Toxaway Falls Trail

Toxaway Falls Trail descends into the Toxaway River gorge to reach a powerful series of falls straddling the North Carolina and South Carolina state border. The Toxaway River drains Lake Toxaway above, and the volume of water flowing over these falls is substantial year-round, creating a thunderous roar audible well before the falls come into view. The gorge itself is one of the deepest in the southern Appalachians, with sheer walls dropping hundreds of feet in places. The trail traverses the temperate rainforest ecosystem characteristic of Gorges State Park, passing through dense rhododendron thickets, mature hemlock groves, and river birch bottomlands. Rare plants abound in the high-humidity microclimate of the gorge, including several species of orchid and fern found nowhere else in the park system. The elevation loss on the descent is significant and the trail is rocky in places, making trekking poles a worthwhile investment for the steep return climb. The state line passes directly through the main falls, making this a unique geographically bisected destination. No entrance fee is charged. The trailhead parking area is small, and the trail is less well-known than the Rainbow Falls route, generally providing a quieter wilderness experience.