Slick Rock Falls is a

waterfall A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...

in Western

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

, 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.

Natural history

The falls is named for the slick rocks at the top and bottom of the falls. Before becoming a part of the

Pisgah 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 complet ...

, a

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...

trail crossed Slick Rock Creek near the top of the falls, and occasionally, a stray animal would be carried over the falls.Adams, Kevin, (2005). - ''North Carolina Waterfalls: A Hiking and Photography Guide''. - Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. - p.224. -

Visiting the Falls

The falls are open to the public and are accessible by traveling on

U.S. Highway 276 U.S. Route 276 (US 276) is a 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 Caroli ...

, approximately 5.2 miles north of the intersection of 276,

U.S. Highway 64 U.S. Route 64 (US 64) is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles (3,743 km) from Nags Head in eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 1 ...

, and NC Highway 280 in

Brevard, North Carolina Brevard is a city in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States, with a population of 7,609 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Transylvania County. Brevard is located at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest and has become ...

. Turn left onto Forest Road 475 and go 1.5 miles, and turn right onto Forest Road 475B. Go north 1.1 miles. You will come to a sharp left-hand curve with a small pullout on the outside of the curve. Park here and follow the trail for 55 yards, taking the right fork to the base of the falls in approximately 45 yards.

Nearby Falls

Approximately .5 miles (.9 km) north of Slick Rock Falls on Forest Road 475B is Rockhouse Creek Falls. It is almost impossible to view the falls anytime other than winter, due to a thick forest of

rhododendron ''Rhododendron'' (; from Ancient Greek ''rhódon'' "rose" and ''déndron'' "tree") is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are nati ...

, mountain laurel, and dog hobble. There is no trail of any kind to the falls, and exploring this area is extremely hazardous. *Rockhouse Creek Falls *

Looking Glass Falls Looking Glass Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. Natural history The name comes from nearby Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a wintertime mirror (or "looking glass") of sunlight, as water freezes on its side ...

Moore Cove Falls Moore Cove Falls is a waterfall in Pisgah National Forest 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 so ...

* Sliding Rock * Cedar Rock Falls * Cove Creek Falls *

Daniel Ridge Falls Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew language, Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge"Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 68. (cf. Gabriel (given ...

* Twin Falls * Log Hollow Falls * Falls on Log Hollow Branch * Key Falls

References

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External links

North Carolina Waterfalls - Moore Cove Falls
Protected areas of Transylvania County, North Carolina Waterfalls of North Carolina Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls of Transylvania County, North Carolina