A zip-top bag in the pack pocket is a fine budget backup; it's just awkward to open with wet fingers. For bigger hikes, see the best waterproof bag for hiking, or see how waterproof crossbody bags compare.
What to Bring on a Waterfall Hike (and How to Keep It Dry)
Activity guide Waterfall hikes
A normal day hike until the last stretch, where spray, mud and slick rock take over. Pack for that stretch.
For a waterfall hike, bring what you'd take on any day hike (water, food, a rain layer, sun protection, first aid and an offline map), then add grippy closed-toe shoes, a dry layer or small towel, and a sealed waterproof bag for your phone, keys and wallet.
Two layers
The waterfall hike packing list
Start with the National Park Service's Ten Essentials, then sort everything by one question: can it get wet?
Layer 1 · Can get wet
In the daypack
- Water
- Snacks
- Rain shell
- Sun protection
- First-aid kit
- Headlamp
- Quick-dry towel
- Spare socks
- Stuff sack for wet things
NPS says to pack an extra layer for the most extreme conditions you could encounter, which may include a raincoat. At a big falls, the spray can feel like rain. Dry socks for the walk out, and a sack to keep the soaked towel away from everything else, round it out.
Layer 2 · Can't get wet
Sealed on you
- Phone
- Car key or fob
- Cards and ID
- Cash
- Offline map on the phone
These are the things you reach for most at the falls, usually with wet hands. Keep them in a truly waterproof bag worn in front, so you can open it without taking your pack off. Download the trail map before you go; many falls sit in gorges where signal can drop.
Organized by SKÖ around the NPS Ten Essentials. Footwear isn't on either list because you're wearing it: closed toes, real grip, no flip-flops.
What changes as you get close
Three stretches of a waterfall trail
Most waterfall trails get wetter and slicker the closer you get. Here's what each stretch asks of your feet and your gear. Each sourced cell names its source.
AApproach trail
Forest path to the falls
- Footing
- Slippery rocks and mud are common as you near waterfalls NC State Parks
- Water
- Creek crossings can rise quickly after rain upstream NPS
- Gear
- Phone sealed; pack zipped; poles if you use them
- Rule
- Stay on developed trails NC State Parks
BSpray zone
Viewing area, mist drifting in
- Footing
- Rocks slippery from mist and algae NPS Smokies
- Water
- Constant spray; soaks pockets and fabric
- Gear
- Rain shell on; photos from the platform, phone back in the bag between shots
- Rule
- Don't stray from observation decks and platforms NC State Parks
CWater's edge
Plunge pool and streambank
- Footing
- Never climb on or around waterfalls USFS
- Water
- Hidden rocks and logs; swirling currents can hold you under USFS
- Gear
- A dropped phone here is usually gone; keep it sealed or put away
- Rule
- Never jump or dive into plunge pools USFS
Organized by SKÖ from the NC State Parks, NPS and U.S. Forest Service guidance cited in this guide. Untagged cells are SKÖ's practical advice.
Layer 2
The sealed layer: what it has to do
Mist soaks through pocket fabric, and a phone in a back pocket can slide out when you crouch. The bag for layer 2 has to be waterproof, not water-resistant, and reachable without taking off your pack. The SKÖ Waterproof Crossbody is one example sized for it.
- Capacity
- ~1.14 L
- Weight
- ~13 oz
- Material
- 1680D TPU
- Closure
- Waterproof zipper
Where it fits
- Phone, key fob, cards and cash, worn in front of your pack straps
- Designed to be waterproof and submersible when the zipper is properly closed and sealed
- Quick photo, then sealed again before your next step
Where it doesn't
- Water, food, layers or a towel: that's the daypack's job
- It won't make wet rock safe to stand on
- No published depth or time rating
At the falls
Three ways a waterfall hike goes wrong
Scrambling onto a rock for a better photo
Park services name climbing on rocks near falls as how people get seriously hurt.
Instead: shoot from the trail or platform, phone in one hand, the other free.
Phone in a shorts pocket in the spray
Mist soaks fabric, and wet hands make drops more likely.
Instead: keep it sealed between shots and dry your hands first.
Ignoring a creek that's higher on the way out
Water can rise from rain you never felt.
Instead: if it's moving fast or rising, don't cross. Wait, or go to higher ground.
Questions
Waterfall hike FAQ
What shoes should I wear on a waterfall hike?
Closed-toe shoes with good grip: trail runners, hiking shoes or water-hiking shoes. NC State Parks specifically advises against flip-flops and sandals near waterfalls. If the route crosses creeks, quick-draining shoes plus dry socks for the walk out are the comfortable setup.
Can you swim at the bottom of a waterfall?
Only where it's specifically allowed and posted. The U.S. Forest Service warns that plunge pools can hide rocks and logs and that swirling currents can keep you underwater, and it advises never jumping or diving into them. Check the park or forest website and posted signs before you go.
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