Cascade Falls (Falls Creek) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cascade Falls |
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Cascade Falls, looking down
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| Location | E. B. Jeffress Park, Wilkes County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 36°14′58″N 81°27′16″W / 36.249341°N 81.454337°W |
| Type | Cascade, Slide |
| Total height | More than 250 ft. |
Cascade Falls, also known as "The Cascades," is a beautiful waterfall located in E. B. Jeffress Park. You can find it along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, United States. It's a popular spot for visitors to enjoy nature.
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How Cascade Falls Was Formed
Cascade Falls gets its water from Falls Creek. The waterfall starts with a small drop, then the water flows and slides smoothly down the rocky surface. Imagine water gliding down a giant natural slide! All this water eventually flows into the W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir and then into the Yadkin River.
Even though the falls are quite tall, they don't always have a huge amount of water flowing. This is common for many waterfalls in the northern North Carolina Mountains.
Visiting This Amazing Waterfall
You can find Cascade Falls inside E. B. Jeffress Park. It's located at milepost 271.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is about 4.4 miles north of where U.S. Route 421 crosses the parkway near Deep Gap.
Exploring the Trail
There's an easy-to-moderate loop trail that takes you to the falls. It starts at the north end of the parking area and is about 0.8 miles long. As you walk, you'll see signs with interesting facts about the local wildflowers and other plants, like the pretty mountain laurel.
The trail goes down about 50 feet to an upper viewing spot. From here, you can see about 20 feet of the water cascading above you and a long slide below. If you keep going down another 200 feet, you'll reach a lower viewing spot. This gives you a different view of the water sliding down the rocks.
Staying Safe at the Falls
The very bottom part of the falls can no longer be reached from the trail. There used to be a path, but it caused damage to the plants and the stream banks. To protect the natural area and keep visitors safe, a fence was built. This helps make sure everyone can enjoy the falls for years to come!
Other Waterfalls Nearby
If you love waterfalls, you might also want to check out:
