We continued our April 2018 trip to western North Carolina with an excursion further west from Brevard to the area around Highlands. Our first stop was at the roadside Bridal Veil Falls on US 64 about 2.7 miles west of downtown Highlands. An unnamed stream slides down a long cascade before freefalling about 40 feet according to Kevin Adams in his excellent reference work North Carolina Waterfalls - A Hiking and Photography Guide. The US Forest Service claims the waterfall is 120 feet, which likely includes the cascade above the falls. Almost immediately after passing over the original highway and under the current highway, the stream flows into the Cullasaja River.
When the road was originally built, designers routed it behind the waterfall as a tourist attraction. However, winter ice wreaked havoc on travel until 1959 when the current alignment eliminating the curve behind the falls was opened. Tourist travel behind the falls was still allowed for decades, but has been barricaded since 2003 when a large boulder fell onto the original roadway.
Parking for several vehicles is provided at a gravel pullout adjacent to the falls.
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| Cascade and Bridal Veil Falls |
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| A different view |
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| Rock overhang |
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| Crashing on the rocks |
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| A final view |
This roadside attraction is free to visit.
Bridal Veil Falls webpage is https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5188444.
The Nantahala National Forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/nfsnc/home.
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