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If you’ve only seen our waterfalls in warm weather, visit again on a chilly winter day to experience a magical — sometimes frozen — cascading scene.
Listicle View
Rainbow Falls
Go way up high, and you’ll find yourself somewhere under the rainbow — Rainbow Falls — that is. Its colorful name comes from the constant mist that rises from the cascading water and sends rainbows vaulting toward the summer sun. During winter, the spray congeals on everything it touches, turning the trail icy and perilous. Rainbow Falls is on the Horsepasture River in the Brevard area.
Waterfall Byway
More than 250 waterfalls are located near Brevard, many of them accessible off what is known as the Waterfall Byway, US Highway 64. A number of waterfalls along this route are visible from the road, making it possible to see the frozen falls in winter from the warmth of your car.
Bridal Veil Falls
You can drive right over the top of the staggering 150-foot Toxaway Falls easily, and from there you can head to the 60-foot Bridal Veil Falls. When it gets cold enough, the falls' spray creates a large mound of ice at the base — and if it stays cold long enough, the falls can form one large column of ice.
Dry Falls
Less than a mile from Bridal Veil Falls is Dry Falls, which is easily accessed along a paved path from a parking lot. This waterfall is particularly popular thanks to its opportunity to walk behind the falls while still staying completely dry under the overhanging bluff.
Whitewater Falls
The 411-foot Whitewater Falls is the highest on the East Coast. No other waterfall in the East has this combination of water volume, height and visibility, and it’s been designated a North Carolina Natural Heritage Area. A short, handicapped-accessible trail makes the falls easy to access from the parking lot.
SoCo Falls
Just a short, steep, half-mile hike separates you from the viewing deck overlooking SoCo Falls. For a closer view, continue down the trail from the deck to the base of the falls.
Linville Falls
Linville Falls, one of the best-known waterfalls in the Appalachian Mountains, marks the beginning of Linville Gorge, often called the "Grand Canyon of the East." You can find the falls via the Blue Ridge Parkway near Milepost 316.4.
Looking Glass Falls
As you continue on the parkway, for your next stop, be prepared to do what countless others have done before you: Pull out your camera phone and take a picture of Looking Glass Falls. Because of its accessibility, it’s considered one of the most photographed waterfalls in America. Great views are offered at the top of stairs as well as a lower platform, where you can hop across rocks (be careful because the rocks can be slick). Get to Looking Glass on US Highway 276 from Blue Ridge Parkway, or on that highway through Pisgah National Forest.
During the winter season, please be aware of potential road closures along the Blue Ridge Parkway due to weather and travel conditions. Additionally, please exercise caution and obey all rules and warnings posted near waterfalls. The rocks around waterfalls are often slippery, and the currents can be very strong. See more waterfall safety tips from Explore Brevard.