DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO WATERFALLS

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Before hiking to any waterfall (or any potentially long hike) there are a few things you need to do. 

1. Know how the weather may be and dress accordingly. If you will be camping and the nights are cold, dress in layers. You can take off layers as the temperature rises during the day. If you will be gone for any extended amount of time, take a dry change of clothes. If it rains or you get wet and the temperature drops at night, you will be very uncomfortable and this could be dangerous due to hypothermia. Even in the summer, the mountain nights can become rather cool.

2. Take plenty of water. When actively hiking, you will perspire and lose water so drink often. I like to take a couple of plastic 2 liter bottles and fill them about a third full and freeze them. You will have a large chunk of ice that will keep it cold for a while. I do not recommend taking only soda or coffee on a long hike as the caffeine acts as a diuretic and you will loose bodily water more rapidly. NEVER drink alcohol during hikes. This also acts as a diuretic and impairs your ability and judgment which can lead to severe injury or death.

3. Take food with you. You can survive quite a while without food, but why go hungry. Trail mix, nuts, energy bars, and cheese crackers make great snacks and take up very little room. If you will be gone for a long while, military type MRE's make great meals. They are compact and supply you with high calorie intake you need while actively hiking. Canned goods are also fine, but don't forget a can opener or P-38.

4. If camping in the wilderness, I do not recommend building a fire unless it is necessary. If you must, make sure any burnable debris is cleared well from around where your fire will be. Encircle the fire area with good sized rocks and keep the size of the fire to a minimum. If possible, make camp close to a stream and have a container of water close by in case the fire gets out of it's bounds. NEVER leave your fire unattended, even for a few minutes. Make sure the fire is extinguished before going to sleep or breaking camp. YOU CANNOT OUT RUN A FOREST FIRE!

5. I suggest wearing long pants on any hike that make take you down a steep incline and though brush and undergrowth. This will help keep you from getting scratched from briars or limbs and if you loose your footing and slide down across rocks and tree roots, it will help keep the skin on your legs where it belongs and off of the rocks and roots.

6. Before setting out on any hike that may be more than just a walk down a smooth trail, make sure you have good hiking boots. It is important that you choose a shoe or boot with good ankle support. It is very easy to sprain an ankle on roots and rocks. Make sure you have a good slip resistant sole on the shoe as wet rocks and those covered with moss can be very slippery. A good water resistant boot is also good to help keep your feet dry in case of water crossings.

7. It is very important that you have a good first aid kit with you. It may be a long time before you can get medical assistance if you are injured. I carry various sizes of band aids and bandages, sterile gauze, and medical tape. Also I like to have a snake bite kit, small plastic splints for fingers, butterfly bandages, and even sutures. Also have some long strips of material with you in case you have to use some sticks to splint an arm or leg. I also keep Ibuprofen in my med kit for pain relief. It is also an anti inflammatory. If you have any special medical needs (such as allergies to bee stings, asthma relief, or any medicine you need to take on a regular basis) have an ample supply with you in the event you get lost and need to spend a couple of days in the wilderness. Have a good knowledge of first aid and CPR. The Red Cross offers courses regularly and I highly urge you to become certified in both. This can save your life or the life of someone else if a serious trauma arises, not only hiking, but in every day life.

8. NEVER hike alone. There is safety in numbers, not to mention more fun.

9. Last, but not least, leave all trails and campsites as clean or cleaner than you found them. There are too many unappreciative people that think the ground is nature's trashcan. Be considerate!

The following is a list of some favorite waterfalls. Some are very easy to get to and others are a bit more difficult. Using common sense and knowing your own ability you should have no problem. Always take any trash with you from the areas whether it is yours or not.

If you are not used to hiking through the wilderness, it may be beneficial to take some orienteering classes. This will get you accustomed to reading a map and compass and recognizing features in the woods. A compass and a topographic map of the areas you are hiking is good to have. This will aid you in case you take a wrong turn and get lost in the woods especially where there are no marked trails. It is not a good feeling when you discover that you are not where you think you are in the middle of the wilderness... I know! Thanks to some orienteering classes I took many years ago through the Venture program at UNC-Charlotte I was able to get back "on track" within about 30 minutes with a map and compass.

It is a good idea to have an up to date road map of the area before heading out. You can plan your journey to the areas you want to visit. A good road map or atlas will help in case you get lost if you are not familiar with the area. When you arrive at the falls there are some basic things you should not do. Yes, this will seem like common sense, but there have been many people seriously injured or killed because they did not think and use common sense rules.  It only takes a second to be injured or killed.

LINVILLE FALLS: Linville Falls is probably the best known waterfall in NC. On the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is located between mile post 316 and 317. There is a large sign denoting the entrance to the park. There is ample parking, picnicking, and camping areas here. The campground is equipped for tent and RV camping with restrooms and water. The campsites are very clean and well maintained. The fee for camping is $14.00 per night. To get to the falls, go past the campground to the end of the road which has a large parking area and a gift shop. There is a large map here of the trails that lead to the falls. All trails are marked by different colored blazes. The trail to the upper falls view is a leisurely .5 mile stroll. The hike on down to the Chimney view, Erwin's view, and Gorge View is a more moderate hike. The views of the falls and gorge are breathtaking here. If you are accustomed to hiking, then you will definitely want to hike to the bottom of the gorge. This is a fairly difficult hike especially after a rain which can make the incline a bit slippery. In the gorge, you can feel the power of falls and the view at the base is probably the best of any waterfall I have seen.

