Upper Whitewater Falls
| Upper Whitewater Falls | |
|---|---|
Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina (September 1989) | |
| Location | Whitewater River, Jackson County / Transylvania County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°02′09″N 83°01′03″W / 35.035825°N 83.017544°W |
| Type | Tiered, Cascade |
| Total height | 411 ft (125 m) |
Upper Whitewater Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina on the Whitewater River. As with most of North Carolina's waterfalls, it is in the mountainous area of the state. There is a cluster of falls in the area where the borders of Georgia and the Carolinas come together. Whitewater Falls is part of that group, very close to the South Carolina border.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, "With a 411-foot plunge, Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies." However, this claim is likely exaggerated, and the actual height is likely closer to 350–400 feet. Furthermore, several other waterfalls have contended to be the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, including Crabtree Falls in Virginia, Amicalola Falls in Georgia, and Glassmine Falls in North Carolina, which depends on the way waterfalls are defined and categorized.