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. Also, take a staircase down to a second overlook. 83 05.880. The 400-foot lower falls can be accessed from a different location in South Carolina. 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. Walk a quarter-mile paved trail (accessible for wheelchairs or scooters) to see the mighty Upper Whitewater Falls across the valley, plummeting 411 feet. 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. It is managed by Forest Service. 34 51.807. It is maintained by Duke Energy Co. More 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. 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. 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. Stop and enjoy an impressive 400 foot multi-tiered waterfall in North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest. Great views of the falls are available from two overlooks. Lower Whitewater Falls trail is about 4.2 miles. Linville Falls Hike. Quickly you will come to the Foothills Trail. Foothills Trail (Upper Whitewater Falls) is a 6 mile blue singletrack trail located near Brevard North Carolina. GPS Coordinates. Lower Whitewater Falls. Located just 1.5 miles from the beautiful Whitewater Falls; a stunning waterfall with an elevation of 414ft. It’s located in the Nantahala National Forest, about 60 miles from Asheville. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website or Facebook page. Then leave the pavement to form a slightly longer loop along a short section of the 77-mile Foothills Trail. Make it a double date and check out the longer Lower Whitewater Falls Trail. At 6.3 miles, reach a junction with the Upper Whitewater Falls Trail. All Trails/Wesley Black However, if you want to miss the onslaught of visitors, avoid going to the falls during the afternoon. South Carolina's Lower Whitewater Falls drops another 400 feet. Upper Whitewater Falls Upper Whitewater Falls is a 400 foot impressive waterfall a few miles of Lower Whitewater Falls, also on the Whitewater River. The trail to the overlook starts at the far end of the parking lot behind the information boards. Day 4, Upper Whitewater Falls: ... Really nice flood plain trail along Whitewater River. Information about gaining access into Chimney Rock State Park (with pandemic details) can be found here. Want to explore a slightly more difficult trail to see the tallest waterfall in North Carolina? Then leave the pavement to form a slightly longer loop along a short section of the 76 mile Foothills Trail. One sign says 0.7 tenths, next sign across the river says 0.5 tenths, and map says 0.6 tenths to the parking area. This hike was simply a walk from a paved parking lot to the overlook of the falls with a paved trail… Email will only be used to send a verification link for first time use with this username and to authenticate the username for further reviews/comments. Upper Whitewater Falls in the Nantahala National Forest (near Sapphire NC), photographed with the Autumn colors of the Fall season in Western North Carolina. 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. The parking lot and falls overlook is managed by the Forest Service. A lower overlook with an even better view (photos above) is located at the bottom of 154 wooden steps. Upper Whitewater Falls, near Cashiers, drops over 411 feet and is the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains. 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) After spending some time by the lower falls, head back to the Bad Creek Access Trail junction. The Foothills Trail continues forward to NC HWY-281, but you need to turn right onto the Upper Whitewater Falls Trail. There are several viewing platforms at varying heights that offer different views of the falls. Upper Whitewater Falls resides in the Nantahala National Forest near Brevard in Jackson County, North Carolina. GPS coordinates to parking area: N 35.01246 W 082.99911 Lower Whitewater Falls, located just across the border in South Carolina, drops another 400 feet. The view only gets better, though, as the trail begins a descent down a series of wooden stairs and landings. There are several dedicated spots for RVs and buses. A hike a bit south of here leads to the lower falls. Watermark will not appear on your print. Our horses, mild-mannered and gentle, were previously owned by the children's camp, and will offer a smooth and comfortable ride. It ends at SC Highway 107. 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. A short distance north of the border is the Upper Whitewater Falls Access Area. The walkway begins at a parking lot and is accessible to wheelchairs. A few miles down the same highway, a longer trail leads to a lower-falls vantage. Restrooms can be found on the entrance side and picnic tables and pavilions on the opposite end. A second overlook with a better The upper falls plummet 411 feet. Although it is uphill, It is a very short paved trail that is both family friendly and wheelchair accessible. A dramatic 200 ft. drop, these falls are the highest in eastern America. Upper Whitewater Falls path is about a 1.6 mile partially paved trail to an overlook and is rated as easy. The most convenient access to the waterfall is at the Upper Whitewater Falls Access Area. Immediately you will notice the much more rugged trail, litered with rocks and roots. To experience these breathtaking falls up-close-and-personal, take the paved ¼ mile walkway to the upper overlook. Learn more about the trail to Hickory Nut Falls from our friends at AllTrails. Stop and enjoy an