The Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina more waterfalls than almost any other comparable area in the USA!
The mountainous topology of the Blue Ridge / Smoky Mountains along with some of the highest rainfall in the United States creates some of the most picturesque and thunderous waterfalls found anywhere. Particularly when you consider the shear number of waterfalls around The High South you see why the native Americans called this The Land of the Waterfalls.
Dry Falls flows on the Cullasaja River through the Nantahala National Forest. It is part of a series of waterfalls on an 8.7-mile stretch of the river that eventually ends with Cullasaja Falls. Dry Falls flows over an overhanging bluff that allows visitors to walk up under the falls and remain relatively dry when the waterflow is low, hence its name. Visitors will get wet if the waterflow is high.
image:By Zhans33 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Dry Falls is located on the side of U.S. Highway 64 3.1 miles north of Highlands, North Carolina. There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park before walking the short path with stairs to the falls.
image:By Jsfouche - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
This waterfall is in two main drops: the upper is a rounded cascade which transitions into a plunge, while the lower splits into a couple of plunges as it falls over a craggy ledge. When flowing at full force, this is one of the most impressive falls in the area. It is a powerful, thundering sight.
Directions:
GPS: 35.204157, -83.160125
From the Cashiers, NC crossroads, go north on NC107 to Pine Creek Road - about 6.5 miles. It's 2 miles on this crooked road to The Pines Recreation Area, just across the dam, where there is parking on both sides of the road for the trail.
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