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Outdoors Big Cove, Cherokee

Mingo Falls

An outdoor spot in Big Cove, Cherokee, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Morning.

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Mingo Falls in Big Cove, Cherokee
Photo: Kaldari · Public domain

Why go

One of the tallest falls in the southern Appalachians, 120 ft, on Cherokee land.

It is one of 13 curated places we feature in Cherokee, alongside 5 sights, 2 places to eat and 2 outdoor spots. The closest of our other picks is Mingus Mill, 2.1 mi away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Big Cove
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Cherokee, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Mingus Mill

    1886 turbine gristmill still grinding cornmeal.

    Sight · 2.1 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Oconaluftee Visitor Center & Mountain Farm Museum

    Smokies visitor center with historic farm buildings; elk often graze nearby.

    Sight · 2.2 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Peter's Pancakes & Waffles

    Cherokee breakfast spot by the river, a local standby.

    Food · 3.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual

    Cherokee artists' cooperative selling baskets, pottery and carvings.

    Shopping · 4.0 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Museum of the Cherokee People

    Museum telling the Cherokee story from earliest times to today.

    Sight · 4.0 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Oconaluftee Indian Village

    Living-history village of 1760s Cherokee life with guided tours.

    Sight · 4.1 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Mingo Falls features on 2 of our curated routes, each with a day-by-day plan you can copy to your crew.

More outdoor spots in Cherokee

2 more curated outdoor spots in Cherokee. See the full Cherokee guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Cherokee run from 45°F in January to 84°F in August; July is usually the wettest month. For Mingo Falls itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Cherokee from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Cherokee weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Mingo Falls, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Eastern Cherokee Reservation, Cherokee, NC 28719, USA
Coordinates
35.53204, -83.27461
Destination
Cherokee, North Carolina

Mingo Falls: quick answers

How much time do you need at Mingo Falls?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Mingo Falls. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Mingo Falls?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Short but steep stair climb.

Is Mingo Falls free?

Yes, we list Mingo Falls as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Mingo Falls?

Mingo Falls is at Eastern Cherokee Reservation, Cherokee, NC 28719, USA, in Big Cove. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Mingo Falls?

Mingo Falls appears on Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive and Smokies Weekend, curated routes you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Mingo Falls to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Cherokee.

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Also in Cherokee

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.