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 Within an
hour’s drive of
Asheville
and
Hendersonville
are a number of truly spectacular
waterfalls in the
Brevard
area. A great day trip can be planned to visit these
easily accessible falls. Be sure and take a picnic lunch. Besides the close-by
Brevard area waterfalls, there are a few others worth mentioning.
Chimney Rock Park has the 404-foot high
Hickory
Nut Falls, one of the tallest in the eastern United States. The park has an
short
hiking trail, which leads to the base of this magnificent falls. In the
Boone area, about a two hour drive from Asheville is
 Linville
Falls
in
Linville Gorge, the best-known waterfall in the Appalachian Mountains, and one
of the most scenic.
Located in nearby
Flat Rock is the little man-made waterfall
at the Highland Lake Dam.
This delightful spot is worth driving by if you are in
the area. It is located on Highland Lake Rd., off Hwy. 25 between Flat Rock and
Hendersonville.
The
Brevard
waterfalls (Transylvania County) are a real treasure and worth a
visit at any time of
the year. There are hundreds to choose from but due to
space restrictions, only some of the major ones will be listed below. The most
popular and easily accessible is
Looking Glass Falls
in the
Pisgah National Forest. It is
suggested that if you wish to visit the waterfalls, you first check into the
Brevard Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in Brevard and pick up a copy of
their “Land of the Waterfalls” guide and map.
Looking Glass Falls in the Brevard Area
 Location:
Pisgah National Forest
Distance: 1 hour from Asheville
Address: Highway 276, Pisgah National Forest
Telephone: Pisgah District Office: 828-877-3350, 828-257-4203
Of Note: The most popular waterfall in North Carolina, it is a
picturesque and unbroken rush of water 30 feet wide and 60 feet high. Right
along Highway 276 for immediate easy access.
Cautionary Note: While all of the falls are beautiful they can be treacherous. Death or
injury may be only seconds away if one misjudges the force of moving water or
height of the cascades. Rocks are slippery when wet. Do not attempt to climb the
rocks beside the falls or venture near the top. Viewing the falls is safe,
family fun only if you stay on the designated trails and viewing areas.
Fees: None
Allow: 1-2 hours
Nearby:
Pisgah National Forest,
Blue Ridge Parkway
Resources:
Brevard Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 35 West Main Street,
Brevard, NC 28712; 800-648-4523
Directions: From
Asheville, take NC 280 South. NC 280 begins as Airport Rd. after you leave
Hendersonville Hwy. (US 25). Take a right into Pisgah National Forest at Highway
276 in Pisgah Forest just before you reach Brevard. Follow 276 for 6 miles.
Other Western North Carolina Waterfalls
 Bird Rock Falls:
Take Highway 64 West from
Brevard 8.5 miles and turn right on NC 215. Continue
approximately 9 miles. Falls are on the left just below the confluence of Shoal
Creek and the North Fork of the
French Broad River in the Balsam Grove
Community.
 Bridal
View Falls: Bridal Veil Falls is unique because you can drive your car right
underneath it! The water falls 120 feet from above, right over the highway. From
Brevard take Highway 64
West, and look for the sign 2.5 miles west of
Highlands in the Cullasaja
Gorge.
 Cullasaja
Falls: The lower portion of Cullasaja Falls is a cascade of water
which flows about 250 feet down. It is located on the Cullasaja
River, 9
miles west of Highlands off Highway 64 in the Cullasaja Gorge.
Cullasja Falls is only visible from your car, there is no adequate
pull-off spot from the road.
 Dry Falls:
Dry Falls is located on
Highway 64 between
Franklin and
Highlands, and you can
find the falls with a short, easy walk. Once there you can walk
right behind them without getting wet! A well-marked path and hand
rail to guide you behind and around the 75-foot curtain of rushing
water.
Linville
Falls:
Linville Falls is located on the
Blue Ridge Parkway
at mile post 316.3. Two main hiking trails lead to beautiful views
of the Linville Falls. Both begin at the Linville Falls Visitor
Center, which is operated by the National Park Service. The trails
range in difficulty from moderate to strenuous.
 Rainbow Falls:
Follow Highway 64 West from
Brevard 18 miles to Whitewater Rd. (NC 281) and turn left
2.5 miles. A trail begins at a turn in the road and continues downstream past
Drift Falls a half-mile to the 200 foot high Rainbow Falls.
 Silver
Run Falls: Silver Run Falls has a drop of 30 feet into a quiet
pool below, and are located off NC 197, 4.1 miles south of
Cashiers. Park in the
pull-off on the left.
 Toxaway Falls Take
Highway 64 West from
Brevard 15.5 miles. The highway crosses the top of the
falls 123 feet just below Toxaway Dam. The area was named Toxaway (Red Bird) by
the Cherokee Indians. Easily visible from the road.
 Upper
Creek Falls: A steep, 0.8-mile trail leads to this popular
cascading waterfall. Upper Creek Falls is located in the Jonas
Ridge Area of Burke County, and is only accessible by hiking in. The
Falls are located 13.5 miles from
Morganton. Take NC 181 North
from Morganton. The parking area is on the right about 6 miles north
of the
Pisgah National Forest
boundary.
 Whitewater Falls:
A spectacular plunge of 411 feet makes this the tallest waterfall east of the
Mississippi. A park with parking and restrooms provides easy access. Take US 64
West from
Brevard, go 18 miles to Whitewater Rd. (NC 281), turn left 8 miles to
park entrance on left. Falls can be viewed from the end of a paved road 100
yards from the parking area.
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Map of the Western North Carolina Mountains
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