Geology

The falls is located on Whiteoak Creek, a tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the South Toe River

South Toe River

The South Toe River , is a stream in Yancey County...

, which itself is a tributary of the French Broad River

French Broad River

The French Broad River flows from near the village of Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into the state of Tennessee. Its confluence with the Holston River at Knoxville is the beginning of the Tennessee River....

.

Height

There are multiple cascades, slides and drops. The largest single drop is probably only around 20' but taken as a whole the entire section probably covers 80'+

Visiting the Falls

From the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Hwy 80, drive north on Hwy 80. At 2.2 miles is the left hand turn to Roaring Fork and Setrock Creek Falls (South Toe River Rd). Continue past there on Hwy 80, drive just over 5 miles and turn left on White Oak Rd (SR1156). Drive another 1/2 mile or so and turn left on White Oak Creek Rd (SR1157). This road dead ends after another 1.5 miles. Park here and walk up the old logging road and look for some side paths down to the base.

As of July 19, 2009, during a recent windstorm, a large tree has fallen into the creek between the lower and upper cascades, meaning you can't see the upper portion from the lower portion of the falls.

Nearby Falls

• Roaring Fork Falls
  Roaring Fork Falls (Yancey County)
  Roaring Fork Falls, also called Roaring Creek Falls, is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina.-Geology:The falls is located on Roaring Fork, a tributary of the South Toe River, which itself is a tributary of the French Broad River. The creek is located in a forest that's...
  
  
• Setrock Creek Falls
  Setrock Creek Falls
  -Geology:The falls is located at the base of Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain in the United States east of the Mississippi River, on Setrock Creek, a small tributary of the South Toe River, which itself is a tributary of the French Broad River. The creek falls over multiple steep to...
  
  
• Mitchell Falls
  Mitchell Falls
  Mitchell Falls is a waterfall located on private property in Yancey County, North Carolina on the slope of Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain chain, and highest point in the eastern United States...
  
  
• Douglas Falls
  Douglas Falls
  Douglas Falls are a 60 foot waterfall located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA. It is on a tributary of Waterfall Creek which flows into the Ivy River, and it is within the Big Ivy section of the Pisgah National Forest. The stream flows off the slope of Craggy Pinnacle, starting just below...
  
  
• Walker Falls
  Walker Falls
  Walker Falls is a 45-foot cascading waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Its ease of access makes it a popular destination for Waterfall Hunters...
  
  
• Crabtree Falls
  Crabtree Falls (North Carolina)
  Crabtree Falls is a waterfall in Yancey County, North Carolina.-Geology and Natural History:Crabtree Falls is a 70 ft. cascade on Big Crabtree Creek. The creek spreads over a rock face with many small ledges, giving it a delicate appearance, before trickling into a clear pool at the base...