The Upper Whitewater Falls trailhead is located off of NC 281 right near the South Carolina border. The Foothills Trail continues forward to NC HWY-281, but you need to turn right onto the Upper Whitewater Falls Trail. The boofs are 12 footers, with class 5 approaches and washouts. Big hike in for little return. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. It is managed by Forest Service. The gate will automatically open when you leave after dark, but not open when you attempt to enter from the … DIFFICULTY 1.2 … Upper Whitewater Falls to Sloan Bridge is a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) section of the trail that crosses into North Carolina and back into South Carolina. The trail to the overlook starts at the far end of the parking lot behind the information boards. The series falls is 800+ feet in total, but this hike only catches the upper 400 feet of the falls. Hikes Map Explore. The gate was open when I arrived, and stays open until dark. I think it was $3/vehicle and $1/person. For an excellent view of Upper Whitewater Falls, follow the paved 1/4-mile walkway to the upper overlook. The view of Sculpted Falls described here is known as the River Right Perch, because it is on the south side of the river - the right side looking downstream. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. A hike a bit south of here leads to the lower falls. And though more travelers journey to Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina, the Lower Falls in Oconee County comprise a 200-foot drop as dramatic as any in this guide. Sculpted Falls is arguably the most scenic waterfall on the Upper Whitewater River, located in the middle of the Upper Whitewater Slot Canyon. There are two distinct overlooks of the 411 foot plunge taken by the river on its path to Lake Jocassee. Upper Whitewater Falls Trail is a 1.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sapphire, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. In the cool, moist shade of steep slopes … A8 NC Hwy 281 (SC 130), Upper Whitewater Overlook (Foothills Trail Guide Mini Map #7) Features: Hiking beside the Whitewater River; Corbin Creek Falls; Spur trail to Lower Whitewater Falls; View of Upper Whitewater Falls; Join Foothills Trail Conservancy. At 6.3 miles, reach a junction with the Upper Whitewater Falls Trail. Rainbow over Upper Whitewater Falls You can continue on a half-mile spur trail to the right of the lower platform, which switchbacks down the mountain. So if you want to visit both sections in one day, it’s very easy. Overcast. Upper Whitewater Falls, tucked in Nantahala National Forest, drops 411 feet, a spectacular natural wonder you really have to see to believe. The rugged terrain around these two waterfalls remains wild and undeveloped. Upper Whitewater Falls resides in the Nantahala National Forest near Brevard in Jackson County, North Carolina. This waterfall has a claim as the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies, which is apparently disputed. In … Another change occurred with the rerouting of Foothills Trail. Fee: $3 for vehicles with seven passengers or less; $1 per person for more than seven people traveling together in a vehicle. All Trails/Wesley Black . We will hike next time. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Whitewater Falls to Whitewater River Trail is a 1.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sapphire, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. Turn right to reach the observation area. The reason Lower Whitewater is less visited than Upper Whitewater Falls is that it takes a real hike to get to them. New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. Lower Whitewater Falls trail is about 4.2 miles. Lower Whitewater Falls The hike catches its first views of Whitewater Falls at.25 mile, as the upper falls tumble in a series of wispy white cascades over a blocky, boulder-riddled cliff. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website or Facebook page. All Rights Reserved, The Best Places to Go Hiking Near Greenville, SC, Devil’s Courthouse on the Blue Ridge Parkway [Trail Guide]. Upper Whitewater Falls, near Cashiers, drops over 411 feet and is the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains. Sloan Bridge to Fish Hatchery Road is a 3.3-mile (5.3 km) section of the trail that starts at SC Highway 107 and ends at Fish Hatchery Road. Upper Whitewater Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina on the Whitewater River. Great views of the falls are available from two overlooks. The falls were beautiful though and pretty crowded. Apparently the south trail doesn’t offer any fees past the viewing deck. The other whitewater stretch is the breakdown of Upper Whitewater Falls. Why weren't you on Thompson or the normal Whitewater Run might be a … This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating. It used to pass from the NC 281 bridge over the Whitewater River to