All Waterfalls

1. Lower Cullasaja Falls. 2. Upper Cullasaja Falls. 3. Dry Falls. 4. Bridal Veil Falls. From Dillsboro drive South on US 23/442. Take US 64/NC 28 Exit. Turn left at bottom of exit ramp and continue Southeast (toward Highlands) for 8.3 miles. After passing sign for "Nantahala National Forest - Cullasaja River Gorge," pull off to right onto blacktop for view of Lower Cullasaja Falls. Continue on US 64/NC 28 for 2.4 miles. Pull off to right onto gravel for a view of the Upper Cullasaja Falls. Continue on US 64/NC28 for 3.3 miles. Ater passing sign for "Dry Falls," turn right into parking lot. Go down stone staircase to Dry Falls, which roars overhead. Exit parking lot to right, still following US 64/NC28. Continue 0.9 miles, Bridal Veils Falls is on left. 5. Glen Falls. Take US 64 to Highlands, then turn Southwest on NC 106 for 1.8 miles to "Glen Falls" sign, turn left and take gravel road 1 mile. Park. Take trail straight ahead - view the valley then the cascades. Hiking down the mountain you pass three strikingly different 80 foot falls and travel 1.4 miles . The return hike is uphill and strenuous. 6. Cashiers Sliding Rock (An unguarded swimming hole & natural waterslide. Please supervise children!) From Cashiers (intersection of US 64 and NC107), drive South on NC 107 for 1.9 miles. Turn right (West) on Whiteside Cove Road. Continue for 2.8 miles. After crossing bridge, pull off onto dirt on right. Follow trail to the right for 100 yards to Little Sliding Rock. Swimming holes are above and below waterfall. 7. Silver Run Falls and 8. Whitewater Falls. From Cashiers (intersection of US 64 and NC107), drive South on NC 107 for 4.3 miles. Pull off onto gravel on left (with a three-trunked holly tree at the South end). If you pass a "Entering Nantahala National Forest" sign you have gone too far. Follow trail for 50 yards, cross stream on fallen log and continue 200 yards to Silver Run Falls (a 40 foot waterfall dropping into a secluded rock pool). Continue South on NC 107 for 5.3 miles into SC, passing a roadside picnic area. Turn left (East) on SC 413 - continue for 2.3 miles until it dead ends at SC 130. Turn left (North) on SC 130, continue for 1.2 miles re-entering NC. After passing the sign for "Nantahala National Forest - Whitewater Falls," turn right into parking lot. It's a short walk to the overlook for a good view of the falls. There are also trails to the top and bottom of Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall in the Eastern US. 8. Whitewater Falls only. From Cashiers (intersection of US 64/NC 107) drive East on US 64 for 10.4 miles. Turn right (South) on NC 281. Continue for 9.9 miles, turn left into parking lot. It's a short walk to the overlook for a good view of the falls. There are also trails to the top and bottom of Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall in the Eastern US. 9. Turtleback Falls 10. Rainbow Falls. (Not for young children or the less than physically fit). From Whitewater Falls: Exit parking lot to right (North) continue on NC 281 for 7.5 miles. Pull off to the right by a "National Forest Service - Horsepasture/Turtleback Falls" sign. Enter the woods and proceed on an old jeep trail; descend the trail (which gets progressively poorer) for approximately 1 mile until it intersects a trail which parallels the river. To your front is Turtleback Falls. Go left along the trail to view Turtleback Falls from the bottom. Continue another quarter of a mile in the same direction to Rainbow Falls, a 150 ft waterfall that boasts rainbows on sunny mornings. From Cashiers (intersection of US 64/NC 107) drive East on US 64 for 10.4 miles - turn right (South) on NC 281 continue for 0.9 miles to a "National Forest Service - Horsepasture/Rainbow Falls" sign on the left, park on the right across the road and enter the woods on an old jeep trail; descend the trail (which gets progressively poorer) for approximately 1 mile until it intersects a trail which parallels the river. To your front is Turtleback Falls. Go left along the trail to view Turtleback Falls from the bottom. Continue another quarter of a mile in the same direction to Rainbow Falls, a 150 ft waterfall that boasts rainbows on sunny mornings. 