Cashiers North Carolina Waterfalls & Hikes

Whitewater Falls

Directions: This 411 ft. waterfall is higher than Niagara Falls and is the highest waterfall in the eastern U.S. Hiking trails take you to the top & bottom of this fall, but hiking is not necessary to view this waterfall. From intersection of US 64 and NC 107 take NC 107 south for approximately 10 mi. You will cross into South Carolina approx. 1 mi. and turn L onto Wiggington Rd., go 3 mi. and turn L at stop sign. Marked parking area for falls will be approx. 1 mi. on right. (Climbing to the top is strongly discouraged as several people each year have fatal or near fatal falls.)

9 miles, 7 miles to river, 30-40 minutes one-way
Dirt mound to the left leads to the river, be prepared to wade in cold calf-deep water
5-10 minute walk leads to paved trail to an overlook, wheelchair accessible
Stairs on the right to a second vantage point of the falls
Picnic area
$2 parking fee

Whiteside Mountain Trail

Directions: From intersection of NC 107 and US 64 in Cashiers, drive 4.7 mi. west on US 64, turn L on Whiteside Mtn. Rd. at brown Whiteside Mountain Trail sign. Continue 1.1 mi. passing Wildcat Cliffs Country Club on R, turn L into gravel parking.

Easy 2 mi. loop along the Eastern Continental Divide
Whiteside Mountain is 4930 ft., highest vertical drop (750ft.) in eastern US
Long range views from the top
Shortoff and Yellow Mountain to the North, Chimney Top Mountain to the East, Lake Keowee South, Nantahala Mountain range to the West.

Chattooga River Trail

Directions: From intersection of NC 107 and US 64 travel south on 107 for 7 mi., turn R on Bull Pen Rd. You will be on gravel road for about 8 miles or so. You will cross the Iron Bridge and see the parking area on the R. Follow path down to river and hike back as far as you like.

Hike as far as you like
Beautiful Iron Bridge and Chattooga river trail scenery
Moderate difficulty

Horsepasture River & Nature Trails

Directions: From the intersection of NC 107 and US 64 travel east on 64 for 10.4 mi.. Turn R on NC 281 S. Cont. for 1 mi. to Gorges State Park entrance on L. Multiple trails to choose from - more information available on Park site.

At Gorges State Park
Multiple trails to choose from
Varying trail difficulty

Panthertown Valley Wilderness Area

Directions: From intersection of NC 107 and US 64 travel east on US 64 for 2 mi., turn L on Cedar Creek Rd., continue for 2.3 mi., turn R on Breedlove Rd. (gravel, blacktop, gravel) for 4 mi. to entrance. You WILL need a map of Panthertown to navigate once there. It takes at least 1/2 a day to appreciate the valley’s beauty. If hiking, please stay on main trails.

Hiking and mountain hiking permitted year-round
6,700 acres of high mountain valley, sheer rock, waterfalls, quiet streams and diverse vegetation
Trails, from old logging roads to footpaths, criss-sross the area

Cashiers Sliding Rock

Directions: From intersection of NC 107 and US 64 travel 107 S. approx. 1.5 mi. to R on Whiteside Cove Rd., continue approx. 3 mi. to small bridge. Park to your right and the very short trail will be visible.

Nature’s waterslide on the Chattooga River!
Perfect for children to enjoy a summer day.

Yellow Mountain Trail

Directions: From intersection of NC 107 and US 64 in Cashiers, drive 7.3 mi. west on US 64, turn on Buck Creek Rd., go 2.2 mi. passing Chestnut Hill on R. Look for steep path on R with small wooden sign and steps leading to trail. Park on L in gravel.

9.6 mi. round trip, steep ascents and descents
3-5 hrs. to old stone and wood fire tower at 5,127 ft. elev.
Long range views from the top

Silver Run Falls

Directions: From intersection of NC 107 and US 64 take 107 S. approx. 4.3 mi. to gravel parking area on your L. Brown forest service sign marks area as Silver Run Falls. Follow short trail, crossing a small foot bridge to the 40 ft. cascade. A great place to swim and picnic. From Walhalla, take SC 28 to SC 107. Then, proceed up SC 107 about 16 miles to the parking area on the right.

25′ waterfall
Beautiful boulder face fun to swim down into the private lake and stand underneath the fall.

