An intrepid explorer goes in search of more waterfalls through the forests of Tennessee and North Carolina.
After over a week full of waterfalls, you would think I would be sick of them by now. Never!
Instead of heading straight back to the Eastern Shore of Maryland after visiting the Smokies, I decided to go back a round of about way. Luckily, Google Maps has a ton of wonderful waterfalls mapped for easy route finding. I started planning with plans to visit two state parks in mind, but it quickly morphed into insanity from there (typically normal for me). From the Smokies, I headed eastward into the North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest to find some epic waterfalls.
While outside of the Smokies, Soco Falls is actually in the Eastern Cherokee Reservation, just north of the Nantahala National Forest and very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was a quick and easy stop on my way to Cataloochee.
Soco Falls is super pretty, even though it was super sketchy getting to this spot. Luckily, there were ropes to hang onto to get down to the bottom.
After visiting Fontana Lake on the southern side of the Smokies, I headed eastward into the Nantahala National Forest on a very scenic road, US 64. Near the Cliffside Lake Recreation Area (which has its own waterfall), there is a series of four or so waterfalls along the road. I missed the first one due to nowhere to park, though.
The first falls I was able to stop at was the amazingly named Bust Your Butt Falls. I can see how it got that name. I would not want to slide down that waterfall. Ouch!
The next morning, my first stop was at the amazing Dry Falls. The recent rains were making the waterfall roar. Dry Falls is simply impressive.
Dry Falls drops a whopping 75 feet.
This picture doesn’t do the falls justice. It is so large!
One of the coolest things about the falls is that you can walk behind it.
I also had the falls all to myself. Just perfect.
A bit down the road from Dry Falls is Bridalveil Falls, which they sometimes allow you to drive behind, just not the fay I visited.
Not nearly as impressive as Dry Falls.
Near the North Carolina and the South Carolina border, just inside of the Pisgah National Forest boundary, is an impressive waterfall that falls a grand total of 441 feet, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies! The Whitewater Falls viewpoint can be reached by a short walk from the parking lot. While the viewpoint is quite far from the waterfall, you usually get better view than I did.
A very foggy view of Whitewater Falls.
Next, I visited Gorges State Park, whose trails lead into the Pisgah National Forest. Gorges is, well, plain gorgeous, but of course, it was raining by the time I got into the park. I was still able to hike a couple of trails to some more wonderful waterfalls, getting soaking wet in the process. The first trail was to Rainbow Falls, which is technically in the Pisgah National Forest.
Some awesome fungus action. I think it’s some orange chanterelle mushrooms.
Fungi are instrumental at breaking down dead and fallen trees.
A very soggy trail.
Such a wonderfully colorful fungus.
The trail eventually reaches a very pretty river. It’s still fairly foggy out.
I took a very soggy break to take several photos of the cataracts here.
Soooo pretty!
A half hidden little waterfall.
The super impressive Rainbow Falls. It was so hard to photograph. My camera lens kept getting misted. I got even more soaked here.
It really started to rain on the way back on the trail. I took a very quick hike to Bearwallow Falls.
After Gorges, I stopped at the wonderful Looking Glass Falls, also in the Pisgah National Forest. This 60-foot falls can be seen from an easy to reach viewpoint. It luckily stopped raining by this point.
How perfect is that waterfall!
After Looking Glass Falls, I headed up to Paint Creek Recreation Area, in Cherokee National Forest for the night. The Paint Creek Campground is very nice. My site had a small river flowing behind it. I’m glad I randomly chose Paint Creek as my campground for the night. I was looking for a state park or federal campground near Asheville. It was a bit north of where I thought it would be but so worth the drive because it led me to more waterfalls.
A short hike brings you to Margarette Falls, near Greenville, Tennessee, in the Cherokee National Forest. Margarette Falls drops an impressive 60 feet. The trail starts super easy on an old fire road, then it gets interesting.
The trail quickly reaches a very pretty stream.
And then the trail gets interesting. Watch your ankles on this one.
There are a couple of super tiny waterfalls along the trail.
A pretty little bend in the stream.
The trail was super pretty, although it felt longer than it actually was.
A little waterfall slide.
Finally, Margarette Falls. Worth the hike.
Next stop was Sill Branch Falls, which is located in a very pretty area on the edge of the Samson Mountain Wilderness.
The Sill Branch is very pretty.
The trail was quite nice.
Little cascades.
So pretty.
A lovely little waterfall.
A little chute waterfall.
Sill Branch Falls, a 20-foot waterfall. Simply wonderful.
Back in the Pisgah National Forest, is Elk River Falls, also known as, Big Falls. Big Falls is a very fitting name for this waterfall.
The Elk River.
Water going down.
Elk River Falls, dropping about 50 feet.
Quite impressive.
How did I find all these waterfalls? My secret, Google Maps. Wonderful people have mapped all these great waterfalls on Google Maps, including pictures. I just chose from what was roughly along my route. It worked like a charm.
After seeing dozens of waterfalls over two weeks, I had one more to see at my next stop.
Check out my next update where I will be visiting Stone Mountain State Park!
or
Start at the beginning of my adventure through the Appalachian Mountains!
