Waterfalls of North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, U.S.A.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, are a prominent feature of the geography of the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
and mountain
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
regions of the state, as well as a major focus of tourism and outdoor recreation. Many of these falls are located in state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
s, national forests
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
, wildlife management areas, and other public lands, as well as private property. Many are accessible via established hiking trails, and some developed areas include boardwalks, observation platforms, picnic areas, and other amenities. Some of the highest and most voluminous waterfalls in the eastern United States are located in North Carolina.
Many of the waterfalls in the state are located in Transylvania County, which is called "The Land of Waterfalls". This is due to the orographic lift
Orographic lift
Orographic lift occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. As the air mass gains altitude it quickly cools down adiabatically, which can raise the relative humidity to 100% and create clouds and, under the right conditions,...
that results in the area having one of the highest average rainfalls in the United States (90 inches per year).
Falls by county
This list is incomplete. Please feel free to add waterfalls to this list and to create articles about the waterfalls.Visitors should always follow rules of safe waterfall hiking when visiting waterfalls.
Buncombe County
Although parts of Buncombe County receive less average rainfall than any other location in the Southeastern US, Buncombe County still has several waterfalls.- Cascades Waterfall (Craggy Mountains)
- 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...
- Glassmine FallsGlassmine FallsGlassmine Falls is an ephemeral waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina, on Glassmine Branch, near Dillingham, North Carolina.-Geology:When it flows, the falls slides down the rock face of Blackstop Knob Mountain down to the North Fork Swannanoa River. The flow is not constant and can...
- 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...
Macon County
- Bridal Veil Falls (Macon County)Bridal Veil Falls (Macon County)Bridal Veil Falls is a 45-foot waterfall located in the Nantahala National Forest, northwest of Highlands, North Carolina. With a short curve of roadway located behind the falls, it has the distinction of being the only waterfall in the state that one can drive a vehicle under.-Geology:Bridal Veil...
- Cullasaja FallsCullasaja FallsCullasaja Falls is a waterfall in Southwestern North Carolina. The waterfall is located on the Cullasaja River in the Nantahala National Forest and is part of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. Cullasaja comes from a Cherokee word meaning "honey locust place."-Geology:The falls is the last major...
- Dry Falls (North Carolina)Dry Falls (North Carolina)Dry Falls, also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a 65-foot waterfall located in the Nantahala National Forest, northwest of Highlands, North Carolina.-Geology:...
- Quarry Falls (Macon County)Quarry Falls (Macon County)Quarry Falls is a small waterfall located beside US Hwy. 64 west of Highlands, North Carolina. It is best known for the large, deep pool at the bottom and is a popular place for swimming during warm weather...
Stokes County
Home to the isolated Sauratown MountainsSauratown Mountains
The Sauratown Mountains, which are sometimes called "the mountains away from the mountains", are an isolated mountain range located within Stokes and Surry counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina...
.
- Hidden Falls (Hanging Rock)Hidden Falls (Hanging Rock)Hidden Falls is a waterfall in North Central North Carolina, located in Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County.-Geology:The waterway is Indian Creek, which flows through Hanging Rock State Park, which continues down to Window Falls.-Visiting the Falls:...
- Lower Cascades (Hanging Rock)Lower Cascades (Hanging Rock)Lower Cascades is a waterfall in North Central North Carolina, located in Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County.-History:The falls was first seen by Europeans when German naturalist Lewis David von Schweinitz discovered it, and was originally named Schweinitz Falls .-Geology:The waterway is...
- Tory's Falls (Hanging Rock)Tory's Falls (Hanging Rock)Tory's Falls, also called Tory Falls and Torys Falls is a waterfall in North Central North Carolina, located in Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County.-History:...
- Upper Cascades (Hanging Rock)Upper Cascades (Hanging Rock)Upper Cascades is a waterfall in North Central North Carolina, located in Hanging Rock State Park, in Stokes County.-Geology:The waterway is Cascades Creek, which flows through Hanging Rock State Park...
- Window Falls (Hanging Rock)Window Falls (Hanging Rock)Window Falls is a waterfall in North Central North Carolina, located in Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County.-Geology:The subject watercourse is Indian Creek, which flows through Hanging Rock State Park...
