Brevard, North Carolina is known for it’s access to over 250 waterfalls, many visible from the road or a short trail. We spent a week exploring roadside pullouts and quiet mountain trails
Connestee Falls
Although it’s located within a private gated community, there is also a public area with a nice view of the falls. A short boardwalk trail leads to a good size deck that overlooks the valley.
There are actually two waterfalls here. Connestee Falls is directly below the deck, at an angle that limits much detail.
However, there is a beautiful view of Baston Creek Falls on the other side of the valley.
Looking Glass Falls
Looking Glass can be seen from a viewing platfom off the highway, but it’s crowded even in early spring.
Steps leading down to the water’s edge disperse the crowds a bit and allow a much better view.
A quiet corner from the platform showcased the blossoms thriving on the spray of the falls.
Sliding Rock
Mostly a natural playground, I suspect this one is much busier in the summer months. Even today, there were several groups out sliding down the falls and playing in the pools at the base. Supposedly, it’s around 55 degrees even in the summer, not something that would tempt me to do much more than watch.
Moore Cove Trail
Moore Cove Trail is a beautiful, peaceful walk through the woods. The trail starts on a board walk, before switching to a wide packed dirt trail.
It’s mostly level with a few slight hills. A good part runs alongside a small creek.
About a mile and a half for the round trip, it made a wonderful, lightly cool morning ramble.
Daniel Ridge Trail
The trail head begins across a bridge at the end of a gravel road.
A bridge currently inhabited by a Timber Rattlesnake. He was not nearly as interested in photography as I was, and slid off before I could get a good picture…and before my husband could have heart failure over the fact that I was approaching him.
Although surrounded by forests, the trail is open and sunny, with beautiful wildflowers along the edges.
We took the cut off trail directly to the waterfall with the plan of then circling counterclockwise along the 4 mile trail route.
We climbed to the top of the hill past the waterfall and found three unmarked trails. We took a guess on the middle one, and wandered an hour or so through the woods and along a creek, hoping we were on the right trail. We weren’t. We somehow ended up back on the gravel road, well behind the parking lot. Not quite the plan, but a beautiful walk all the same.
Sunburst Falls
Highway 215 winds and dips and rolls through the mountains, generating streams and waterfalls across it’s length.
Like Sunburst, many are easily visible from the highway,
and pullouts to allow a few minutes break, on the way to some place else.
Pretty Place Chapel
Not a waterfall. Just a “GPS has no idea how to handle these mountains lost in the woods moment” We’ve had a lot of those. The young man working the grounds at the YMCA camp cheerfully gave us clear directions to our Dupont Forest goal. We weren’t really that far off. He insisted though, that we really needed to go the one more mile down the road to see South Carolina’s number one tourist stop”.
And so we did. It was peaceful and beautiful, overlooking the mountains, well worth a few minutes unintended detour.
Dupont State Recreational Forest
There are 74 trails in Dupont State Forest, and at least 6 waterfalls. We parked at the High Falls access visitor’s center, where the naturalist helped us plot a route to see three of them in one mostly continuous loop.
High Falls
It’s a noisy start at the head of the trail. Traffic and airplanes and construction equipment roars over the sounds of the forest. The path turns quickly though, deeper into the woods, and within 10 minutes there is nothing but the call of birds and the earliest hint of rushing water.
The trail is wide and well maintained with crushed gravel. It’s mostly level here and a nice, easy start to the hike.
Double waterfalls pour over the ridge, separated by a huge boulder; scrubby trees improbably clinging to its surface.
Triple Falls
The Triple Falls viewing area is down a winding staircase of 112 steps. It’s nicely tiered with landings and even benches if needed though.
The first two of the three falls thunder from the end of the steps.
A lower viewing area on the way to the Hooker Falls Trail showcases all three of the connected falls.
Hooker Falls
The Hooker Falls Trail connects to Triple Falls across a bridge and the parking lot of its own trailhead. It’s a wide gravel descending path. Initally it’s noisy from the park road traffic, but it soon hushes into the sounds of the woods.
It’s a different style of waterfall, low and wide, but still with a tremendous rush of water. The pool at the bottom stills quickly though, and a young couple tosses a ball for their dog to chase at the edge of the water downstream.
Chasing the dog, he ran across what he called a nest of butterflies. They were everywhere, behind an old tree, hidden in the rushes, and darting across the water. Most pictures were nothing but yellow blurs, but I did get a couple that were fairly clear.
Gorges State Park/Nantahala National Forest
Our final day of waterfall exploration, we headed to the other side of Transylvania County to explore four falls feeding Lake Jocassee.
Upper Whitewater Falls
A smooth, wide, paved path leads about a quarter of a mile up a gentle hill.
Open vistas overlook the mountains and the lake, while birds call from the trees.
There’s a beautiful view of the waterfall at the top of the path.
A short staircase also leads down to a platform,
for a slightly closer look. A hiking trail leads down from the platform, but a sign states that there are no closer views from there.
Upper Bearwallow Falls
No, he wasn’t actually on the trail, but I had to include him here just because of the name. We saw at least three or four of them just inside the woods as we drove into the park, stumbling around together with no interest in the busy road.
The trail here starts out wide and gravel lined, with a pretty sharp descent. It crosses the park road, then switches to packed dirt with a few railroad ties for stability. There’s a lot of bird calls and some rustling in the woods; a little more nerve racking after the bear sighting.
Benches are spaced along the turns in the trail, a reminder it’s listed as moderate despite its short length.
The viewing platform boasts a final chance to relax and enjoy the waterfall, before the trip back up the hill.
After Triple Falls hill yesterday, that was nothing.
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls Trail, and its extension to Turtle Falls, are the first set we’ve done this trip that are rated strenuous, primarily because of the climb back out again.
The trail starts out mildly enough. It’s a wide gravel path, cushioned with fallen pine needles. It descends gently and occasionally levels out, mostly in the shade with a pleasant breeze.
It becomes gradually somewhat rougher and more narrow, with stones and tree roots to dodge. A short water crossing is easily managed by balancing on rocks. I imagine there are many times when those are under water completely.
The rush of the waterfalls overcomes the rustle of the trees in the wind, as wooden steps begin to ascend to Rainbow Falls.
Turtle Falls
Only a quarter of a mile further, Turtle Falls is up another flight of steps and across a tiny wooden bridge. The trail crosses under a scary looking pile of boulders right to the top the falls.
And thus ends a week of waterfall wandering … so many incredible views and amazing hikes.
Next up, exploring the Outer Banks…
Rambling ... 