the upper overlook, then down the path to the lower overlook. The falls plunge an amazing 411 feet! The view only gets better, though, as the trail begins a descent down a series of wooden stairs and landings. There is a small honor system fee, so bring small bills. As with most of North Carolina's waterfalls, it is in the mountainous area of the state. Hike the Whitewater Falls Trail near Cashiers, NC to the stunning, tumbling cascades of a towering waterfall on this short, easy, family-friendly trail. South Carolina's Lower Whitewater Falls drops another 400 feet. The old route of Foothills Trail followed part of the original route of NC 281, then … Take in the view of the Upper Whitewater Falls in the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. 34F. For reasons I have no explanation for I had never, up until this hike, visited the falls. An easy hike on a well marked trail leads to a 14ft. There are two different views of the Falls, an upper viewing area that is handicap accessible and an easy 1/2 mile roundtrip walk up a paved walkway. After spending some time by the lower falls, head back to the Bad Creek Access Trail junction. Maybe a slightly cleaner Garden of the Gods if you will. Eight short miles north of … Nice stop. Upper falls trail was closed and looked like it would be for a while. The parking lot and falls overlook is managed by the Forest Service. There is no other trail that links Upper Whitewater Falls to the parking lot at the Bad Creek Foothills Trail Access that contains your car, so your options are to retrace your steps along the Foothills Trail or take these steps to the state highway and walk back along the road. Address & GPS. It ends at SC Highway 107. This is the view most people walk to, but it’s not the best view of Whitewater Falls NC. You will cross again over Whitewater River before making a steep ascent up to the junction with Upper Whitewater Falls Trail, around 6.3 miles in. But Whitewater falls is the main attraction at this park and definitely worth seeing. Upper Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. Not many eddies. Although it is uphill, It is a very short paved trail that is both family friendly and wheelchair accessible. Upper Whitewater Falls Base Hike Route Map The approximate route of my hike to the base of Upper Whitewater Falls as depicted a la Google Earth... Foothills Trail Trailhead - Highway 281 The trailhead I'd be using on this hike is located just south of the Whitewater Falls Recreation Area access road. Note: You will have very limited internet access in the Highlands so you may have difficulty plugging this falls into your GPS so make sure you plan ahead by printing out … Turtleback Falls Hike. The easiest overlook to reach is a quarter-mile from the parking lot along a paved path. This quarter mile stretch drops around 600 feet/mile and is super sick. It really depends on what your definition of a waterfall is. Lower Whitewater Falls, located just across the border in South Carolina, drops another 400 feet. For an excellent view of Upper Whitewater Falls, follow the paved 1/4-mile walkway to the upper overlook. The entire Whitewater Falls chain – six different waterfalls along the North and South Carolina border – is the highest series of falls in eastern North America. A beautiful trail that goes by the Falls Overlook viewpoint and then continues to the top of the Falls for additional gorgeous scenes. Took the north trail so we could be at the top of the Falls. A second overlook with a better … … When you are done enjoying the view of lower whitewater falls, hike the trail back to the parking lot. Foothills Trail (Upper Whitewater Falls) is a 6 mile blue singletrack trail located near Brevard North Carolina. Restroom and picnic area available. Highway 130 Salem, SC 35.011827N, -82.999923W Weather Details & Forecast. Annual pass available for $15; One-day or season permits are also valid at Whiteside Mountain and at Dry Falls. To reach the … Great for families with small children or as a leg stretcher if you’re passing through, the impressive multi-tiered falls drops over 400 feet along the Whitewater River. That said, it was still 200ft tall as the waterfall cascades and plunges in a similar manner to its bigger brother. 