Scouted some really nice waterfalls in preparation for our upcoming NC Fall Vistas & Waterfalls tour.  With over 300 falls in the surrounding areas, I’m finding it a tad difficult to narrow down my choices. After looking at a number of resources, from websites to maps and a number of books I’ve selected 20 that I want to check out. Next step? Scouting.

On this day, I started out in the southwest area of Pisgah National Forest.  I headed up to a spot I had actually done a commercial shoot at several years ago. Here there are three waterfalls you can hear from the road but dense vegetation prohibits any good views. From the top of the trail there are two waterfalls side by side and a beautiful old mill that makes for a picturesque composition. On the right Mill Shoals Falls flows off Shoals Creek, and on the left French Broad Falls flows off the North French Broad. Both falls drop around 15-20′.   Further down the rhododendron covered path is Bird Rock / Cathedral Falls. Flanked by large rocks and an impressive cliff face, it is reminiscent of something you may see out west. This area offers several different looks.

Next, after a beautiful drive down one of the many forest service roads, I found the trailhead I was looking for. The trail itself meandered along the creek for less than a half-mile, then dropped down into a gorge to the base of Courthouse Falls where a beautiful deep pool of crystal clear mountain water circulated at the bottom.  After taking a few shots it was difficult to motivate myself to move onto my next spot as all I needed to make this location perfect was a tube, and an ice cold drink. Ferns, moss covered rocks, sweeping tree limbs; this waterfall has much to consider.

And last for this day, Dill Falls, located in the Nantahala National Forest. Finding the forest service road wasn’t easy, as it appears to be a driveway between two “mountain homes”, aptly decorated with a few rusty old cars and some large dogs (always a good mix).  The trail is less than 1/4 mile to the creek and like most falls, I could hear it before I could see it. Dill Falls is a two-tiered waterfall, one short drop, then a 60’ steep cascade. Beautiful. Just the kind of off-the-beaten path experience I want to be able to offer our clients. I found myself so distracted by the beauty of the waterfall that it wasn’t until I was driving home that I realized I’d forgotten to check out Upper Dill Falls. Drats.

Oh well, another day.