This mountain town sits at about 4,118 feet on the western edge of North Carolina, tucked into a pocket of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Most folks from the Southeast can get here in half a day’s drive. The town’s home to around 1,000 year-round residents, a walkable Main Street, and a landscape scattered with waterfalls, granite slopes, and old-growth forest inside Nantahala National Forest. Travel + Leisure called it America’s Best Small Mountain Town in 2023, and three local resorts landed on that year’s list of the South’s best places to stay.
What really makes Highlands worth the winding drive? It’s the contrast. Here, you’ll find a genuine mountain town vibe—one where you might hike out to a 60-foot waterfall in the morning, then spend the afternoon browsing a visual arts center or sitting down at a Wine Spectator restaurant. Summers run about ten degrees cooler than the lowland South, which is honestly a solid reason to escape Atlanta, Charlotte, or Charleston for a weekend. But there’s something about the forest roads, the blend of laid-back village energy, and the surprisingly refined hospitality that keeps people coming back. It’s not just the scenery—it’s the whole atmosphere.
Why This Plateau Town Feels Different
Highlands sits on the highest crest of the Western North Carolina plateau, right along the Eastern Continental Divide at nearly 4,118 feet. You’ll find it in Macon County, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and deep inside Nantahala National Forest. Getting here isn’t accidental—you have to want it. Whether you climb up Highway 28 from the south or wind in along US 64 from the east, the approach is a deliberate one, full of narrow, curving roads. That sense of remoteness? Yeah, it’s part of the charm. No one just “ends up” in Highlands by mistake.
Honestly, the elevation alone makes summer in Highlands a relief. While cities like Atlanta and Charlotte hit the low 90s with that sticky Southern humidity, Highlands usually hangs in the mid-to-upper 70s by day and drops into the 50s at night. The area gets about 80 inches of rain a year, making it one of just two temperate rainforests in the country. Thanks to all that moisture, the forest stays thick and green, waterfalls along US 64 keep flowing, and the air feels cool and clean the second you open your car door. It’s a little surprising, honestly.
Highlands has a character all its own. Downtown’s walkable, dotted with independent shops, galleries, and restaurants that have picked up Wine Spectator awards. Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Half-Mile Farm, and Skyline Lodge all made Travel + Leisure’s best resorts list. Still, the sidewalks aren’t stuffy. You’ll see hiking boots and rain jackets right alongside linen shirts. The town manages to balance polished hospitality with easy access to forests and waterfalls—keeps things real, you know? It’s that mix—refined but never exclusive—that really makes Highlands stand out from other southern Appalachian mountain towns.
Waterfalls And Scenic Roads
US Highway 64, nicknamed the Waterfall Byway, winds right through the Cullasaja River gorge west of Highlands, North Carolina. It brings you to three major waterfalls within just a few miles of town. You could check out all three in a single morning, and honestly, it won’t wear you out.
Dry Falls is the main event—a 65-foot cascade with a paved walkway and a quick staircase that takes you behind the water. The Cullasaja River pours over the edge, and thanks to all the rain this area gets, the falls keep up a strong flow even when things dry out. Expect a little mist on your face, but the trail’s mellow enough for most folks. There’s a small parking lot right off US 64, though you do have to pay a recreation fee.
Glen Falls comes in three tiers, dropping about 60 feet in all. You’ll reach it by hiking a moderate out-and-back trail, roughly two miles round trip. The path heads down through hardwood forest to overlooks at each tier, and the lowest section feels the most impressive. Wear sturdy shoes—roots and slick spots after rain can catch you off guard. The hike isn’t long, but the climb back up will definitely remind you it’s uphill.
Bridal Veil Falls? Easiest of the bunch. This 45-foot waterfall spills over a rock ledge right next to US 64, and you can actually drive behind it on a short pull-off lane. If you’re piecing together a waterfall loop, start at Bridal Veil, head west to Dry Falls, then swing back to the Glen Falls trailhead. You can fit the whole thing into less than half a day, freeing up your afternoon for wandering downtown or just grabbing a bite.