Nantahala National Forest

Permit Information

Under the 2026 USFS EXPLORE Act rule: no permit needed for groups of 5 or fewer, free de minimis authorization for 6 to 8, Special Use Permit for 9+. Most elopements fall in the no permit tier.

Planning Your Day at Nantahala National Forest

One-Spot Day

Nantahala one spot days work well at Dry Falls for the walk behind waterfall experience or at a Whiteside overlook for the cliff and ridge view. Dry Falls is a paved 0.3 mile trip, easy for any guest. Whiteside is a 2 mile loop with moderate elevation and unfenced cliff edges, plan for real hiking shoes and careful guest management.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

The forest covers a huge swath of western NC from the Georgia line up to the Smokies. Most couples pick a base out of Highlands, Cashiers, or Franklin and build the day around one zone. Dry Falls and Whiteside are 30 minutes apart and make a natural two location day, waterfall in the morning, cliff overlook at sunset.

A Note on Light

Dry Falls is a north facing alcove that stays shaded most of the day, overcast and midday both work, direct afternoon sun slashes through and creates harsh contrast on the curtain. Whiteside Mountain has east and south facing cliffs, so morning light illuminates the granite and afternoon backlights the ridgelines. Fall foliage in the Nantahala peaks mid to late October, a week earlier on the higher summits.

Ceremony Spots at Nantahala National Forest

• Dry Falls — Walk behind a 65 foot waterfall on a paved trail, one of the most accessible and dramatic waterfall ceremonies in the Southeast
• Whiteside Mountain — Sheer 750 foot granite cliffs with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge, one of the highest cliffs in the eastern US