Douglas Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Douglas Falls |
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| Location | Blue Ridge Mountains, Buncombe County, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°43′35″N 82°22′46″W / 35.726472°N 82.379569°W |
| Type | Plunge |
| Total height | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
Douglas Falls is a beautiful 60-foot waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA. It's found in the Big Ivy area of the Pisgah National Forest. The water comes from Craggy Pinnacle, a mountain slope near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The falls are surrounded by many large Eastern hemlock trees. Sadly, many of these trees are dying because of tiny insects called Hemlock Wooly Adelgids. When visiting, it's important to be careful. Some dead trees might fall over time.
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Nature Around Douglas Falls
Douglas Falls is part of a stream that flows into Waterfall Creek. This creek then joins Carter Creek. The area is rich in plant life, but the hemlock trees face a challenge.
Hemlock Trees and Tiny Invaders
The forest around Douglas Falls has many large Eastern hemlock trees. These trees are very important to the forest's health. However, tiny insects called Hemlock Wooly Adelgids are harming them. These insects attach to the trees and feed on their sap. This makes the trees sick and can cause them to die. Scientists and forest rangers are working to protect these trees.
History of the Falls' Name
Douglas Falls is believed to be named after William O. Douglas. He was a famous Supreme Court Justice. He also wrote a book called Of Men and Mountains: The Classic Memoir of Wilderness Adventure. This book shared his adventures in the wilderness.
Visiting Douglas Falls
You can hike to Douglas Falls! The trail starts at the end of a parking lot. This parking lot is about 4.7 miles from Walker Falls on F.R. 74.
The Hike to the Falls
From the parking lot, you can follow a path for about 0.55 miles. This path leads you right to the bottom of Douglas Falls. The trail continues up the mountain past the falls. It becomes more challenging as you go higher.
Connecting to Other Trails
Eventually, the trail connects with the Mountains to Sea Trail. This connection is just below Craggy Pinnacle. From there, hikers can walk to the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you turn right, you will reach the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center. Many hikers enjoy walking down to Douglas Falls from this visitor center.
Other Waterfalls Nearby
The area around Douglas Falls has several other beautiful waterfalls.
- Cascades Waterfall is about 1.4 miles further down the trail from Douglas Falls. The trail crosses Waterfall Creek at this spot. Cascades Waterfall is a steep, sliding waterfall. It is both above and below the trail. Hikers should be very careful when crossing here. While it's a bit of a challenging hike, the scenery along the trail is beautiful. It also connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Walker Falls
- Glassmine Falls
- Mitchell Falls
- Setrock Creek Falls
- Roaring Fork Falls
- Whiteoak Creek Falls
