Accessibility – Hard+
Height: Approx 18′
Distance – 5.5 (shuttle hike)
Beauty – 7
Photo rating – 7
Solitude – 10
GPS Info: LAT 35.0402 LONG -83.0331
Last updated – 12-16-2025
Home Alphabetical Listing Numerical Listing Location Listing Whitewater River
Hike Directions: You’re going to have to hike the Upper Whitewater River upstream from NC281. It’s part trail, part riverwalk, part bushwhack, and other stuff as well. I was short on time and afraid I was going to have to spend the night in the woods, so there wasn’t a lot of time to set up and shoot. As it turned out, we walked out of the woods half an hour before dark, dirty, exhausted, scraped, bruised, and relieved after a daylong adventure in the wilds of the Upper Whitewater Gorge. For someone used to setting up a tripod and getting the light just right, these two came out pretty good for point and click! The sunlight in the second pic is very cool!
12-13-2025 update: There is a trail from NC281 to Portage Left Falls, but there is a very steep scramble path to get to the base. Still better than the riverwalk, bushwhack I had to do back in 2017.