55% Humidity. There is a pretty spacious parking lot with a $3 fee that you pay via envelope station. LENGTH 0.5 MILES. Upper Whitewater Falls path is about a 1.6 mile partially paved trail to an overlook and is rated as easy. It's not a long hike, mind you, but there isn't a paved path to this one. Glad we did. It is maintained by Duke Energy Co. All Trails/John Morgan. To do the road walk (approximate distance 4 miles), turn left on the state highway, and then turn left … Foothills trail was open, but didn’t provide for more waterfall views. A lower overlook with an even better view (photos above) is located at the bottom of 154 wooden steps. North Carolina's Upper Whitewater Falls is a spectacular 411-foot cascade that rests near the border of South Carolina, dropping precipitously from the Blue Ridge Escarpment toward Jocassee Lake. Stop and enjoy an impressive 400 foot multi-tiered waterfall in North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest. Accessibility: This trail is only considered partially-accessible because it is not all paved and has some steep sections with a grade over 20%. For more information, see the park page here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5188436 It is only 0.1 mile to the main observation area, but you need to h up a lot of small wooden steps - I would say close to a hundred. For … The route is pretty straight forward...simply follow the Foothills Trail east from Duke Power's Bad Creek Access … Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Lower Whitewater Falls is a smaller version of its bigger brother the Upper Whitewater Falls further upstream and across the state border. More Stats for Foothills Trail (Upper Whitewater Falls) hike trail I’m sure there’s more to see around here but it was a bit crowded so I left for the Lower Whitewater Trail, which I enjoyed much more. This path is steep in places. Fun easy little trail with a awesome waterfall, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5188436, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/whitewater-falls-overlook-trail. Note: As of 10/14/2020, users have reported that the trail to Upper Falls is currently closed. The second, and better view of Whitewater Falls NC, is available by walking down the approximately 150 stairs from the first … Upper Whitewater Falls Trail is a 2.1 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sapphire, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. Prior to 2009, Turtleback Falls was a relatively difficult destination to … There are a picnic area and bathrooms by the parking lot. It is administered by the USDA Forest Service. Come at dawn, and you can watch a spectacular sunrise as you hike up to the overlook - the trail runs along the west wall of the valley, giving you a beautiful view of the sun rising over the mountains to the east. The fully accessible portion to the Falls Overlook can be viewed here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/whitewater-falls-overlook-trail. Nantahala National Forest has developed a small park with family amenities for those who wish to view this spectacular wall of water. Note that if you are leaving the trailhead after dusk, the entrance gate may be closed but it will open to let you out as you slowly approach it. Trail Type: Asphalt and stairs Hike Distance: 0.5 miles round trip Difficulty: 8 if you take the stairs Beauty: 8. The walkway begins at the end of the parking lot and is accessible to wheelchairs. Upper Whitewater Falls, near Cashiers, drops over 411 feet and is the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains. However, if you want to miss the onslaught of visitors, avoid going to the falls during the afternoon. There is a cluster of falls in the area where the borders of Georgia and the Carolinas come together. Upper Whitewater Falls (A8) to Sloan Bridge (A9) Bad Creek Access (A7) to Upper Whitewater Falls (A8) Canebrake (A6) to Bad Creek Access (A7) Laurel Fork Falls (A5) to Canebrake (A6) Because of the escarpment's difficult access and rugged terrain, much of the area receives few visitors and has remained wild and undeveloped over the years. Overview: Whitewater Falls has been given the distinction of being the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River, although Crabtree Falls in Virginia and Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee also make the same claim. The area tends to be quieter in the morning and in the evening. Upper Whitewater Falls Loop Get a little peace and quiet at the popular Upper Whitewater Falls with a short trip down the Foothills Trail on this less than one mile loop. Paved uphill walk to an overlook, and stairs leading to another viewing platform. Karen Richele Burke wrote a review Sep 2020. It is accessed via a different parking lot off of Bad Creek Road. Go to “Join Now” to join for the first … Current. It’s actually only a 5 minute drive from the Bad Creek parking lot for the Lower Whitewater Falls hike. And then at dawn you essentially have the overlooks and viewing platforms to yourself, allowing to enjoy the majesty of the falls over a picnic breakfast. Upper Whitewater Falls Nantahala National Forest, NC. It will take you down to the Whitewater River and access to the over 75-mile Foothills Trail. Now, the trail runs behind the restrooms and below the parking area, avoiding the crowded overlooks. miles. The upper whitewater falls trail was closed, it looked like because of trees down. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. The walkway begins at the end of the parking lot and is accessible to wheelchairs. 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