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| Soco Falls in Cherokee NC © Katrena |
Soco Falls is adjacent to Highway 19 between Maggie Valley and Cherokee. Highway 19 is the winding two-lane mountainous road that might leave folks from the Piedmont or coastal regions feeling a bit like you have ridden a Tilt-a-Whirl ride at the fair.
My family would always hike to Mingo Falls when we visited Cherokee during my childhood years, and I took my kids to enjoy Mingo Falls last year. I had never heard of Soco Falls until recently but decided it was worth the hunt to find it.
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| Soco Falls Beside Highway 19 Between Cherokee and Maggie Valley © Katrena |
If you plan to visit Soco Falls, be on the lookout for a small blue sign on the side of Highway 19 as you travel. If you are traveling from Cherokee toward Maggie Valley, the sign will be on the right; if you are traveling from Maggie Valley toward Cherokee, the sign will be on the left. The sign can be easy to miss.
Each time I have driven past the gravel parking area for the waterfall, a couple of other vehicles have been parked there, which makes it much easier to find. As soon as we stepped out of the car, we could hear the rush of water.
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| View of Soco Falls from Side of Road on Highway 19 © Katrena |
We visited Soco Falls in August 2019 and discovered that if you stand in a particular spot in the parking area, you can see the waterfall from the side of the road, a good option for those with mobility issues. The sound of rushing water and a glimpse of the waterfall can be rather soothing to one's soul. After the leaves fall in Autumn, I can imagine that the waterfall is even easier to see from the road.
If you plan to hike, I recommend shoes with closed toes and closed heels. The terrain is somewhat steep, but the hike is short. The guardrail has an opening where the trail begins. I would encourage people to be aware of their physical abilities and limitations before setting out on any hiking trail, including this one. We hiked on a summer day when the trail was dry.
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| Hiking Trail to Water at Soco Falls © Katrena |
As you begin descending the trail toward the waterfall, you can turn to the left and walk down to the water that is near the waterfall but not at the base of the waterfall. I took the picture above to give an indication of the distance from the main trail and the terrain leading to that area.
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| Observation Deck for Soco Falls in Cherokee © Katrena |
If you continue straight for a few more yards on the main trail, you'll see a wooden observation deck on the right. The large part of the deck offers a particularly beautiful view of the waterfall. The first and last photos in this article were shot from that area of the deck. It almost looks as if the leaves of the trees have been cut out to frame the double waterfall. I suppose nature wanted to give folks a great view!
Another trail immediately to the left of the deck goes to the base of the waterfall. According to the web site, that steep trail is not maintained and not recommended. My crew opted to heed those warnings. There are no signs in the area encouraging people to avoid that trail, so it is helpful information to know before starting on the Soco mini-adventure.
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| Mushroom at Soco Falls Trail in Cherokee © Katrena |
While visiting Soco Falls, I would encourage visitors to slow down and enjoy the scenery while listening to the sound of the water as it cascades over the rocks.
Go to the
Visit Cherokee web site to learn more about Soco Falls and Mingo Falls in Cherokee.
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| Short Hiking Trail in Cherokee NC © Katrena |
Thanks so much for visiting my Travel NC With Kids blog. Below are additional articles highlighting family friendly things to do in Cherokee:
