Waterfall 1 on Looking Glass Creek
!
This is one of three falls within a three-mile section of US 276 that many people drive by without having a clue that they just passed a scenic waterfall right beside the road. None of the three can be viewed well from the road, though. You’ll need to scramble a little on makeshift paths to reach them.
The other two falls are Waterfall 2 on Looking Glass Creek and Waterfall 3 on Looking Glass Creek.
(065W1-265742)
Driving Directions
A pullout on the creek side of US 276 is 4.8 miles south of Blue Ridge Parkway and 7.9 miles north of the junction with NC 280/US 64. The pullout is less than 0.1 miles south of FS 475B.
Hiking Directions
Quick Glance
Walk south along US 276 about 100 feet to the short scramble path leading down to the base of the falls.
Detailed Look
A path is directly at the pullout, but it doesn’t provide a good way to view the falls from the base.
| Accessibility: | Bank scramble |
| County: | Transylvania |
| River Basin: | French Broad |
| Watercourse: | Looking Glass Creek |
| Watershed: | Small |
| Type and Height: | 16-foot creek-wide, multi-ledge falls Height measured with rangefinder. |
| Landowner: | Pisgah NF, Pisgah RD |
| Beauty Rating: | 5 |
| Elevation: | 3080 feet |
| USGS Map: | Shining Rock |
| Hike Difficulty: | Difficult |
| Hike Distance: | Couple hundred feet |
| Waterfall GPS: | 35.339754, -82.788917 |
| Trailhead GPS: | 35.339989, -82.789193 |
Photo Gallery
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Then & Now
Historical Gallery
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