Transylvania County
This area receives more average annual rainfall than any other place in the Eastern United States - over 90 inches a year.- Bridal Veil Falls (DuPont State Forest)Bridal Veil Falls (DuPont State Forest)Bridal Veil Falls is a waterfall in the DuPont State Forest, on the Little River, near Brevard, North Carolina.-Geology:The waterfall begins as a slide which drops over a ledge approximately four feet high. The river then continues down a long, sloping, ever-steepening granite slope before plunging...
- Corbin Creek FallsCorbin Creek FallsCorbin Creek Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina on Corbin Creek near Upper Whitewater Falls. As with most of North Carolina's waterfalls, it is in the mountainous area of the state. There is a cluster of falls in the area where the borders of Georgia and the Carolinas come together...
- Drift FallsDrift FallsDrift Falls, also known as Bust-Yer-Butt Falls and Driftwood Falls, is a waterfall located in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, North Carolina.-History:Drift Falls flows on the Horsepasture River in the Jocassee Gorge. The falls is an 80-ft...
- High Falls (DuPont State Forest)High Falls (DuPont State Forest)High Falls, on the Little River in Transylvania County, is a 125 ft waterfall located in the DuPont State Forest, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.- Geology :...
- Hooker FallsHooker FallsHooker Falls is a 14-foot waterfall located in the DuPont State Forest, southeast of Brevard, North Carolina.-Geology:Hooker Falls flows on the Little River through the DuPont State Forest...
- Log Hollow FallsLog Hollow FallsAlso known as the Falls in Log Hollow, or simply the Waterfall on Log Hollow Branch, Log Hollow Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County, North Carolina. It's a steep cascade with a couple of sections of free falling water. Visitors can drive to within 1/2 miles of...
- Looking Glass FallsLooking Glass FallsLooking Glass Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard.-Natural history:The name comes from Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a wintertime mirror of sunlight, as water freezes on its sides and reflects the sun.-Geology:The waterway is Looking Glass Creek, which flows...
- Moore Cove FallsMoore Cove FallsMoore Cove Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard.-Natural history:The name comes from Moore Cove, and was named for Adam Q. Moore, who purchased the property. In 1891, the property was sold to George W. Vanderbilt for $155 to become part of the Pisgah National...
- Rainbow Falls (Horsepasture River)Rainbow Falls (Horsepasture River)Rainbow Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River. It is on Pisgah National Forest land just outside Gorges State Park.-History:...
- Silver Run FallsSilver Run FallsSilver Run Falls is a 20 foot waterfall a few miles from the town of Cashiers, North Carolina. It is popular with locals and tourists alike. The falls are located after a flat, 200 yard trail. Additionally, there is a second secret falls located above Silver Run...
- Slick Rock FallsSlick Rock FallsSlick Rock Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard.-Geology:Slick Rock Falls flows on Slick Rock Creek over an overhanging bluff. The falls occasionally dries to a near-trickle, depending on the available watershed....
- Sliding RockSliding RockSliding Rock is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard, so named because visitors can slide all the way down the waterfall into the plunge pool below.-Geology:...
- Triple Falls (DuPont State Forest)Triple Falls (DuPont State Forest)Triple Falls is a 125-foot waterfall located in the DuPont State Forest, southeast of Brevard, North Carolina.-Geology:Triple Falls flows on the Little River through the DuPont State Forest in Transylvania County. It is one of 4 major waterfalls on the Little River in this area, the others being...
- Turtleback FallsTurtleback FallsTurtleback Falls, also called Umbrella Falls, is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River. It is on Pisgah National Forest land just outside Gorges State Park.-Geology:...
- Upper Whitewater Falls, part of Whitewater Falls which extends into South Carolina, which together drop over 1000' in elevation before hitting the plunge basin.
Yancey County
- 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...
- Roaring Fork Falls (Yancey County)Roaring Fork Falls (Yancey County)Roaring Fork Falls, also called Roaring Creek Falls, is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina.-Geology:The falls is located on Roaring Fork, a tributary of the South Toe River, which itself is a tributary of the French Broad River. The creek is located in a forest that's...
- 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...
See also
- List of waterfalls
- http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Waterfalls_in_North_Carolina
External links and resources
- NCWaterfalls.com
- Waterfalls in Western North Carolina
- Adams, Kevin. North Carolina Waterfalls: A Hiking and Photography Guide. Blair Publishing, 2005.