make it (we’re in our 60s), you probably can, too! (See more about this in the “Frequently Asked Questions” below.)

Jeff using a rope to climb down to the base of Soco Falls, NC

Mary Ellen using a rope to climb out of the base of Soco Falls. A creek is running behind her.

(I would like to clarify that I am not straddling the rope in the above photo – the rope is on my left side – in case you’re wondering…)

A Closer Look at Soco Falls

Once you’re at the base of the falls, you’ll understand why the climb down was worth the effort. Soco Falls is actually two waterfalls that spill down at right angles to each other. The right waterfall is a bit higher than the left, at 120′ high.

Though Soco Falls has two waterfalls, it is formed by one creek, Soco Creek, which divides before dropping down as two separate waterfalls. The effect is impressive…and noisy! In fact, you can hear the falls from the parking area.

Historically, this is a place where Cherokee warriors ambushed soldiers during the Civil War. The soldiers referred to the area as the Soco Gap. The name “Soco” comes from a Cherokee word referring to the oil produced by hickory nuts, which are abundant in the area.

The base of the waterfall is a fun place to scramble around. You can walk right up to it and wade in the shallow plunge pool. It’s also a great spot for photo opps—don’t forget your camera!

Close view of a waterfall spilling down into a shallow base pool

Take a little time to look around and wander a bit at the base. Explore downstream and see what you can find. See if you can spot a salamander, or…

Don’t worry—he’s just a friendly, harmless little water snake. We just visited for a minute, and then I sent him on his merry way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can children do this hike? Children will have no difficulty hiking to the viewing platform, but you’ll need to decide whether your child is old enough and strong enough to rope down to the base of the falls.
Are there restrooms at Soco Falls? Nope. Sorry.
What’s the parking situation at Soco Falls? There is a parking pullout at the trailhead, with room for several cars. It “sneaks up on you”, so it’s easy to miss it.
Is this hike safe? The climb to the bottom requires the use of a rope (it’s already there – you don’t need to bring your own rope). We would suggest a couple of things here…
- Wear shoes with good, “grippy” soles. Sandals are not advised.
- If roping down to the base frightens you or if you don’t think you can physically do so, just enjoy the waterfall from the viewing platform.
What else is there to do in this area? Soco Falls is in Maggie Valley, NC. There are a few restaurants, a brewery, and several motels there. Soco Falls is also near the Cataloochee Valley in the southeast section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, known for the elk that reside in the valley.

Very large brown elk with huge set of antlers

The Wrap-Up – Your Complete Guide to Soco Falls, NC

Soco Falls is a Top 5 Smoky Mountains waterfall for us. The falls are beautiful, and the descent to the bottom is a lot of fun. The best time to visit is anytime between spring and fall. Winter is tricky due to potential slippery conditions climbing down to the base. However, if you can make it safely to the bottom, the waterfall has been known to ice over, creating a spectacular scene!

Happy Hiking!