Transylvania

From the junction of US 64, US 276, and NC 280 near Brevard, drive north on US 276 for 5.65 miles to the long, narrow parking area on the right. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is 9.35 miles to the falls.

You can view the waterfall from an overlook on the upper end of the parking area or descend the steps to the base.

Easy access, size, and beauty combine to make Looking Glass Falls among the most popular waterfalls in North Carolina, no matter the season. I especially like to visit in winter, when icicles hang from the top and the plunge pool sometimes freezes over, leaving only a small area at the base unfrozen.

In 2004, the Forest Service upgraded access by extending the parking lot, building a handicapped-accessible viewing deck, and replacing the old steppingstones leading to the base with an elaborate new concrete step system. A few years prior, it had installed a fence system along the road above the falls to keep people from easily walking out to the top, where a number of people had fallen. These improvements area still in great shape.

The waterfall is so popular that despite the larger parking area, you’ll be lucky to find an empty spot on summer weekends or any day of the week in October. You can expect elbow room only on the overlooks and the steps.

I often hear hard-core waterfallers make fun of people who visit Looking Glass Falls and brave the crowds. Some people don’t mind crowds, but more important, not everyone can visit waterfalls off the beaten path. Maybe they don’t know about them, or they aren’t physically able, or maybe they just don’t care. Looking Glass is a waterfall that everyone can enjoy, regardless of physical ability, and I’m happy that people are doing just that.

The waterfall, and most of the land anywhere close, was part of George Vanderbilt’s enormous estate, from which the Pisgah District of the national forest was created. When Vanderbilt sold his timber interests in Pisgah, he reserved twenty acres surrounding Looking Glass Falls in the logging contract.

View roadside

Get out of your car and view the waterfall from the overlook at the road or walk down the steps to the base.

Historical photo of Looking Glass Falls by R. Henry Scadin. (065A-05)

Early postcard featuring Looking Glass Falls. (065A-03)

Historical photo by George Masa. This image was used to create postcards 065A-09, 065A-10, 065A-13, and 065A-14. (065A-20)

Historical photo by George Masa. (065A-21)

Hand-colored version of George Masa photo 065A-23. Masa made this image from the top of Looking Glass Falls. (065A-22)

Historical photo by George Masa, made from the top of Looking Glass Falls. (065A-23)

Historical photo of Looking Glass Falls by George Masa. (065A-25)

Historical photo of Looking Glass Falls by George Masa. This is a tighter crop of image 065A-27. (065A-26)

Historical photo of Looking Glass Falls by George Masa. (065A-27)

Historical photo of Looking Glass Falls by George Masa. (065A-28)

Historical photo of Looking Glass Falls by George Masa. (065A-29)

Historical photo of Looking Glass Falls by R. Henry Scadin. (065A-04)

Early postcard featuring Looking Glass Falls. (065A-08)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls. George Masa's photo 065A-20 was used to create this postcard, as well as 065A-10, 065A-13, and 065A-14. (065A-09)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls. George Masa's photo 065A-20 was used to create this postcard, as well as 065A-09, 065A-13, and 065A-14. (065A-10)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls. (065A-11)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls. (065A-12)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls. George Masa's photo 065A-20 was used to create this postcard, as well as 065A-09, 065A-10, and 065A-14. (065A-13)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls. George Masa's photo 065A-20 was used to create this postcard, as well as 065A-09, 065A-10, and 065A-13. (065A-14)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls. (065A-15)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls. (065A-16)

George Mase photo 065A-23 was used to make this postcard. (065A-24)

Early postcard of Looking Glass Falls created from a photo by George Masa. (065A-30)

Looking Glass Falls photographed from the roadside viewing area. (065A-252643)

Looking Glass Falls is in Pisgah National Forest, off US 276 about 5 miles north of US 64 near Brevard.

Get Your Bearings

If you don’t like to mix waterfall viewing with a few hundred fellow waterfallers, you’ll want to get here early. And I’m not talking about 10 a.m. You’ll want to eat breakfast 

Special Considerations

The waterfall and creek are named for Looking Glass Rock, a towering monolith rising 1,500 feet above the falls. The rock is clearly visible from along US 276 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Boasting a nearly vertical face of 500 feet, it’s a popular climbing spot. When wet—particularly when frozen—its face reflects sunlight and resembles a giant mirror.

The Scenic resources of the Tennessee Valley

 I’ve seen it spelled like this in other old publications.

Naming

You’ll see a wide range of measurements given for Looking Glass Falls, which is surprising given the relatively unambiguous top and bottom determination. 

 says it “dives 35 feet into a profusion of laurel and rhododendron."

 Actually, it dives 60 feet into a big pool, with no laurel or rhododendron anywhere close. Jim Bob Tinsley listed it as 85 feet,

 a figure I’ve seen in other older publications.

There can be no argument that the plunge pool is the absolute bottom for the falls. It may vary slightly based on water flow and the arrangement of rocks at the downstream end of the pool. After Tropical Storm Fred came through in 2021, I believe the pool became slightly deeper due to the damming of the rocks.

The top is a little imprecise but would vary only a few feet for most observers. The point at which I considered to be the top, measured down to the plunge pool, is 60 feet. I used a rangefinder and measured from the top of the steps to get the most accurate reading.

Measuring

An old advertising pamphlet, dated 1907-1918, provides an interesting and eyebrow-raising look at racism in North Carolina during this time. The four-page pamphlet from King Livery Co. lists destinations around Brevard that tourists might want to visit, including Looking Glass Falls. The cover states, “Careful White Drivers.”

Historical Literature

, shows Lassie overlooking Looking Glass Falls and climbing down to the pool below the falls.

 feature the falls. In one, the Shawnee and their captives have a rest stop at the base of the falls, and in the other, Mary and Gretel sit at the base of falls after escaping the Shawnee.

Read more about these movies and the waterfall scenes on the 

Hollywood

Take the kids down to the bottom of the steps. They’ll love feeling the waterfall spray.

Family

Looking Glass Falls may be the most photographed waterfall in North Carolina. No other waterfall in the state offers the same combination of beauty and easy access. I realize that’s a bold statement, but I’m thinking of the countless times I’ve driven by it and all the other roadside falls in the state, and how many cars I’ve seen each time at them. No others come close. Linville Falls is crazy popular, yes, but it’s not roadside and I doubt it gets as many visitors.

The photographic opportunities here are as good as it gets. You can make a nice composition from the overlook at the top of the steps, including the surrounding trees to frame the waterfall. I like to make this shot in autumn. My favorite composition is from the middle of the creek a little ways downstream from the falls.

Unless the water level is very low, you’ll have to contend with heavy spray if you try to shoot close to the falls.

Photography

 is about a mile north of Looking Glass. Of course, this is the Pisgah District of Pisgah National Forest, so there are many more waterfalls nearby.

While You're There

Most of the other lands in the Pisgah District surrounding Looking Glass Falls were logged In fact, the principle logging railroad ran beside the waterfall, generally following the route of today’s US 276.

Accessibility:	Roadside
County:	Transylvania
River Basin:	French Broad
Watercourse:	Looking Glass Creek
Watershed:	Medium
Type and Height:	Beautiful sheer drop of 60 feet
Landowner:	Pisgah NF, Pisgah RD

Beauty Rating:	8
Elevation:	2360 feet
USGS Map:	Shining Rock
Hike Difficulty:	View roadside
Hike Distance:	A few steps to reach the base
Waterfall GPS:	35.2962, -82.76844
Trailhead GPS:	35.296349, -82.769458

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