CRABTREE FALLS: Crabtree falls is another gem that is located off the Blue Ridge Parkway between mile posts 339 and 340. There are signs along the Parkway for Crabtree Meadows where you access Crabtree Falls. A gift shop, seasonal gas, and a campground are located here. After turning off of the Parkway, drive about 1/3 of a mile to the campground check in. The parking area and trailhead are located on the right. The hike to the falls is approximately 1 mile. The first part of the hike is fairly easy. After about .4 - .5 mile you will go down a flight of stairs where at the bottom the trail turns to the left. In about another .2 mile you will arrive at two more flights of stairs. The trail will get more difficult. At the base of the falls you will be stuck with the beauty of the falls as the water cascades down the steep black rock face. The entire area here is breathtaking.

ROARING FORK FALLS: Near mile post 344 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you will get on NC Highway 80. If going toward Crabtree Meadows, you turn left and go under the bridge that crosses the Parkway. When you get on Highway 80, you will go 2.2 miles to FS 472 which will be on the left. Keep track of your mileage here. On your way, you will pass through Busick. The FS 472 sign is a small brown sign, so look carefully for it. It is easy to miss. FS 472 forks to meet Highway 80 to form a "triangle" that is very noticeable. As soon as you turn left on to 472 , you will pass through a yield sign and cross Still Fork Creek on a small bridge. Almost immediately after crossing the bridge you will turn left onto FS 5520. There should be a "Busick Work Center" sign here. You will drive about .2 mile until you get to the gate of the work center. Do not go through the gate. The work center is US Government property. There is a parking area on the left at the gate which is where parking is allowed for access to the falls. The trail is marked and easily visible on the other side of the road. The trail is a little over 1/2 mile and is a very easy walk to the falls. You will follow a dirt "road" for most of the way. You will arrive at a small foot bridge on the right. Hike about another 250 feet to the base of the falls. Here you will notice that Roaring Fork Falls is different from others. Instead of one large fall, it is made up of many smaller falls where the creek cascades down the mountain. Although the entire hike is very easy to the falls, be careful as you boulder hop to get views of this pristine beauty.

COURTHOUSE FALLS: Courthouse Falls is one of my favorites as it lies in a pristine dream-like setting in Transylvania County. From the intersection of Highway 64 and N.C. 215 near Roseman, NC drive north on 215 for about 10.5 miles. If you are on the Blue Ridge Parkway, go south on 215 for about 7 miles. If going north on 215 turn right (north) onto F. S. 140. I was here in July 2004 and F. S. 140 was not marked. The best way to find it is to start at the intersection of Highway 64 and N. C. 215. Go north on 215. In about 8.5 miles you will pass  service station on the right near the community of Balsam Grove. In about 2 miles you will come to the first stone bridge after the service station. Immediately before the bridge, there is a gravel road that turns off of 215 to the right. This is F. S. 140. Go about 3 miles to the pullouts on the north side of the bridge and park here. Summey Cove Trail begins on the downstream side of the bridge. Hike .3 miles downstream on this moderately easy trail and look carefully for a small trail on the left that descends into the alcove. You will be able to see Courthouse Falls through the foliage just before the small trail. Hike this side trail for 300' to the base of the falls. Once you get to the base of the falls, just sit on a rock and spend a few moments to revel in the beauty of this masterpiece of nature.

UPPER COURTHOUSE FALLS: After you have seen Courthouse Falls, it will be worthwhile to take in Upper Courthouse Falls. It is a lot smaller than Courthouse Falls, but is a pretty little fall located in deep foliage that makes it dimly lit in a dreamlike atmosphere. At the pullout at the Summey Cove Trail that leads to Courthouse Falls, drive .2 mile up 140 until the road forks. Both roads are gated so do not block the gates. The right road is 140 and the left road is 140-B. Hike up the right road for .7 mile until it ends. Hike uphill for about 300 feet. It is a sort of steep hike, so if it has rained recently, be careful. You will see a shoaling fall on the right. The trail will split where it continues uphill and one leads to the right. Take the right trail as it seems easier and flatter. Shortly, you will see the Upper Falls on Courthouse Creek nestled back in its domain. Although it is small, it is very scenic.

LOOKING GLASS FALLS: This is a true beauty among  NC waterfalls. It is also very popular and easy to get to so you may have a problem photographing this one without people. Nonetheless, it is definitely worth visiting. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, take N. C. 276 toward Brevard, NC. Travel about 6 miles (this is approximate as I did not clock it exactly). There is a large sign on the left denoting the location of the falls. There is a parking area for the falls here and it is usually crowded in the summer and fall. The falls may be seen from an overlook at the parking area. For the best view, take the stone stairway down 150' to the creek. Here you can get a good view at its base. Unfortunately there are some visitors that seem to not know what the trashcans are here for. It helps all if you take a moment to help keep it clean. See #9 above and lend a helping hand if you see any trash lying around. This also sets a good example for others.

UPPER CREEK FALLS: From the Blue Ridge Parkway take N. C. Highway 181 South for about 6 miles. The parking area is on the left and the trail begins on the west side of the parking area. The trail has an orange blaze and parallels the highway for .1 mile. The trail switches back steeply downhill at .2 mile. Go for another .2 mile. Here you will be at the creek side. To reach the base of the falls, look for a trail entering the laurel on the north side of the creek. Maneuver over the rocks and cross the creek and hike down the steep mountain side. In 300' you will notice an opening where the falls can be viewed from the side. Return to the main trail and hike another 300' downhill to the base of the falls. This is a moderately difficult hike.