impressive 400 foot multi-tiered waterfall in North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest. After half a mile, a spur trail takes you off the Foothills Trail and up the hillside to other side of the restrooms near the entrance to the parking lot, thus ending this loop. For an excellent view of Upper Whitewater Falls, follow the paved 1/4-mile walkway to the upper overlook. Turn right to reach the observation area. Upper Whitewater Falls is seven feet taller than Hickory Nut Falls. The easiest overlook to reach is a quarter-mile from the parking lot along a paved path. ... Upper Whitewater Falls Trail Access. Right along the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, lies one of the highest waterfalls (811 feet) East of the Rockies – Whitewater Falls. An overview of Upper Whitewater Falls, spectacular even without autumn colors, is just footsteps from a parking area off 281. Upper Whitewater Falls – Nantahala National Forest $ 45.00 – $ 675.00. This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating. 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. Upper Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. Sculpted Falls is arguably the most scenic waterfall on the Upper Whitewater River, located in the middle of the Upper Whitewater Slot Canyon. 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. The Upper Whitewater Falls trailhead is located off of NC 281 right near the South Carolina border. The Whitewater River features two large cascades as it flows from the mountains of North Carolina into Lake Jocassee. 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. More Stats for Foothills Trail (Upper Whitewater Falls) hike trail All Rights Reserved, Where To Find Pumpkin Lattes & Pumpkin Beer in Greenville. The Lower Falls (in South Carolina) is about half-mile down the Whitewater River from the Upper Falls (in North Carolina). 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. The falls can be seen from the bridge, but the view is partially obstructed by mountain laurel. Stay right, following the sign for NC HWY 281. In the shadow of the steep hillside, the trail is often wet with slick rocks so take your time. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/south-carolina/lower-whitewater-falls Upper Whitewater Falls, tucked in Nantahala National Forest, drops 411 feet, a spectacular natural wonder you really have to see to believe. The trail begins at the end of the lot from the entrance. The large 50 car parking lot is just .2 miles north of the NC/SC state line. But Whitewater falls is the main attraction at this park and definitely worth seeing. The Forest Service Recreation Area for Whitewater Falls is just across the North Carolina line from South Carolina and is a very popular destination thanks to an easy .2 mile paved trail to an overlook. 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. The two largest drops (Upper and Lower Whitewater Falls) are accessible. ... Whitewater Falls Parking Lot Access. Some people mistake this waterfall for Upper Whitewater Falls, but the real show still lies ahead. More energetic hikers can continue down the half-mile spur trail that drops 600 feet in elevation to the Whitewater River and Foothills Trail. It is administered by the USDA Forest Service. This is a … One of the longer hikes on our list, the 90-foot drop of Linville Falls is worth the … The rugged terrain around these two waterfalls remains wild and undeveloped. if you enjoy this site consider supporting me on. 2.3 miles into the hike, the trail crosses Corbin Creek on a long wooden footbridge located just below rushing Corbin Creek Falls. A lower overlook is located at the bottom of 154 wooden steps. Oconee St Park Access. Size Both the upper and lower falls feature scenic overlooks that can be accessed by car. Even when the paved path to the falls is crowded, you will find yourself alone most of the time along this section. Visitors to the falls must pay a $3/vehicle fee to view the falls. The trail ride is approximately 4 miles. It’s actually only a 5 minute drive from the Bad Creek parking lot for the Lower Whitewater Falls hike. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trail to the overlook is a dangerous 1.7 mile trek. Please note that while the Foothills Trail Conference has endeavored to make all maps and trail descriptions as accurate and reliable as possible, they should be considered informational only. Take your pick. Whitewater Falls, Sapphire: Address, Whitewater Falls Reviews: 4.5/5. It is accessed via a different parking lot off of Bad Creek Road. Nice short little hike for anyone who wants to get off the paved path at this popular waterfall destination. The falls plunge an amazing 411 feet! The path is paved the whole way to the first viewpoint, with wooden steps down to the second viewing platform. Over 3.5 miles, the Whitewater River drops 1,500 feet. Reached the access trail crossing at 1250 and headed across the river. So if you want to visit both sections in one day, it’s very easy. United States ; ... but this hike only catches the upper 400 feet of the falls. Upper Whitewater Falls is on the NC side of the border and the Lower Whitewater Falls is on the SC side. After taking in the falls from the observation deck, follow the sign toward the Foothills Trail, continuing to descend another 100 feet. 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. The walkway begins at the end of the parking lot and is accessible to wheelchairs. 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