From the parking lot, there's a 1/2 mile smooth, paved, slightly uphill path/walkway to a viewpoint at the top of the falls. I went to Lower Whitewater Falls first, because I wanted to see it in more daylight, but generally, it is better to go to Upper Whitewater Falls first, because it's harder to reach it. Partially-paved trail to an overlook of the Falls then on to Whitewater River. To experience these breathtaking falls up-close-and-personal, take the paved ¼ mile walkway to the upper overlook. Annual pass available for $15; One-day or season permits are also valid at Whiteside Mountain and at Dry Falls. 2.) Hike the Whitewater Falls Trail near Cashiers, NC to the stunning, tumbling cascades of a towering waterfall on this short, easy, family-friendly trail. Beautiful though. Other reviews say that, instead, you can follow the trail that goes to 281 to get back to the parking lot, but the images on GPS seemed to show that trail going out to the main road (281), not to the Whitewater Falls parking lot. From everything you've heard, these falls are the biggest and most majestic in the park and worth every step of the hike. The 400-foot lower falls can be accessed from a different location in South Carolina. Turn right (northeast). First part is paved and super easy. Just beyond the state line is a sign for Whitewater Falls. Upper Whitewater Falls was definitely a waterfall that left a lasting impression on us. We were in the area on 2/22/2020 and stopped for a short visit to the falls. It doesn't really matter because it's an impressive site! Flag Inappropriate Post ... Lower Whitewater Falls Trail Upper Whitewater Falls, near Cashiers, drops over 411 feet and is the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains. Share a Photo . Once you hit the stairs to the foothills trail though, it becomes an easy moderate. 3.) A blue blaze and an arrow sign on the right point the way. Perfect for small kids and elderly. The trail now goes downhill, sometimes on dirt, sometimes on stones placed like steps, and in a couple places on wooden steps. The trail was in great shape today. Lower Whitewater Falls. Directions from Cashiers, NC: Travel south on SR 107 9.3 miles to SR 413 (SC) and a sign for Whitewater Falls. Trail Head: SC Hwy 130, Duke Energy Bad Creek Facility (Foothills Trail Guide Mini Map #6) Features: Viewing Platform; 200 ft. tiered waterfall; Round Mountain Gap. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. For those looking for an up-close and personal view of nature’s power, you will not want to miss this. Easy for all ages. Beautiful waterfall. The trail does join a small gravel road for a brief period but the blazes and signs clearly indicate when to separate from the road where you will ascend a little more before you level off and then descend down to the large and well constructed wooden overlook that provides beautiful views of lower whitewater falls. Lower Whitewater Falls. Our horses, mild-mannered and gentle, were previously owned by the children's camp, and will offer a smooth and comfortable ride. Racing in a 2017 Jeep Trail Cat. Pass through the automatic gate. From the trailhead at the far end of the parking area, walk. The Lower Falls is a dramatic 200-foot drop, which can best be viewed from an observation platform at the end of a 1.9-mile trail. At the Whitewater Falls sign, turn left to SC 130. You're hiking 4.8 miles round-trip to the overlook at Lower Whitewater Falls. At 0.6 mile the spur will cross over the Whitewater River. Create Recommended Route or Trail . After a short downhill section (.1 mile) you reach the Foothills Trail. From Walhalla, drive north on SC 11 (Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway) for 14 miles and turn left onto SC 130. Not flat it is marked. Foothills Trail Conference | P.O. This trail is not considered wheelchair or stroller friendly due to the steep sections with a grade of up to 20%. Take on a longer and more difficult hike than the larger Upper Whitewater Falls just to the north and instead enjoy a tranquil river crossing and some quiet solitude on the trail to this classic South Carolina waterfall. (If you are coming from Toxaway (easterly direction), start at US 64 and SR 281 and drive south 8.6 miles to the Whitewater Falls parking area. An out-and-back to view the less-visited Lower Whitewater Falls; part of the tallest chain of falls in the eastern U.S. Near Walhalla, South Carolina. When the trail intersects a gravel road, follow the gravel road briefly (about 200 yards) and then resume your hike on the trail. The Whitewater River features