Waterfall Hikes Near Bristol, VA

17,036 residents
New York Time Zone
28 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Bristol straddles the Tennessee line, and its waterfall map does too, with twenty-eight falls within fifty miles, many of them south and east toward Watauga Lake and across into North Carolina. Laurel Fork Falls, listed here as Laurel Falls, is a 40 foot drop about 1.3 miles up the Appalachian Trail from the Dennis Cove trailhead, roughly 2.6 miles round trip. Gentry Creek Falls near Laurel Bloomery is a two-tiered drop at the end of about 4.6 miles round trip, with 13 or 14 creek crossings on stepping stones. Twisting Falls on the Elk River is reached by an unofficial path that loses over 400 feet in about a quarter mile, so treat it as a scramble rather than an easy swim stop.

Located at 36.6181°N, -82.1604°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Bristol

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

26 of 28 gauged

26 waterfalls near Bristol have live flow data today

Abrams Falls Barely Flowing Betseys Rock Falls Low Cascade Falls Low Long Hope Falls Low Big Falls Barely Flowing Tank Hollow Falls Barely Flowing Big Falls Low Dutch Creek Falls Low Laurel Creek Falls Low Watauga Falls Low Blue Sea Falls Low Crabtree Falls Low Crystal Falls Low Falls of Gouges Creek Low Grassy Creek Falls Low Mitchell Falls Low Murphy Falls Low Roaring Spout Falls Low Crabtree Falls Low Buckeye Falls Barely Flowing Spivey Falls Barely Flowing Coon Den Falls Moderate Jones Falls Moderate Laurel Falls Moderate Linville Falls Moderate Monkey Falls Low

Updated about 1 hour ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Today

Sunny · 66°F

Tod 66°F Sunny Best
Vet 67°F Sunny
Thu 55°F Rain Showers
Fri 43°F Chance Rain And Snow Showers
Sat 43°F Partly Sunny
Sun 50°F Sunny
Mon 55°F Mostly Sunny

Flowing best right now near Bristol

Updated about 1 hour ago

Ranked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.

  1. 1 Coon Den Falls Moderate · 353 cfs 31st percentile
  2. 2 Laurel Falls Moderate · 353 cfs 31st percentile
  3. 3 Jones Falls Moderate · 353 cfs 31st percentile
  4. 4 Linville Falls Moderate · 74 cfs 25th percentile
  5. 5 Watauga Falls Low · 75 cfs 21st percentile
  6. 6 Big Falls Low · 75 cfs 21st percentile

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Bristol hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Find waterfalls to hike near Bristol

Have your own travel site? Embed these waterfalls for free.

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Bristol (8 waterfalls)

Easy access waterfalls are drive-up or short-walk friendly. Perfect for families, casual visitors, or anyone who loves waterfalls but is "so-so" about hiking.

Tank Hollow Falls waterfall

Tank Hollow Falls

16 miles away
Virginia
Easy
1.5 miles Unknown
Big Falls waterfall

Big Falls

21.4 miles away
Virginia
Easy
2.4 miles Unknown

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around Bristol (16 waterfalls)

Bring your four-legged friend along! These waterfalls welcome dogs on their trails.

Laurel Falls waterfall

Laurel Falls

17.9 miles away
Tennessee
Moderate
2.3 miles 300 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Coon Den Falls in Tennessee, about 338 feet of drop LiDAR

Coon Den Falls

19.6 miles away
Tennessee
Moderate
2.6 miles 500 ft

All 28 Waterfalls Near Bristol

Grassy Creek Falls waterfall

Grassy Creek Falls

40.4 miles away
North Carolina
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Spivey Falls waterfall

Spivey Falls

41.5 miles away
Tennessee
Drive Up
Unknown Unknown
Linville Falls waterfall

Linville Falls

42.5 miles away
North Carolina
Moderate
1.6 miles 250 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Buckeye Falls in Tennessee, about 477 feet of drop LiDAR

Buckeye Falls

43.5 miles away
Tennessee
Hard
8.0 miles 2 ft
Mitchell Falls waterfall

Mitchell Falls

46.5 miles away
North Carolina
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Cascade Falls waterfall

Cascade Falls

47.9 miles away
North Carolina
Easy
0.8 miles 100 ft
Blue Sea Falls waterfall

Blue Sea Falls

48 miles away
North Carolina
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Betseys Rock Falls waterfall

Betseys Rock Falls

48.1 miles away
North Carolina
Drive Up
Unknown Unknown

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Bristol

Are there free waterfalls near Bristol?

There are 22 free waterfalls near Bristol, including Abrams Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Bristol?

There are 8 easy waterfall hikes near Bristol, including Betseys Rock Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Bristol?

There are 16 dog-friendly waterfalls near Bristol, including Betseys Rock Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Bristol?

There are 19 kid-friendly waterfalls near Bristol, including Abrams Falls.

Can you swim in any waterfalls near Bristol?

There are 2 waterfalls that allow swimming near Bristol, including Laurel Creek Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Bristol?

The shortest waterfall hike near Bristol is Big Falls at 0.3 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near Bristol?

The tallest waterfall near Bristol is Buckeye Falls at 475 feet.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Bristol?

Yes, 28 waterfalls near Bristol have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Bristol?

The closest waterfall to Bristol is Abrams Falls, approximately 6.9 miles away.

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Statesville, NC
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Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Bristol, Virginia

Hot Springs

Hot Springs

63.4 mi 108°F

Hot Springs surfaces at 108 degrees Fahrenheit in the town of Hot Springs, Madison County, North Carolina, near Marshall. At ju...

Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Bristol, Virginia on SoakingSprings.

Explore Virginia springs

Where to Stay

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