Waterfalls - Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce

There are more than 250 waterfalls scattered throughout Transylvania and Jackson counties, many of which are easily accessible to the public. Some require light hiking and others a bit more of a trek, while others still you can actually drive your car right under its overhang right on the highway.

Because of both the large number and variety of type of waterfalls located here, it's given rise to an active "waterfall hunting" community, with its members actively seeking out all the waterfalls they can. How many can you find during your stay with us?

Located along the Horsepasture River on Pisgah National Forest land, Rainbow Falls is one of two waterfalls (along with Turtleback Falls) that is accessible via a moderate hiking trail in Gorges State Park. The falls get their name from the large volume of water that normally flows over it. Because the rock face isn't completely vertical, the water leaps many feet out from the rock and falls into a huge pool of water at its base. Wind and mist travel up the hillside that sits opposite the falls and, if the sun is in the right position, you can frequently see a rainbow.

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.

The lower portion of Cullasaja Falls is a cascade of water which flows about 250 feet down. It is located on the Cullasaja River at the lower part of the Cullasaja Gorge and is part of the Mounain Water Scenic Byway. Unfortunately, falls are only visible from the highway, as there is no adequate pull-over spot for viewing them at this time.

Interesting trivia: Cullasaja comes from a Cherokee word meaning "honey locust place".

Directions:

Cullasaja Falls are located just of US Highway 64 West (towards Highlands) in the Cullasaja Gorge. They are located approximately 11 miles east of Franklin and 9 miles west of Highlands.

Though Kalakaleskies Falls, also known as Lake Sequoyah Dam Falls, is not usually mentioned among the more popoular falls along the Cullasaja Gorge, it's certainly not one to be missed. Its origins have been a topic of great debate for some time, with no clear winner on either side.The falls are comprised of a series of smaller falls with the Lake Sequoyah Dam at their head. The banks alongside the falls are steep and dangerous and there is no clearly marked trail, so use extreme caution when trying to get a good view.

Directions:

Take Highway 64 towards Highlands. Continue on Highway 64 West for approximately 1.8 miles and look for a pull-off on the left just past the Lake Sequoyah Dam.

Glen Falls is actually comprised of three waterfalls: the Upper Falls, which measure 70-feet in height; the 60-foot Middle Falls; and the smaller Lower Falls which comes in at 15 feet. All three are accessible via a fairly steep, 3/4 mile trail.

Directions:

From Cashiers, take Highway 64 towards Highlands to NC Route 106 South. Go about 1.7 miles and look for the sign to Glen Falls Scenic area on the left. The gravel road to the Falls (SR 1618) veers off immediately to the right after you take the left, so go slow. The road dead ends into the parking area.