two large cascades as it flows from the mountains of North Carolina into Lake Jocassee. Gorgeous and not too difficult! It's a beautiful spot. The hardest part of the trail is the ascent from the Whitewater River up to the Upper Whitewater Falls viewing platform. North Carolina Div. Of Travel and Tourism, 301 N. Wilmington Street , Raleigh, NC, 27601, Phone: 919-733-4171. The Lower Falls is a dramatic 200-foot drop, which can best be viewed from an observation platform at the end of a 1.9-mile trail. The Lower Whitewater Falls comprises a dramatic 200-foot drop. Continue north (right), following blue blazes and good signage pointing toward Lower Whitewater Falls. Absolutely beautiful and some great views on the path to the overlook as well. Whitewater Falls on the Whitewater River is the last river in the Jocassee Gorge area just before you reach South Carolina. From the lower observation deck, there is a trailhead to spur trail that takes you down to the Foothills Trail, which provides access to Whitewater River, and there is an unofficial trail that will take you to the base of Whitewater Falls. Box 1006, Charlotte, NC 28201 | 1-800-443-5193. Blazes: Reddish Orange. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Whitewater Falls.#forza #forzahorizon4 #jeep #trailcat #streetracing Upper Whitewater Falls Trail is a 1.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sapphire, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. Whitewater Falls. Both the upper and lower falls feature scenic overlooks that can be accessed by car. We parked and took the half mile, up hill walk to view the falls which, of course, are spectacular. The trail ride is approximately 4 miles. Nature Trail Guide: Whitewater Gorge Park. Easy hike down to the valley floor where the river is and bridge to cross it. Creating community through people, parks and programs.Visit a local or state park near you! Good hike! Share a Video . 7.) Whitewater Falls to Whitewater River Trail is a 2.7 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sapphire, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. (The Foothills Trail is marked with white blazes.). Particularly Special Place. The Lower Falls is located about a half-mile down the Whitewater River from the Upper Falls (which is in North Carolina). Read more. Some sources say it's the highest falls east of the Mississippi River at 411', but I'm not so sure. We only hiked to the observation deck today. Upper Whitewater Falls is on the NC side of the border and the Lower Whitewater Falls is on the SC side. More energetic hikers can continue down the half-mile spur trail that drops 600 feet in elevation to the Whitewater River and Foothills Trail. Barely a mile. Much of it parallels the Whitewater River. Parts are muddy if recently rained. New Single-Family Homes and Main-Level Owner's Suite Homes in Whitewater Trails for Sale Starting from the Mid $200s. Dogs are also able to use this trail … The fully accessible portion to the Falls Overlook can be viewed here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/whitewater-falls-overlook-trail There are 9 bridges on the trail and 8 sets of stairs. Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and NOT OKAY! To get back to your car, retrace your steps up the trail to the place where you originally went left on the Foothills Trail. It crosses back into North Carolina. Duke Energy | P.O. Very very beautiful and magnificent even from a distance. You can also reach the bridge by walking/scrambling over rocks in the water to the right. In addition to its impressive stature, it was the forceful volume and the presence of Autumn colors that really made this multi-tiered waterfall stand out to us. All rights reserved. Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, and it's shared between South Carolina and North Carolina. There are a picnic area and bathrooms by the parking lot. Karen Richele Burke wrote a … The trail is 3 1/2 mils long from Test Road to Thistlethwaite Falls. Clean, well maintained. The upper falls plummet 411 feet. The entire Whitewater Falls chain - six different waterfalls along the North and South Carolina border - is the highest series of falls in eastern North America. Lower Whitewater Falls. