OLD FORT, N.C. (828newsNOW) — We celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, tomorrow, so here is a breezy, nearby hike to enjoy. The Catawba Falls River Trail, located just outside of Old Fort, N.C., is an easily accessible route that starts off nice and flat before climaxing with an impressive waterfall – and a massive staircase, to match.

Fast facts

• Parking for the Catawba Falls Trail is a large, easily accessible gravel lot, located just a couple miles off the interstate at 3074 Catawba River Road in Old Fort.
• While the trail itself is not difficult, there are several hundred feet of stairs once you arrive at the falls, which can be a very steep climb. However, there are rest stations along the way and sturdy railings throughout.
• The entire loop from the parking lot to the falls is about 2.2 miles total, not counting the optional stair climb.
• There is at least one creek crossing, so bring waterproof shoes.
• The trail is dog and family-friendly.

Stairway to hoofin’

While the heading here refers to the genuinely tough stair climb at the end of the trail – hoofing it up those stairs had my thighs burning! – most of the Catawba Falls route was nice and easy.

The hike begins just past the parking lot, where extensive signage will fill hikers in on their route and the history of the site. According to a pair of plaques on a stone monument, public access was provided to Catawba Falls after conservationists secured 88 acres of the Pisgah National Forest for the U.S. Forest Service in 2010.

Heading to the right, where a sign marks “Catawba Falls River Trail,” hikers will be led along a wide, flat trail through the woods, with Catawba River running on its right side and rhododendron bushes covering the hills on the left.

In a few places, recent rainfall and foot traffic had churned up a little mud, necessitating some careful hiking in order to avoid a fall.

One of the best parts of the Catawba Falls route are the beautiful, unobtrusive ways in which man-made structures are built around their natural surroundings. From bridges criss-crossing Catawba River to a few old, crumbling stone buildings to benches scattered along the way, the trail is a gentle fusion of nature and the mark of its hikers.

After crossing the first bridge, hikers will begin to notice an incline as the trail inches upward toward the waterfall. While the trail has been mostly preserved and restored since Tropical Storm Helene, watch out for a few places where erosion ends in a sharp drop.

There is a short creek crossing to be mindful of immediately prior to the currently closed Catawba Falls Wildflower Trail. No section is too deep and well-placed stones make a few short rock hops light work.

The Catawba Falls trail is remarkable in its amount of clear signage. There are signposts guiding hikers along every step of the way, whether guiding them away from river access points or giving helpful distance markers as trekkers approach the waterfall.

The waterfall itself is stunning. A short staircase leads hikers down to several dry stones to admire Catawba Falls from its base. Also at the base of the falls is a helpful sign with information about the hike, the waterfall and the staircase.

From the base of the waterfall, hikers are free to turn around or to take on 500+ stairs to reach the upper falls area. The stairs may be dotted with rest benches, but they are a tough climb. Halfway up, the wood steps transform into metal, which can be a little dizzying thanks to small slots in the middle of each step. Use the railings whenever possible. At the top of the metal staircase, the best view of the mountains on the entire trail is just waiting for a photo.