Epic Travel → North America → The South → North Carolina → Highlands → Whitewater Falls

Location: East of Highlands, North Carolina

Distance: 1.7 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain: 570 feet

Time Required: 45 minutes

Red Tape/Notes: Open dawn to dusk; entry fee is $2 per vehicle (seven people or less per vehicle)

What’s Nearby?: Dry Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Glen Falls

Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies and is separated into Upper and Lower Whitewater Falls. Upper Whitewater (shown and discussed here) is on the North Carolina side of the border, and drops 411 ft, while Lower Whitewater is on the South Carolina side, and drops an additional 400 feet. The hike to and from the falls is very easy and there’s a nice observation platform down a set of stairs which allows a better view of the falls. Even getting to the area is pretty during the fall (random scenery on the drive over shown in the last photo).

Epic Travel → North America → The South → North Carolina → Highlands → Whitewater Falls