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. "The signage states .50 miles to the observation deck, but it’s only .27 miles..." Trail in Cashiers, NC The trail to the right, not easy. This easy 0.6 mile-round trip will reward you with a spectacular view of the highest waterfall in the Eastern United States. Then you can walk down 40 or 50 wooden stairs with a handrail to another viewing platform with a better viewing angle of the entire falls. Anyone can do it. HIGHLIGHTS: Whitewater Falls, also called Upper Falls, is one of the highest falls east of the Rockies at 411 feet.This waterfall is designated a North Carolina Natural Heritage Area and it is accessible via a short 0.2 paved path off NC 281. A couple of hundred yards. Some technical sections with rocks and roots. Make another left and drive north on SR 130 (SC), which becomes SR 281 (NC) at the state line. 5.) The rest of the trail (it looks like) is fairly level along the Whitewater River. The Lower Falls is located about a half-mile down the Whitewater River from the Upper Falls (which is in North Carolina). 6.) Whitewater Falls to Whitewater River Trail, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/whitewater-falls-overlook-trail. Just across the bridge are a couple of small eddy pools where you can get in the water to wade or swim. This hike was simply a walk from a paved parking lot to the overlook of the falls with a paved trail. Box 3041, Greenville, SC 29602 | (864) 467-9537 | Email, Duke Energy | P.O. The Upper Falls plummets 411 ft. and is 60 miles from downtown Asheville in the Nantahala National Forest.It's on the Whitewater River in the Jocassee Gorge area of North Carolina - in Jackson County.The 400-ft. Lower Falls can be accessed from a different location in South Carolina. Great trail, challenging incline, perfect for short hike. ), 4.) Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, falling 811 ft.! Tough with my toddler on my back and slippery leaves. Once you cross the Whitewater River the trail dissects a few directions and the trail that takes you to the viewing platform is somewhat dull with no points of interest until you reach the viewing platform. Great Neighborhood Inside the Southwest School District in Harrison, OH. Right along the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, lies one of the highest waterfalls (811 feet) east of the Rockies – Whitewater Falls. Whitewater Falls Trail. Even the steps were nice and even again, easy. The hike departs the trailhead and parking area off NC 281 (view maps and driving directions), following the paved Foothills Trail northbound from the picnic area.Views open immediately to the east from the trailhead, where the rounded, rolling southern Appalachian mountains stretch far into the horizon. Turn left and continue 2.3 miles to the intersection with SR 130 (SC). Absolutely stunning views of the North Carolina South Carolina border in the gorges park, Easy gradual uphill walk to the overlook. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Would definitely do again. Turning left on the Foothills Trail is the route to Upper Whitewater Falls - continuing forward is the route to Lower Whitewater Falls. On the north side of the river, the trail intersects with the Foothills Trail. Lower falls accessible by trail down from the platform. Lower Whitewater Falls is a smaller version of its bigger brother the Upper Whitewater Falls further upstream and across the state border.. That said, it was still 200ft tall as the waterfall cascades and plunges in a similar manner to its bigger brother. View of the falls is spectacular! The falls is quite impressive but your view is from a distance and you can only see a portion of the 200 foot waterfall. Add a Symbol . If the bridge is as far as you plan to go, leave you pack in the car. So the .5 paved walk to the falls is easy. See 65 photos and 5 tips from 349 visitors to Whitewater Falls. From there you can go back up the stairs, past the viewpoints, and back on the paved path to the parking lot. You'll see them soon, along with a metal footbridge over the river. Whitewater Falls: the hike. The second being the one down to (and back up from) the Lower Whitewater Falls overlook. 11-26-17 Lower Whitewater Falls is about 2 miles down river from North Carolina's 411' Whitewater Falls.Starting at Whitewater Falls, you could hike to both via the Foothills Trail and spur trails, but that's not the easiest way to see Lower Whitewater Falls. You can do this easy hike, with time for lots of pictures, in less than an hour. Was beautiful as always but a little crowded. Fee: $3 for vehicles with seven passengers or less; $1 per person for more than seven people traveling together in a vehicle. Easy paved walkway to semi-tree obstructed view that’s still good and stairs to lower platform with view of entire falls. Exiting the property through this gate is allowed at all hours. well worth the