Between Cashiers and Brevard lies Sapphire, NC. Much like Glenville, it is little more than a few stores and a post office, but it is home to some of North Carolina’s most stunning waterfalls including Whitewater Falls. I have a lot of family that lives in Brevard, so I am up and down this road frequently.
Mike and I went to Whitewater Falls during the extremely cold weather of January. I wanted to see how much ice had formed on the NC waterfall. We had also visited it this summer. It is a great hike if you just want a short and easy walk to a view.
The trail to Whitewater Falls is paved and only about a quarter of a mile to the first overlook. A second overlook is down a flight of 153 stairs, but the view is even better from there so I think that it is worth it. It is a very tall waterfall, and as such, it is hard to get a scope of how big it is in a photograph. The total drop of this NC Waterfall is 411 feet.
Whitewater Falls is about 8 1/2 miles south on Highway 281 from US 64. It costs $3 per car. It is near Gorges State Park and the Foothills Trail. From the cabins, drive south on NC 107 for about 15 miles. Shortly after crossing the State line, turn left at the sign for Whitewater Falls. Continue 2.3 miles to the intersection with SC 130, which becomes NC 281 at the North Carolina State line. Just beyond this point is a sign for the entrance to Whitewater Falls.