Chasing Waterfalls in the Land of a Thousand Cascades
The mountains of western North Carolina hold one of the densest concentrations of waterfalls in the country. A guide to the finest, from roadside to remote.
Water defines the western mountains as surely as stone. Fed by some of the highest rainfall in the eastern United States, the region cascades with waterfalls beyond counting.
From roadside to wilderness
The variety is remarkable. Some falls tumble beside the highway, demanding no more than a short walk; others hide miles into the backcountry, guarded by rugged trails.
A few are famous enough to draw crowds; many more remain the province of locals and the determined.
The pursuit itself
Chasing waterfalls has become a beloved regional pastime, a reason to explore the forest and a reward at the end of the effort.
For the traveler, the falls offer an itinerary that writes itself — a sequence of cool, thundering destinations threaded through some of the most beautiful forest in America.
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