Turtleback and Rainbow Falls

Directions: Inside of Gorges State Park. From Cashiers drive East on 64 for about 10.5 miles, turn right (South) on 281 for about 1 mile. Forest Service Horse Pasture River/Rainbow Falls sign on left. Parking on Right. Go down trail for approximately 1 mile until intersects a trail that parallels the river of Turtleback Falls, go left along trail to view from the bottom. Continue 1/4 mile to Rainbow Falls. If coming from Whitewater Falls, exit parking area to R. Continue on NC 281 for 7.5 miles to park entrance.

150′ waterfalls, on sunny mornings you can see a rainbow over the falls
One of the falls “Bust your butt falls”, ride a tube or slide down the rock
Not for young children or the less physically fit

Chattooga River

Directions: Follow US 107 or US 28 South to the intersection of US 107 and US 28. Continue 1.9 miles south on US 28/107 to the paved right at Mountain Top Trading Post (Whetstone Road). From the turn, go .7 miles and take first paved left at the Long Creek sign, Cassidy Bridge Road. Continue 7.3 miles to the end of the road. Turn left at the fork and proceed .2 miles to Raines Rd. and take a right. Follow Raines Rd. until it ends at Hwy. 76. Take a right and follow Hwy. 76 to the Chattooga River Hwy. 76 Bridge.

Moderate to difficult
2 miles round trip
Many places around river perfect for picnics

The Narrows

Directions: Take Horse Cove Rd. 4.3 miles from the corner of Fourth and Main St. in Highlands to the end of the pavement. Turn left onto Whiteside Cove Rd. and drive 0.9 miles. The trail is on a logging road on the right and descends 2 miles to The Narrows. You will pass a trail to the right, which continues to Bull Pen Bridge on Horse Cove Rd. Be sure to return the way you came.

Cascading rivers
Swimming hole
Narrow Channel
4 miles round trip
Trail head Whiteside Cove Road

Ellicott’s Rock – Bad Creek

Directions: From intersection of NC 107 and US 64 travel south on Hwy 107. Right turn on Bull Pen Rd., about 2.5-3 miles park on the right in the gravel just after Fowler Creek Bridge, walk back over the bridge on the opposite side of the road is the trailhead.

7 mile round trip
Ellicott’s rock is a rock embedded in the Chattooga River with NC carved out by surveyor Andrew Ellicott
Trail head Bull Pen Road

Toxaway Falls

Directions: From Cashiers drive east on US 64 for approx. 14 mi. The hwy. passes over the falls in the curve just past the Lake Toxaway Co. office bldg on your left. Parking is limited to paved roadside and waterfall cannot be viewed by merely driving by.

Park to view the falls
No hike involved.

Hurricane Falls

Directions: From cashiers take 107 N. 2 mi. to L on Norton Rd. Follow road for .5 mi. crossing a bridge to a pull off area just past it where you can view this waterfall that empties into Lake Glenville. No hike.

Park to view the falls
No hike involved.

Glen Falls

Directions: 106 South, 2 miles from Highlands, Glen Falls scenic area sign to left, turn and follow SR 1618 to parking area. Follow the gravel path to the falls.

1.4 mile trail
15 minutes to first waterfall
Three 80′ waterfalls and streams

Bridal Veil Falls

Directions: from the intersection of Highway 107 South and 64, drive West towards Highlands on 64 , turn right at light and junction of 64 and 28 (towards Franklin) drive about 3 miles, Falls on right side of the road.

150′ waterfall
Can drive under falls!
Many weddings have been performed under Bridal Veil

Dry Falls

Directions: Intersection of Highway 107 South & 64, drive West towards Highlands on 64 , turn right at light and junction of 64 and 28 (towards Franklin), drive about 1 mile past Bridal Veil Falls. After Dry Falls sign turn left into parking area. Follow stone staircase to the falls which cascades overhead. Short path takes you behind this waterfall.

Path leading behind falls
Walk behind without getting wet
75′ waterfalls

Lower Cullasaja Falls

Directions: Intersection of Highway 107 South & 64, drive West towards Highlands on 64 , turn right at light and junction of 64 and 28 (towards Franklin), drive about 1 mile past Bridal Veil Falls. After Dry Falls sign turn left into parking area, Go down staircase to Dry Falls.