Dry Falls - Nantahala National Forest

Less than a mile west of Bridal Veil Falls is Dry Falls, our second stop of the day on our April 2018 visit to western North Carolina. The large, paved parking area is located on US 64 about 3 ½ miles west of downtown Highlands. 

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a ½ mile trail in the 1930s that passes behind the falls and emerges on the other side of the Cullasaja River Gorge. The trail includes several sets of stone steps and has a concrete surface to the waterfall. Behind the falls and on the opposite side of the gorge, the trail surface is natural rock and packed gravel.

More recently, an accessible viewing platform was built immediately downstream of the parking area to allow visitors with mobility issues to view the waterfall.

Information board in the parking area

Solitary picnic table in the parking area

Vault toilet

Beginning of accessible path to overlook

Looking down on the CCC kiosk from the accessible walkway

Dry Falls from the accessible viewing platform

CCC kiosk

Looking back up the stone stairs to the CCC kiosk

Concrete trail surface

View from the trail

Switchback and more stairs

View of the falls from the switchback

View from the trail

Another view from the trail

Closer view

Cullasaja River Gorge below the falls

One more view

Almost behind the falls

View through the waterfall

Still in the mist zone

Closeup of Dry Falls from the opposite side of the gorge

A wider perspective

Fenced-in end of the trail

Entry to the parking area and falls is free.

The Dry Falls webpage is https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5188442.

The Nantahala National Forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48634.

Bridal Veil Falls - Nantahala National Forest

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.

Cascade and Bridal Veil Falls

A different view

Rock overhang

Crashing on the rocks

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.

Whitewater Falls - Nantahala National Forest

Our April 2018 trip to western North Carolina continued with a visit to Whitewater Falls on the Whitewater River. On a previous blog post, I provided information about how to get to the falls,  parking, accessibility, and fees. The only change to that information is that the fee has been raised from $2 per vehicle to $3. The paved trail is still steep for wheelchairs at a 4.75% grade and there are still over 150 stairsteps down to the viewing platform.

Paved path to overlook

Accessible view from the end of the trail

Upper third of the waterfall

Bench about halfway down the stairs

Most views from the viewing platform are partially obstructed

Upper third of the falls

Middle cascade

Lower third of the falls

Entry requires a fee of $3 per vehicle plus an additional $1 for each passenger over seven. Annual, Fourth Grade, Military, or Senior pass holders can enter their pass information on the fee envelope instead of paying the fee.

The forest website for the falls is https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5188436.

The forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48634.

Glen Falls - Nantahala National Forest

We continued our April 2018 exploration of western North Carolina with a hike to Glen Falls. The falls are located west of Highlands, NC. To reach the trailhead from the intersection of US 64 and NC 28 in town, drive northwest on Main Street (US 64) for 0.4 miles and turn left onto Dillard Road (NC 106). Drive 1.8 miles on Dillard Road to the intersection with the paved Holt Road on the left and the gravel Glen Falls Road also on the left. A brown Forest Service sign was easily visible when we visited. Veer left onto Glen Falls Road and drive 1.1 miles to the parking area at the end of the road.

The trail is ¾ mile one-way with a descent of about 400 feet. It is well maintained with numerous timber steps. The East Fork Overflow Creek descends in several steps to create the series of falls named Glen Falls. The creek flows through Blue Valley before emptying into the Chattooga River and miles downstream into the Savannah River.

Topographic map with GPS route

Trail profile

A note about the name of the waterfalls:
The US Board on Geological Names, a part of the US Geological Survey, has determined the official name is Glen Falls. However, the US Forest Service adds a second 'n' to make Glenn Falls.

Forest Service misspelling

Trailhead kiosk

Two signed trailheads, the falls is to the left

Well maintained trail

Timber stairs

More stairs lead down to the first overlook

East Fork Overflow Creek

Another view from the first overlook

View upstream

View downstream

Looking back at the first overlook

There is a trail junction about ¼ mile from the trailhead. Turn right and walk a short distance to the second overlook near the top of the upper waterfall.

Trail junction

Another view of the junction

Side trail

Steps down to the second overlook

Brink of the 100-foot upper falls from the overlook

Blue Valley

Stairs back up to the main trail

Back on the main trail

Duck under or climb over?

Third overlook at the base of the upper falls

Sturdy railings allow safe viewing of the falls

View from the third overlook

Another view

Continuing down the trail...

...and around another switchback

One more switchback for good measure

More timber stairs

Lower falls at the fourth overlook

Another cascade just downstream of the overlook

Closeup of the base of the falls

Glen Falls

Entrance to Nantahala National Forest is free. The few areas that require a fee are well marked and usually worth it.

The Nantahala National Forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48634.

The Glen Falls webpage is https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5188441.