work. Schedule a … All paved. Experience a first-hand lesson in the raw power and peril of the Niagara River’s Class 6 white-water rapids. The walkway begins at a parking lot and is accessible to wheelchairs. Drive north on SC 130 for 10.5 miles and turn right (east) at the entrance to Duke Power's Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station. Stairs are steep and wet going down to the viewing platform but never felt unsafe. Located just 1.5 miles from the beautiful Whitewater Falls; a stunning waterfall with an elevation of 414ft. Follow the trail over the rocks. You'll see a short wooden ladder that leads up a boulder next to the bridge, but if you go that way you'll have to step or jump across a gap between boulders to get to the bridge. There is net ascent of about 800 feet (200 m). WHITEWATER FALLS DIRECTIONS Bad Creek Access to Upper Whitewater Falls is a 2.3-mile section of the trail. The two viewing decks mentioned above are the two “official” locations for viewing the Falls. Distance: 1.9 miles (in and out trail, total 3.8 miles) Difficulty: moderate. Take Highway 64 East to Cashiers, turn right onto Highway 107 South for 9.3 miles. 1.) The Foothills Trail is a 76-mile (122 km) National Recreation Trail in South and North Carolina, United States, for recreational hiking and backpacking.It extends from Table Rock State Park to Oconee State Park.It passes through the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest, Ellicott Rock Wilderness, Whitewater Falls, and Lake Jocassee. After 0.3 miles, the trail heads down toward a river crossing with a couple bridges across Whitewater River. If you want to hike to a couple of short falls with shallow pools where you can swim, then take the path that goes to the right of the lower platform. Share a Gem . Upon our return, I noticed that at several vacant parking spaces, there appeared to be evidence of … Very easy paved hike! Strollers are possible on this well paved path. The views are worth it but don't expect easy. From the parking area, a moderate hike of 45 minutes to an hour will get you to an overlook where you’ll find an unparalleled view of Lower Whitewater Falls. It takes roughly 2 hours to walk the length of the trail and back at a moderate pace. Height: 411 feet Trail Type: Asphalt and stairs Hike Distance: 0.5 miles round trip Difficulty: 8 if you take the stairs Beauty: 8 Overview: Whitewater Falls has been given the distinction of being the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River, although Crabtree Falls in Virginia and Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee also make the same claim. And though more travelers journey to Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina, the Lower Falls in Oconee County comprise a 200-foot drop as dramatic as any in this guide. Whitewater Falls to Whitewater River Trail is a 1.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sapphire, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. You see the entire waterfall from a distance. Drive approximately 2 miles to the parking area for the Foothills Trail/Whitewater River. Keep going until you hear the short waterfalls at the river. I would call this moderate as there are parts that are steep. You have to hike to bridge. Charles Runge / AllTrails The waterfall is made up of six different sections, and the beautiful Lower Falls can be accessed via a 2-mile trail. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. This is a … A lower overlook is located at the bottom of 154 wooden steps. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The roar of the river provides a deceptive tranquility, the perfect ambiance for your walk among the many viewing platforms that put you right at the river’s edge. At this point the spur is concurrent with  the Jocassee Gorges Segment of the Foothills Trail bound for Laurel Valley. The entire Whitewater Falls chain – six different waterfalls along the North and South Carolina border – is the highest series of falls in eastern North America. Box 1006, Charlotte, NC 28201 | 1-. A moderate one-hour, two-mile hike along the Foothills Trail and a spur trail takes you to a spectacular overlook. I found other reviews a bit confusing when it comes to the trail & directions. Signs says there are no views of the falls, but the trail takes you to gorgeous short falls area. Follow the blue blazes of the Lower Whitewater Falls overlook spur. Really easy- has a small uphill road towards the first outlook and then a series of stairs down to the second. 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