Whitewater Falls (Upper) is a giant of a waterfall: 411 ft (125 m) of falling water, among the tallest in the country and a standout cascade waterfall in North Carolina. It ranks #19 by height among the waterfalls in this guide.
The falls are fed by Whitewater River. It lies in Jackson, North Carolina. The site is on public land managed by USFS - Nantahala National Forest.
This is a short hike waterfall: reached by a short trail, generally under about a mile each way. The walk to the main viewpoint runs about 0.5 miles round trip. The nearest town is Cashiers.
When to go: spring. Like most waterfalls, Whitewater Falls (Upper) runs highest after snowmelt or heavy rain and can thin out in late summer, so it's worth checking recent streamflow and the land manager's conditions page before a long drive.
