Glassmine Falls is an ephemeral waterfall in
Buncombe County, North Carolina
Buncombe County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is classified within Western North Carolina. The 2020 census reported the population was 269,452. Its county seat is Asheville. Buncombe County is part of the Asheville ...
, on Glassmine Branch, near
Barnardsville, NC. It is located below the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenan ...
around milepost 362.
Geology
When it flows, the falls slides down the rock face of Blackstock Knob Mountain down to the
North Fork Swannanoa River. The flow is not constant and can sometimes nearly dry up completely. It is most visible after heavy rains, which can be at any time during the year. A sign at the overlook for the falls claims that the falls is over 800 ft (247m) high, although the actual height is probably much less.
History
At the base of the falls is the old Abernathy Mine, a
mica mine. The miners referred to the mineral they mined as "glass", which is how the falls got its name.
Visiting The Falls
Access to the falls is restricted to a viewing platform at milemarker 361.2 on the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenan ...
. The falls is directly in the
City of Asheville's watershed, so direct access to the falls is strictly prohibited.
Nearby Falls
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Walker Falls
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Douglas Falls
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Mitchell Falls
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Setrock Creek Falls
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Roaring Fork Falls
*
Whiteoak Creek Falls
External links
North Carolina Waterfalls Waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Protected areas of Buncombe County, North Carolina
Waterfalls of North Carolina
Landforms of Buncombe County, North Carolina
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