Highlands, NC is well known for its waterfalls and hiking trails. In the winter, with several days of sub-freezing temperatures, the waterfalls take on a spectacular event with icicles over 75 feet long. Visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution during these times. As if the falls weren't dangerous enough in the summer with slick rocks and visitors falling to their death, frozen waterfalls accumulate tons of ice. When these let go, they can easily crush and kill unweary visitors.
Lake Sequoyah in Highlands can freeze and offer ice skating. However, it is rare the ice becomes thick enough to allow this. Even where it may be sufficient in some places, other creeks empty into the lake, creating currents underneath that can thin the ice from underneath, making for treacherous ventures.
Cullusaja Falls is a spectacular fall that is extremely dangerous to approach during winter months. In the summer this is difficult enough. In the winter, the rock surfaces leading down the slope are covered in ice, making this almost impossible to get to from the pull-offs above. If you do get down there, one must know that they have to climb back out. Again, this can be very difficult in summer months. Climbing back up the ice in winter could prove fatal.
Dry Falls is always a large attraction. During the summer months it is difficult to find a parking space. However, winter is almost empty most any time. The tricky party is getting down the trail if we've had several days of sub-freezing temperatures. The trail has several streams/springs that cross the trail, freezing over to solid sheets of ice. While you can traverse ice fairly easily on flat ground, this is a steep trail. This means once you go down, you may be sliding for some distance before coming to a stop. There are handrails along most portions, but on still needs to use caution. One you get to the falls, there is a gate that is closed during winter months. The USFS even has a sign warning individuals that death has occured. Still, some adventurers will disregard this warning and attempt to go behind the falls. While the summertime does afford such an opportunity, in the winter the ice builds up and slopes to the back wall. Once one slips on the ice and becomes pinned to the back wall, there is nothing to grab onto to help pull you across the ice. This can become extremely difficult and tiring to even a strong and healthy individual. Here again, with the huge ice formations, if any were to let go it would definitely mean certain injury or death to anyone underneath.
Bridal Veil Falls, although smaller, has its own beauty. With the old Hwy. 64 running behind it, you can easily see why this highway was rerouted for winter travel. This waterfall gets more direct sunlight. As a result, winter months can prove extremely dangerous for those venturing to go underneath. There have been huge slides here. Visitors are often seen going underneath the huge icicles, wanting to break off a piece, just for fun. While this may seem like a good idea, it has also been observed that when attempting to break off a smaller piece, huge portions often turn loose. It is not uncommon to see injuries occur. Things happen very quickly, without warning. Children enjoy such ventures, but once an injury or death occurs, sadly, these cannot be undone.
While none of the aforementioned information is meant to intimidate nor prevent anyone from visiting these sites, it is here to inform. I have lived here since 1973. As a prior employee of the USFS, I am aware of the dangers and incidents that happen almost yearly in our area. It is a beautiful, but wild area. Visitors should be aware of their surroundings and use caution to remain safe and enjoy all the natural beauty afforded in Highlands, Cashiers, Franklin, Sapphire, and surrounding areas.
Now, as a real estate broker with Landmark Realty Group in Highlands, I have the pleasure of helping those seeking to live in this area to find the many hidden treasures that are not so well known. If you would like to know some of these trails less traveled, let me know. I will be happy to help you find some that few know about.
Happy hiking!
Hoar Frost or Rine Ice: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weathe...
Dry Falls: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc...
Bridal Veil Falls: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/...
Cullusaja Falls: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/...
Cullusaja Gorge: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc...
Bruce Springsteen Reference: https://blogs.elon.edu/highway64/high...
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust: https://www.hcltnc.org/hiking-trails....
USFS Senior Passes: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/deschu...
00:00 Intro
00:27 Lake Sequoyah
01:33 Dry Falls
04:35 Bridal Veil Falls
05:49 Cullusaja Falls
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