Land of Waterfalls

The area around Highlands, NC is often termed "The Land of Waterfalls". And it's for good reason that this name stuck, because I'm not sure that there has ever been an accurate count of the number of notable waterfalls in that area. I've met people who have spent years scrambling around off trail in the back country areas of this part of North Carolina seeking out hidden waterfalls and cataloging as many as they could find. Some of these people share information regarding previously unknown features, and others keep those places secret.

In my own experience, I have yet to find a spot with as many waterfalls per square mile as this part of Nantahala National Forest. It's hard to fathom just how many there are in this patch of land on the eastern facing slopes of these mountains.

The reason for this is, of course, geology. The rocks here are very tough and unyielding, mainly in the form of granite and gneiss. In addition, there was some relatively recent mountain building going on in this compact geography. The current explanation for this is that about eight million years ago the mantle extended a region of hot material upwards, forcing the otherwise dormant and eroded range here to be in turn pushed up, resulting in very steep slopes that, in conjunction with the toughness of the rocks, created many, many hundreds of waterfalls.

Here are three that we visited on this latest trip.

This is Ranger Falls. This one was only a one-mile stroll from our campsite. It's a mere 35-foot waterfall and not as spectacular as many in the area, but well worth the short hike to see it. It acts as a barrier along Skitty Creek, protecting the native Brook trout habitat above the falls from the introduced Rainbow trout below it. Waterfall photography is difficult in bright sun, and just about the only time the sun showed its face on our entire trip was when I got to this waterfall to photograph it. Wouldn't you know.

Dry Falls, which I covered a couple of days ago. Easily one of the most impressive waterfalls I have seen in the southeastern USA.

This was my third trip to see Laurel Falls. It's an easy hike along a trail from Forest Service Road 67 near Standing Indian Campground. The water looks a bit muddy here, but this was not the case. It had been raining intensely for days and the runoff had been filtered through the deep, rich soils of the forest, staining the water with tannin. It was still relatively clear, but darkened from the mildly acidic staining of the soil and leaf litter.

Avoiding the Good Stuff

Sometimes, somehow, I will miss seeing some amazing places all around my outdoors stomping grounds. Such a case has been one of the most famous waterfalls in North Carolina, Dry Falls. I have driven right past this waterfall many, many times. And there's really no good excuse to avoid seeing it other than, perhaps, missing out on it because one doesn't like crowds. For this waterfall is adjacent to Highway 64 outside the village of Highlands. There is a vast parking area and a set of expensive, well-engineered stairs leading to the waterfall, along with excellent guardrails to keep all but the most idiotic of humans from harming themselves on the rocky terrain.

The falls got its name because it is said that you can walk behind the falls and still stay dry, due to the prominent overhang that allows you to negotiate your way under it. Of course you don't stay completely dry because of the huge clouds of mist that billow everywhere around the falls. But you certainly don't get drenched.

And even if Dry Falls didn't have this feature, it's still an amazing sight. It plummets in a sheer drop for quite a distance, unlike many southern waterfalls that are actually a series of connected cascades. Also, it has quite a volume of water, being the entire channel of the Cullasaja River driving over the edge of the granite and gneiss where it has carved an impossible gorge into the almost unyielding stone.

Well, chalk this one up to many missed opportunities. And now I can mark it off my list of the South's great natural wonders. The next time I'm in that area I will be certain to visit it again.

Dry Falls as you descend the staircase from the parking area.

After walking under the falls I turned and took this photo.

People enjoying the power of the falling water.

Ferns and mosses and tiny plants are constantly washed with spray.