Soco Falls

Heads up — Soco Falls is basically closed right now because the trailhead is under construction in 2026, so you can't actually get to it. Which is a bummer because it's normally one of the easier waterfall hikes around here, just a quick 5-minute walk to see twin falls dropping 120 feet.

When it's open (and hopefully it will be soon), you'll find it right off US-19 between Maggie Valley and Cherokee — there's a tiny blue sign that says "Soco Falls 1/2-mile ahead" but it's really more like a third of a mile. The parking is just a gravel pull-off on the highway, and honestly, even when it's accessible, finding a spot can be tricky since there are maybe 6-7 spaces max.

We've hiked down to the base before when conditions were good, but that steep trail with the ropes gets sketchy fast if it's been raining. The viewing platform is really all you need anyway — you can see both waterfalls from there, and in winter you get a clear view of the smaller cascade on the left that's hidden by leaves most of the year.

The whole Cherokee Nation built this nice setup with the platform and fencing, which was a huge improvement from the old sketchy access. But now with construction, you're stuck waiting. I'd call ahead or check recent reviews before making the drive, especially if you're coming from far away just for this.