11. Sliding Rock. 12. Moore Cove. 13. Looking Glass and 14. Courthouse Falls. (Take a picnic lunch, there are numerous picnic tables along US 276 and the stream which parallel each other.) From Sylva (Exit 85): drive East on US 23/74 for 8.9 miles, turn left onto Blue Ridge Parkway and proceed in the direction of Asheville. Exit at US 276 and continue South on US 276 for 7.5 miles. Turn right into the Sliding Rock Parking area (admission fee, lifegueards on duty). Exit parking lot to the right (South) and continue on US 276 for another 1.1 miles. Immediately after crossing a concrete bridge, park on left. Cross the wood foot bridge next to the concrete bridge - it s an easy and beautiful 0.7 miles to Moore's Cove twin falls. Continue South on US 276 for another mile and park on left. View Looking Glass Falls from roadside or descend a stone staircase to the 50 foot falls. Continue South on US 276 for 5.9 miles and turn right (West) on US 64. Continue West on US 64 for 12.7 miles and turn right (North) on NC 215. Continue on NC 215 for 10.7 miles. Turn right on Forest Service Service Road #140, a gravel road just before the bridge. Go 3.1 miles over the mountain and park on the right near the bridge that crosses Courthouse Creek. The trailhead for the Sumney Cove Trail is on the left next to bridge . Hike 0.2 miles and turn left on Courthouse Falls trail which descends 0.1 miles to the 60 ft falls. Return to NC 215 and turn right. Continue on NC 215 (For the adventurous, turn left onto NC1756 - a gravel road - at the sigh for "Balsam Lake" and return via Tuckasegge & Cullowhee.) for 6.9 miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enter Parkway and turn South in the direction of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and exit at US 23/74 to return to Sylva. From US 64/NC 280 turn (North) onto US 276. Continue North on US 276 for 5.9 miles. Park on right, view Looking GLass Falls from roadside or descend a stone staircease to the 50 ft Falls. Continue North on US 276 for 1 mile and park on right just before the concrete bridge with the wood bridge on the right. Cross the wood foot bridge next to the concrete bridge, and it is an easy and beautiful 0.7 miles to Moore's Cove twin falls. Continue N on US 276 for another 1.1 miles and turn left into Sliding Rock parking lot (admission Fee, lifeguard often on duty). Exit parking lot to the left (North) and continue on US 276 for 7.5 miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enter Parkway, turn South in the direction of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Exit at NC 215 and continue South for 6.9 miles. Turn left on Forest Service Road #140, a gravel road just after the bridge. Go 3.1 miles over the mountain and park on right near bridge that crosses Courthouse Creek. The trailhead for the Sumney Cove Trail is on the left, next to the bridge. Hike 0.2 miles and turn left on Courthouse Trail which descends 0.1 miles to the 60 foot falls. Return to NC 215 and turn left (South), continue for 10.7 miles and to return to US 64. 15. Mingo Falls. From Dillsboro (Exit 81); Drive W on US 74 for 9.7 miles. Take Exit 74, continue on US 441 N for 5.2 miles. When it dead ends at US 19 at a traffic light, turn right. Continue 0.4 miles. Turn left at next traffic light in the direction of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (staying on US 441 N). Continue for 2.3 miles. Turn right at sign for Big Cove Road and take immediate left onto Big Cove Road. Continue for 5.2 miles. Turn right, crossing bridge over river, straight ahead is a parking lot and trail. Climb 170 steps to Mingo Falls. 16. Tom Branch Falls 17. Indian Creek Falls 18. Juneywhank Falls. From Sylva (Exit 81) drive West on US 74 for 16.5 miles to Exit 67. At bottom of ramp turn right onto Spring Street. Continue through first traffic light and follow signs for "Deep Creek Campground." Enter Deep Creek Entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and continue for 0.6 miles. Pass the picnic area and turn left into parking lot. The trail, an old road and easy hike to Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls, starts at the far end of the unloading area and parallels Deep Creek Tom Branch Falls is visible across Deep Creek 0.2 miles from parking lot. Continue for 0.5 miles along Deep Creek, crossing a bridge. Just before the next bridge, take the trail to the right and 200 feet on your left is Indian Creek Falls. Back at parking lot on the far right is a sign and a trail leading to Juneywhank Falls, 0.3 miles up the mountain. 19. Rufus Morgan Falls. From Dillsboro: Drive South on US 23/441, which joins US 64. Continue West on US 64 for 3.8 miles after the US 23/441 Exit (South). Turn right at Wayah Bald sign onto a two lane road. Continue 0.3 miles and turn left on Wayah Road (NC #1310). Continue on Wayah Road for 6.4 miles. Turn left onto Forest Service Road #388, a gravel road. Continue 2 miles to the Rufus Morgan Parking lot. Hike 0.5 miles up a moderate grade to Rufus Morgan Falls (For directions to a breathtaking 360' view from the old stone firetower at Wayah Bald, click on Wayah Bald Vista Icon.). To return the way you came, turn right on Wayah Road, or turn left for a scenic drive past Nantahala Lake and into the Nantahala Gorge on US 19/74.