About this spot
Dome Falls is a roughly 30-ft waterfall on Middle Creek in Nantahala National Forest, reached from a NC-106 pull-off (yellow school-bus sign, about 9.3 miles south of Highlands) via a rough 2.5-mile out-and-back with no maintained trail. Multiple trip reports describe an 'excruciating bushwhack' through dense rhododendron that has grown harder to follow over time. No swimming or jumping culture is documented here; the bushwhack itself, plus slick rock near the falls, is the hazard hikers most often flag.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.