Dry Falls (North Carolina)

For the Dry Falls of Washington State, see Dry Falls.

Dry Falls
Dry Falls, Aug 2009
Location	Nantahala National Forest, Macon County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina
Coordinates	35°04′05″N 83°14′21″W / 35.068091°N 83.239067°W / 35.068091; -83.239067
Type	Plunge
Total height	65 feet (19.8 m) (Adams Book),[1] 80 ft (24.4 m) (NCWaterfalls)[2]
Number of drops	1

Dry Falls, also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a 65-foot (20.1 m) waterfall located in the Nantahala National Forest, northwest of Highlands, North Carolina.

Geology

Dry Falls flows on the Cullasaja River through the Nantahala National Forest. It is part of a series of waterfalls on a 8.7-mile (14 km) stretch of the river that eventually ends with Cullasaja Falls. Dry Falls flows over an overhanging bluff that allows visitors to walk up under the falls and remain relatively dry when the waterflow is low, hence its name. Visitors will get wet if the waterflow is high.

History

The falls has been called Dry Falls for a long time, but has also gone by a few other names, including High Falls, Pitcher Falls, and Cullasaja Falls.^[3]

Dry Falls during a period of very high flow

Visiting The Falls

Dry Falls is located on the side of U.S. Highway 64 3.1 miles (5.0 km) north of Highlands, North Carolina. There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park before walking the short path with stairs to the falls.

During 2008-2009 the Forest Service made improvements to the parking area, which included renovation and expansion and the addition of bathroom facilities. A new walkway and overlook were also constructed adjacent to the parking area.^[4]

Nearby Falls

• Quarry Falls
• Cullasaja Falls
• Bridal Veil Falls

External links

• North Carolina Waterfalls Bridal Veil and Dry Falls
• Panoramic virtual tour from behind Dry Falls
• Photos and videos of Highlands NC waterfalls: Dry Falls, Bridal Veil, Glen Falls, Cullasaja

References

1. ^ Kevin Adams, North Carolina Waterfalls, p. 466
2. ^ NCWaterfalls.com Bridal Veil and Dry Falls
3. ^ Kevin Adams, North Carolina Waterfalls, p. 467
4. ^ Nantahala National Forest Extends Contract for Dry Falls Renovations, http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/dry_press_release1.htm