Highlands, North Carolina

1. Dry Falls

Dry Falls, also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a cascading waterfall with an 80-foot drop, 40 feet of which is freefalling water that flows on the Cullasaja River through the Nantahala National Forest.

Located less than a mile from Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls is easily accessible on an easy, paved pathway from the parking lot that leads inside the recessed ledge of the waterfall behind the roaring waters.

The falls are situated about three miles north of Highlands, North Carolina, and a parking area on the side of the road offers parking for people visiting the falls.

US 64/28 W, Highlands, NC 28741, Phone: 828-526-2112

2. Glen Falls

Glen Falls is a spectacular set of waterfalls that consist of three separate cascades that plunge through a rocky forest filled with rhododendron bushes and towering hardwoods. The waterfalls flow on the East Fork Overflow Creek, which drops 600 feet in elevation and are accessed by a fantastic hike that is relatively short in length and surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty. Two trailheads lead to the falls – the Chinquapin Mountain Trail and the Glen Falls Trail, and about a quarter of a mile into the hike the waterfalls can be seen through the shrubs.

Glen Falls Road, Highlands, NC 28741

3. Cullasaja River Gorge

The Cullasaja River Gorge is an area of spectacular beauty along the Waterfall Byway between the towns of Franklin and Highlands. The gorge is bisected by the fast-moving Cullasaja River, which features three significant waterfalls that wind through the Nantahala National Forest, including the 120-foot Bridal Veil Falls, the roaring water at Dry Falls and the towering 250-foot high Cullasaja Falls. Part of the trail followed by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto in 1540, Cullasaja (meaning ‘honey locust place’) Gorge channels the river to the Gulf of Mexico.

Highlands, NC 28741

4. Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is a picturesque cascade that flows on a tributary of the Cullasaja River in the Nantahala National Forest.

The falls cascade over an overhanging bluff and drop 60 feet over a section of the US Highway 64 (Mountain Waters Scenic Byway & NC Waterfall Byway), and due to small volumes of water, people can walk beneath it. The stream tends to dry up during periods of drought and has a moderate or high flow of water during the wet season.

US 64/28 W, Highlands, NC 28741, Phone: 828-526-5841

5. Highlands Biological Station, Nature Center, and Botanical Gardens

The Highlands Biological Station, Nature Center, and Botanical Gardens is a public garden and nature sanctuary that showcases the diverse flora of the southern Appalachians. Open year-round from sunrise to sunset and free of charge, the garden was founded in 1962 as a demonstration garden and has grown into a leading botanical sanctuary with more than 500 species of ferns, shrubs, mosses, wildflowers, shrubs, wetlands, forests, and old-growth plant communities. The garden can be explored on a series of boardwalks and trails that wind through the garden, which also features display collections of Mosses and Liverworts, Plants of the Cherokee, Native Azaleas, Wildflower Meadow, and Butterfly-pollinated species. The garden offers guided tours, and visitors can enjoy picnics in beautiful spots around the garden.

265 N 6th St, Highlands, NC 28741, Phone: 828-526-2623

6. The Bascom: Center for the Visual Arts

The Bascom: Center for the Visual Arts provides an array of stimulating experiences in the visual arts for visitors of all ages. Located on a former horse farm in Highland, the indoor-outdoor visual arts center was established by artists Watson and Louise Bascom in 1983 and features rotating exhibitions of art, ceramics, and sculpture. The dynamic 30,000 square foot three-building center is based on a six-acre property and offers a variety of educational programs for adults and children and art experiences that focus on the synergy of art and nature. The Bunzl Gallery is based on the main floor of the center and features a gift shop, while the Joel Gallery and Loft Gallery occupy the second floor, and an Education Gallery and classrooms can be found on the lower level of the center.

323 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC 28741, Phone: 828-526-4949

7. Whiteside Mountain

Whiteside Mountain is a large mountain in Jackson County that boasts the highest cliffs in Eastern North America. The mountain also features the Devil's Courthouse, a rugged mesa overlooking the Pisgah National Forest that offers spectacular panoramic views from its peak that can be reached by a moderately strenuous half-mile hiking trail. The Whiteside Mountain National Recreation Trail is a 1.9-mile loop trail that is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding. Accessible year-round, the trail features beautiful wildflowers, and dogs are allowed but must be kept on leash.

Highlands, NC 28741

8. Highlands Plateau Greenway

The Highlands Plateau Greenway is a five-mile network of walking trails that connect pristine natural areas and historical sites in and around Highlands. The Greenway straddles the Eastern Continental Divide and is comprised of a temperate rain forest that is home to the highest diversity of fauna and flora in North America. The greenway is surrounded by forests of firs, hickories, pines, and oaks, along with old-growth rhododendron and mountain laurel, and offers a wealth of recreational opportunities ranging from hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding to geocaching, backpacking and bird and wildlife watching.

Highlands, NC 28741, Phone: 828-526-2385

9. Kilwins Highlands

Kilwins Highlands is an old-fashioned confectionery chain that specializes in handmade chocolates, sweets, and ice-cream, along with delectable gift baskets for every occasion. Opened in 1995 by Ashley Clark, the confectionary store has grown into a popular franchise chain that offers sweet treats for every taste. Located on Main Street in Town Square, the bright and airy shop is filled with mouthwatering goodies of all kinds from chocolate, toffee and caramel, to Mackinac Island fudge, caramel corn, and brittle, and old-fashioned toffee apples. Customized gift baskets can be ordered for special occasions, and the store is open seven days a week.

341 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741, Phone: 828-526-3788