Whiteside Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whiteside Mountain |
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Whiteside Mountain
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,930 ft (1,500 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Jackson County, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Parent range | Appalachian Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Highlands |
Whiteside Mountain is a tall mountain located in Jackson County, North Carolina. You can find it between the towns of Cashiers, Highlands, North Carolina, and close to the Georgia border. This mountain is super special because it has the highest cliffs in Eastern North America!
Whiteside Mountain also has a cool spot called Devil's Courthouse. Don't get it mixed up with another place called Devil's Courthouse that's about 20 miles away in Transylvania County, North Carolina.
Since the 1980s, the forest service has made it harder to reach the Devil's Courthouse area. They've let the walking path get overgrown because it can be dangerous, especially with very strong winds. They also want to prevent accidents from activities like paragliding from the top of the mountain or from the Courthouse spot. There's also a small rocky ledge, like a balcony, that sticks out from Whiteside Mountain. You can find similar ledges on the famous Appalachian Trail.
History of Whiteside Mountain
The Cherokee people, who lived in this area long ago, have a special name for Whiteside Mountain. They call it Sanigilâ'gĭ.
The Legend of Spear Finger
There's an old Cherokee story about a powerful monster woman named Spear-finger. The legend says that she built a bridge all the way from the Hiwassee River to Whiteside Mountain.
The Legend of De Soto
There's a message carved into the rocky ledge of Whiteside Mountain. It says that Hernando de Soto, a famous explorer, was there. The carving claims his men made it and even threw their sick horses off the cliff.
However, many people think this carving is a trick, probably made by some boys in 1926. Back then, the ledge might have been much bigger than it is today. It's also very unlikely that De Soto and his horses could have traveled through such rough land, especially since there were no roads or paths at that time. Most historians believe De Soto's journey took him through a different area, like the Cumberland Gap from South Carolina.
