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Roaring Fork Falls (Yancey County)
Encyclopedia
Roaring Fork Falls, also called Roaring Creek Falls, is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina.
of the South Toe River
, which itself is a tributary of the French Broad River
. The creek is located in a forest
that's filled with rhododendron
and eastern hemlock. The creek is abundant with freshwater snails.
and the Blue Ridge Parkway
, go 2.2 miles north on NC 80 and turn left on South Toe River Road. Cross the bridge and turn left. Follow the road 0.2 miles to the gate and parking area. From here, follow the trail (passing concrete bunkers formerly used to store explosives) for 0.61 mi. (1.34 km) to a side trail that will lead to the falls in 300 ft (93 m).
Geology
The falls is located on Roaring Fork, a tributaryTributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the South Toe River
South Toe River
The South Toe River , is a stream in Yancey County...
, which itself is a tributary of the French Broad River
French Broad River
The French Broad River flows from near the village of Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into the state of Tennessee. Its confluence with the Holston River at Knoxville is the beginning of the Tennessee River....
. The creek is located in a forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
that's filled with rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
and eastern hemlock. The creek is abundant with freshwater snails.
Height
There are some disputes as to the height of the falls. Kevin Adams' book, North Carolina Waterfalls, lists the height as "about 45 ft (17 m) high". North Carolina Waterfalls lists the falls as being 100 feet (30.9 m) "long".Visiting the Falls
From the intersection of NC 80North Carolina Highway 80
North Carolina route 80 goes from U.S. Route 70, just west of Marion, at 1300' above sea level, to NC Route 226A, a bit west of Bakersville, 2360'. It passes by Lake Tahoma at about 1500'. It crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Eastern Continental Divide at about 3320', and U.S Route 19E at...
and the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
, go 2.2 miles north on NC 80 and turn left on South Toe River Road. Cross the bridge and turn left. Follow the road 0.2 miles to the gate and parking area. From here, follow the trail (passing concrete bunkers formerly used to store explosives) for 0.61 mi. (1.34 km) to a side trail that will lead to the falls in 300 ft (93 m).
Nearby Falls
- Setrock Creek FallsSetrock Creek Falls-Geology:The falls is located at the base of Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain in the United States east of the Mississippi River, on Setrock Creek, a small tributary of the South Toe River, which itself is a tributary of the French Broad River. The creek falls over multiple steep to...
- Mitchell FallsMitchell FallsMitchell Falls is a waterfall located on private property in Yancey County, North Carolina on the slope of Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain chain, and highest point in the eastern United States...
- Douglas FallsDouglas FallsDouglas Falls are a 60 foot waterfall located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA. It is on a tributary of Waterfall Creek which flows into the Ivy River, and it is within the Big Ivy section of the Pisgah National Forest. The stream flows off the slope of Craggy Pinnacle, starting just below...
- Walker FallsWalker FallsWalker Falls is a 45-foot cascading waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Its ease of access makes it a popular destination for Waterfall Hunters...
- Whiteoak Creek FallsWhiteoak Creek Falls-Geology:The falls is located on Whiteoak Creek, a tributary of the South Toe River, which itself is a tributary of the French Broad River.-Height:There are multiple cascades, slides and drops...
- Crabtree FallsCrabtree Falls (North Carolina)Crabtree Falls is a waterfall in Yancey County, North Carolina.-Geology and Natural History:Crabtree Falls is a 70 ft. cascade on Big Crabtree Creek. The creek spreads over a rock face with many small ledges, giving it a delicate appearance, before trickling into a clear pool at the base...