Looking Glass Falls
Encyclopedia
Looking Glass Falls is a waterfall
in Western North Carolina
, located near Brevard
.
.
, approximately 5.6 miles north of the intersection of 276, U.S. Highway 64
, and NC Highway 280
in Brevard, North Carolina
. It is an extremely popular waterfall, due to ease of access to the falls directly on the side of the road. There is a path that leads to the plunge pool.
According to local Emergency Services
personnel, there have been many injuries and deaths at the falls, mainly due to individuals who rock climb near the edge of the falls and accidentally fall in the plunge pool, or persons who jump in the plunge pool. Persons who visit Looking Glass Falls should take care to respect both basic safety rules and the fragile environment that exist at the falls.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
in Western North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, located near Brevard
Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County....
.
Natural history
The name comes from Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a wintertime mirror (or "looking glass") of sunlight, as water freezes on its sides and reflects the sun.Geology
The waterway is Looking Glass Creek, which flows through the Pisgah National ForestPisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
.
Visiting the Falls
The falls are open to the public and are accessible on the side of U.S. Highway 276U.S. Route 276
U.S. Route 276 is an United States highway that runs for from Mauldin, South Carolina to Cove Creek, North Carolina. It is known both as a busy urban highway in Greenville, South Carolina and a scenic back-road in Western North Carolina.-Route description:...
, approximately 5.6 miles north of the intersection of 276, U.S. Highway 64
U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles from eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 160 in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. The highway's eastern terminus is at NC 12 and U.S. Route...
, and NC Highway 280
North Carolina Highway 280
North Carolina Highway 280 is a state highway in western North Carolina that runs from the town of Fletcher in Henderson County to the city of Brevard in Transylvania County. It is approximately in length, starting at the intersection of U.S. Route 64/U.S. Route 276/NC Hwy 280 north of Brevard, to...
in Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County....
. It is an extremely popular waterfall, due to ease of access to the falls directly on the side of the road. There is a path that leads to the plunge pool.
According to local Emergency Services
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
personnel, there have been many injuries and deaths at the falls, mainly due to individuals who rock climb near the edge of the falls and accidentally fall in the plunge pool, or persons who jump in the plunge pool. Persons who visit Looking Glass Falls should take care to respect both basic safety rules and the fragile environment that exist at the falls.
Nearby Falls
- Slick Rock FallsSlick Rock FallsSlick Rock Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard.-Geology:Slick Rock Falls flows on Slick Rock Creek over an overhanging bluff. The falls occasionally dries to a near-trickle, depending on the available watershed....
- Moore Cove FallsMoore Cove FallsMoore Cove Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard.-Natural history:The name comes from Moore Cove, and was named for Adam Q. Moore, who purchased the property. In 1891, the property was sold to George W. Vanderbilt for $155 to become part of the Pisgah National...
- Sliding RockSliding RockSliding Rock is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard, so named because visitors can slide all the way down the waterfall into the plunge pool below.-Geology:...
- Cedar Rock FallsCedar Rock Falls (Grogan Creek)Cedar Rock Falls is a waterfall in Transylvania County, North Carolina.-Geology:Cedar Rock Falls is a 20' waterfall located on Cedar Rock Creek, near the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Fish Hatchery in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. It is located downstream of the junction of...
- Cove Creek Falls
- Daniel Ridge Falls
- Twin Falls
- Log Hollow FallsLog Hollow FallsAlso known as the Falls in Log Hollow, or simply the Waterfall on Log Hollow Branch, Log Hollow Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County, North Carolina. It's a steep cascade with a couple of sections of free falling water. Visitors can drive to within 1/2 miles of...
- Falls on Log Hollow Branch
- Key FallsKey FallsKey Falls, on is a 50 ft waterfall located near Brevard, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.- Geology :Key Falls is a waterfall with a very small watershed located on an unnamed tributary of the French Broad River...