Looking Glass 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.

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 sides and reflects the sun, and from the name of the stream from which the falls plunge, Looking Glass Creek.

Geology

The waterway is Looking Glass Creek, which flows through 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 ...

Visiting the Falls

The falls are open to the public and are accessible on the side of

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 5.6 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

Pisgah Forest, North Carolina Pisgah Forest is an unincorporated community in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. It sits at an elevation of 2100 feet (640 m) along U.S. Route 64, northeast of Brevard. It is approximately a 30-minute drive from the Ashevill ...

. The falls are just under 70' tall from top to bottom, with the main falls at 60'. 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. During the winter when the falls freeze solid, they are popular Ice Climbing destination. Looking Glass Falls in Autumn

According to local

Emergency Services Emergency services and rescue services are organizations that ensure public safety and health by addressing and resolving different emergencies. Some of these agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies, while others deal wit ...

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. In 1990, South African kayaker Corran Addison kayaked over the falls successfully, but injured his back in the process. 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 Falls *

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

References

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External links

NCWaterfalls.com Looking Glass Falls PageLooking Glass and Other Waterfalls in Transylvania County
Protected areas of Transylvania County, North Carolina Waterfalls of North Carolina Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls of Transylvania County, North Carolina