Glassmine Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glassmine Falls |
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Visible Portion of Glassmine Falls, August 2006
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| Location | Buncombe County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°44′07″N 82°19′54″W / 35.735333°N 82.331550°W |
| Type | Slide |
| Total height | >800 ft (240 m) (estimated) |
Glassmine Falls is a special waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It is located on Glassmine Branch, near Barnardsville, NC. This waterfall is found below the Blue Ridge Parkway around milepost 362. It is known as an "ephemeral" waterfall, which means it doesn't always have a lot of water flowing.
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What is Glassmine Falls?
When Glassmine Falls has water, it slides down the rock face of Blackstock Knob Mountain. The water then flows down to the North Fork Swannanoa River. The amount of water flowing over the falls changes a lot. Sometimes, it can almost dry up completely.
You can see the falls best after heavy rains. This can happen at any time of the year. A sign at the viewing spot says the falls is over 800 feet (247 meters) high. However, its actual height might be a bit less than that.
How Glassmine Falls Got Its Name
At the bottom of Glassmine Falls, there used to be an old mine called the Abernathy Mine. Miners worked there to dig up a mineral called mica. The miners often called this mineral "glass."
This is how the waterfall got its unique name. It was named after the "glass" (mica) that was found and mined nearby.
Visiting Glassmine Falls
You can only see Glassmine Falls from a special viewing platform. This platform is located at milemarker 361.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's important to know that you cannot go directly to the falls.
The area around the falls is part of the City of Asheville's water supply. Because of this, direct access to the waterfall is strictly not allowed.
Other Waterfalls Nearby
If you enjoy seeing waterfalls, there are several other beautiful ones close to Glassmine Falls:
