The lower falls also offer easier hiker access if you start at the Bad Creek Foothills Trail Access as I did. Easily add multiple stops, live traffic, road conditions, or satellite to your route. DIRECTIONS: W i t e w a t e r R i v e r ... Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. Upper Whitewater Falls, tucked in Nantahala National Forest, drops 411 feet, a spectacular natural wonder you really have to see to believe. Whitewater Falls is part of that group, very close to the South … Foothills Trail Conservancy PO Box 3041 Greenville SC … Whitewater Falls … Driving Directions. Whitewater Falls owes its existence to the Blue Ridge Escarpment, a sharp drop in elevation between the mountains and the Piedmont. It's a beautiful spot. 06/24/2016 Melissa B. Melissa B. Tony, Noel and I was out with our little doggie Sammi, visiting the Land of the Waterfalls and we visited UPPER WHITEWATER FALLS last. Because of the … Stairs lead to a better viewing platform. Lower Whitewater Falls. Hike Description. Go to “Join Now” to join for the first time or to renew your membership. Whitewater Falls: the hike. The road leads a short distance to a large parking area. There is a cluster of falls in the area where the borders of Georgia and the Carolinas come together. A few miles upstream from Whitewater Falls is another spectacular section of the Whitewater … Whitewater Falls. Following this, the Whitewater River plunges with whitewater through the Whitewater River Gorge, exiting the gorge with another dramatic drop at Lower Whitewater Falls, into Lake Jocassee. Mill Creek Falls on the upper end of Lake Jocassee is the perfect spot to stop your boat for a picnic and a swim right up to the 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. From South Carolina you would most likely approach from scenic highway 11 … The two largest drops (Upper and Lower Whitewater Falls) are accessible. Whitewater Falls, at 411 feet high, are one of the highest pure waterfalls in the South. And if you time it right, you can see this 411-foot waterfall near … There is net ascent of about 800 feet (200 m). Maybe a slightly cleaner Garden of the Gods if you will. Short walk to lookout. From North Carolina you approach from Highway 64 turning South onto NC Highway 281 for about 8 miles. Sunday, September 13th, 2015 Group Photo at Exit Falls (photo by Andy Kunkle) The Whitewater River is most known for the spectacular Whitewater Falls, one of the most heavily visited waterfalls in the Carolinas. Compared to its brother Upper Whitewater Falls just upstream in North Carolina, Lower Whitewater Falls is shorter, but it may be more scenic. The epic Upper Whitewater Falls (25 miles, 42 minutes) is a multi-drop waterfall that cascades more than 400 feet. Upper Whitewater Falls. 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. However, it is a difficult climb back up. Not many eddies. This … The trailhead is at the NC 281 bridge over the Whitewater River 7.75 miles south of US 64. Upper Whitewater Falls. As with most of North Carolina's waterfalls, it is in the mountainous area of the state. Directions: From the intersection of SC11 and SC130, drive 10 miles north on SC130 and turn right into the Bad Creek pumped storage facility. Turn right (S) on NC 281. All Trails/Wesley Black. Much of it parallels the Whitewater River. From the turnaround at the lower end of the parking area, a paved path leads to an upper overlook of the falls… Be the first to share your experience. One bonus stop can be another little … Step by step directions for your drive or walk. Whitewater Falls is located along NC Highway 281 less than 1 mile from the South Carolina border where the Highway becomes SC Highway 130. The upper section is a huge free fall, probably 150 feet. Lower Whitewater Falls. Once down the set of stairs, the trail switchbacks down the mountain and is steep in places. Turn left into parking lot. Beginning in North Carolina and ending in South Carolina, these falls are the highest in eastern America. The boofs are 12 footers, with class 5 approaches and washouts. The USGS topo map designates these as just 'Lower Falls' and 'Upper Falls' and you might see these indicated as such in other references. View of Upper Whitewater Falls; Join Foothills Trail Conservancy. WHITEWATER FALLS DIRECTIONS Bad Creek Access to Upper Whitewater Falls is a 2.3-mile section of the trail. It ends at SC Highway 107. Find nearby businesses, restaurants and … South Carolina’s Lower Whitewater Falls falls another 400 feet. Easy 10 minute walk to a viewing platform at the end of an asphalt path. However, if you want to miss the onslaught of visitors, avoid going to the falls during the afternoon. Some sources say it's the highest falls east of the Mississippi River at 411', but I'm not so sure. A post shared by Chad Chandler (@chad.chandler) on Jan 21, 2018 at … Whitewater Falls. … Upper Whitewater Falls. Because of the escarp-ment’s difficult access and rugged terrain, much of the area receives few visitors and has remained wild and … Upper Whitewater Falls is on the NC side of the border and the Lower Whitewater Falls is on the SC side. Left to right: Upper Whitewater Falls on the NC side of the state border, Lower Whitewater Falls on the SC side of the state border. Whitewater Falls only (From Cashiers) From intersection of US 64 & NC 107, drive E on US 64 for 10.4 miles. Both the upper and lower falls feature scenic overlooks that can be accessed by car. Continue for 9.9 miles. New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. Driving Directions. From the junction of NC 281 and US 64 west of Lake Toxaway, drive south on NC 281 for 8.5 miles and turn left at the sign for Whitewater Falls. You are very likely to experience the sighting of an Eagle or two if you keep your eye out here. If you’re looking for a traditional hike this isn’t going to be for you, but if you’re looking for a short easy paved path to two observation points of a beautiful waterfall, this is exactly for you. The falls plunge an amazing 411 feet! Each photo and review that you add on The Outbound earns you points towards … Earn the Peregrine. After a short run of rapids and cascades, the lower free-fall … Whitewater Falls on the Whitewater River is the last river in the Jocassee Gorge area just before you reach South Carolina. The lower section is a much larger drop, split in half vertically with a free fall on the left side and a cascade over several mini rock ledges on the right. We had visited several the day before... Read more. Upper Whitewater Falls in Jackson and Transylvania counties is (fun fact alert!) Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. Upper Whitewater Falls. Moreover, accessing the Lower Whitewater Falls required a bit of a longer hike as well as getting past some of the uninviting Duke Energy gates and infrastructure. We'll head back after snack lunch and a … 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. Whitewater Falls has two very distinct sections with a gradual cascading slope in the middle. Upper Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. This is a new adventure! Over 3.5 miles, the Whitewater River drops 1,500 feet. (See Hike Description) If you wish to access it … Big hike in for little return. The Forest Service Recreation Area for Whitewater Falls is just across the North Carolina line from South … From the parking area, a moderate hike of 45 minutes to an hour will get you to an overlook where you’ll find an unparalleled view of Lower Whitewater Falls. 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. Take in the view of the Upper Whitewater Falls in the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. This quarter mile stretch drops around 600 feet/mile and is super sick. Hike out and back from NC 281 to Exit Falls & Upper Whitewater Slot Canyon, making the old school bus loop at the end and visiting all waterfalls - 6.95 Miles but unrealistic as a day hike, backpacking option only ; Bonus Stops. Beautiful falls… Contact Us. Starting at the Upper Whitewater Falls overlook, we'll begin a steep descent to the Whitewater River. All … Time to hike: 45 minutes to an hour. However, it is a difficult climb back up. First, Upper Whitewater Falls is a gigantic double-tiered waterfall, claimed to be the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The Whitewater River drops 700+ feet in about a half mile before it flows into Lake Jocassee. Great views of the falls are available from two overlooks. Rated 4.0 /5 based on 5 customer reviews 4.0 9.4 miles - Out-and-Back Trail Save Add Review Get Directions Add Photo. It crosses back into North Carolina. A small fee is charged for parking. Beginning in North Carolina and ending in South Carolina, these falls are the highest in eastern America. The hike departs the trailhead and parking area off NC 281 (view maps and driving directions), following the paved Foothills Trail northbound from the picnic area.Views open immediately to the east from the trailhead, where the rounded, rolling southern Appalachian mountains stretch far … Whitewater Falls … Stairs lead to a better viewing platform. Upper Whitewater Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina on the Whitewater River. There's … South Carolina’s Lower Whitewater Falls falls another 400 feet. Upper Whitewater River Adventure. After that we'll cross over the Whitewater River and follow it to the Lower falls in approx 5 miles. There are trails to top and bottom of Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall in the eastern U.S. Turtleback Falls and Rainbow Falls The area tends to be quieter in the morning and in the evening. The Whitewater River features two large cascades as it flows from the mountains of North Carolina into Lake Jocassee. DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 11 in Salem, go North on Hwy 130 ten miles and follow signs to Whitewater Falls… 10/04/2018 Vanessa A. Vanessa A. With a 411-foot plunge, Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. There is a small fee to park … If you could visit only one waterfall in Western NC, this may be the one I'd recommend. #hiking #optoutside #waterfalls. 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. There is an alternate … South Carolina's Lower Whitewater Falls drops another 400 feet. Directions… The Whitewater River is a 16.6-mile-long (26.7 km) tributary of the Upper Mississippi River which flows through the Driftless Area of Minnesota, reaching its mouth in Wabasha County at the community of Weaver opposite Buffalo, Wisconsin. Upper Whitewater Falls. One vantage point of Whitewater Falls is accessible and another can be reached by 150-plus stairs to a viewing platform. In fact, the only real difficulty on this hike is the near complete lack of flat areas. Easy 10 minute walk to a viewing platform at the end of an asphalt path. This fall grows as the lake levels drop due to the depth of the lake here. A small parking area is on the north (river left) side of the bridge. This probably explained why we noticed a considerably quieter experience compared to its more famous counterpart in the Upper Whitewater Falls. The best part is that you can get a … Upper Whitewater Falls See the upper section of the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi, plunging 411 ft.! The easiest overlook to reach is a quarter-mile from the parking lot … Hike to Lower and Upper Whitewater Falls via Foothills Trail. Since it doesn’t take very long to reach Dry Falls, we think you might be up for a bit of a drive to reach even more waterfalls. 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