Preparing for a trip to the mountains - these links will help you prepare and plan your trip to the mountains. You should cross reference as much info that you can. I try to make the information on my site as accurate and up to date as possible, but you should check the official sites for the national forests and state parks for the most up to date info.
Ray's Weather Center - The first thing you should do is check the weather conditions in the area you are heading to so you can dress acordingly. Ray's covers the entire western North Carolina area with the most up to date conditions
The Forest Place - good resource for trail maps in the area - click on 'maps', then 'North Carolina' - I use the Pisgah, Nantahala, and Smoky Mtn maps the most - they also have the NC Gazetteer that Kevin Adams references in his NC waterfall book
North Carolina State Parks - official guide to all of NC's state parks
South Carolina State Parks - official site for SC state parks
Tennessee State Parks - official site for TN state parks
Great Smoky Mountains NP - official site
National Forests in North Carolina - the majority of the waterfalls on this site lie in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests - this official site has a load of good info if you dig around enough - they keep it fairly up to date, so check it regularly for possible closures and new info
Blue Ridge Parkway - the official government site - check here for activities and possible closures - click 'directions', then 'map' for an excellent BRP map - remember that a lot of the Parkway is closed in the winter
The Blue Ridge Parkway - home page for the Blue Ridge Parkway Association - more good info on the Parkway
DuPont State Forest - all the info you need for hiking in DSF
What else to do in the mountains - these sites include info on hiking, mountain biking, white water fun, sight seeing and other activities in the mountains and in specific communities
Carolina Family Adventures - Relax and rejuvenate on an unforgettable, stress-free mountain vacation designed just for families. Ready and waiting are beautiful accommodations, outdoor adventures, and delightful meals. All you have to do is come and play
Hiking in Western North Carolina - an online guide for hiking in western NC
Hiking the Carolinas - another online guide for hiking in the Carolinas
Mountain Biking in Western North Carolina - online guide to mountain biking in western NC
South Carolina Trails - excellent resource for hiking in SC
Georgia Hikes - online hiking guide for Georgia
Hiking Trails/Day Hikes - Jon has put together an extensive list of day hikes he has done in NC, SC, GA, and TN with detailed descriptions of each hike.
Cashiers Fly Fishing - a guide to western NC trout streams
Headwaters Outfitters - canoe, kayak, and tubing on the French Broad River and other locations in western NC
Hanging Rock Outdoor Center - only minutes from the Hanging Rock State Park and is the only full service outfitter in the area with a fully stocked outdoor shop.
The Dan River Company - canoe and kayak rentals, professional livery and shuttle service for Dan River near Hanging Rock SP
NC Natural - guide to North Crolina nature, entertainment, and culture
NCGuide.com - online guide to activities in North Carolina
Friends of the Mountain to Sea Trail
The Foothills Trail - site from the Foothills Trail Conference
webtransylvania.com - info on Transylvania County
Alex's Whitewater River Photos - Alex Harvey's site with some great whitewater photos and lots of whitewater videos
The Great Smokies - Adventures in North Carolina - personal site
North Carolina Outdoors - personal site
Trails of Western North Carolina - personal site
High Adventures - personal site
visitwaterfalls.com - lots of good info on activities, lodging and campgrounds in Brevard and Transylvania County - their waterfall section is really lame, however
Romantic Asheville - Your online travel guide to romantic getaways in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville Now - new community based Asheville informational website started by 2 UNC Asheville graduates
Western NC Attractions - Western NC's area attractions and travel guide
Asheville Chamber of Commerce - Dedicated to serving all businesses in and around the Asheville, North Carolina area. Most consider Asheville the 'capitol of the mountains'.
Explore Asheville - The Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau’s official Web site, www.exploreasheville.com lists area accommodations, attractions and restaurants as well as featuring the region’s most up-to-date calendar of events. Sign up for the CVB’s FREE bimonthly e-newsletter to receive special deals, package information and stories on festivals, specialty shops and more!
Polk County Travel & Tourism - all the info you need on visiting this beautiful mountain county
GoCashiers.com - an online guide to the Cashiers, North Carolina area
WaynesvilleLive.com - Waynesville, North Carolina's live local area community site with loads of Waynesville information and entertainment!
Hickory Nut Gorge News - news and events from the Lake Lure, Bat Cave, Chimney Rock area
Carolina Outdoors Guide - a compendium of federal and state recreation lands in North Carolina. Listings on the pages to the left include links to Web sites sponsored by the National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Tennessee Valley Authority, N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and N.C. Division of Forest Resources.
Mountain Travel Guide - online guide to activities in mountain areas around the USA
Mountain Trail Hiker - photos of different areas of the mountains
These sites deal mostly with lodging, camping, and real estate in the area.
Adventure Village - cabin rentals, RV and tent sites, fly fishing, river adventures, a fishing pond and a whole lot more - located west of Brevard in the heart of waterfall country
Asheville Cabins, Cottages, and More - Whether you are looking for a private mountain cabin or cottage or a downtown Asheville experience we have what you are looking for. All locations are pet friendly!
Ash Grove Resort Cabins & Camping - Fully-equipped 1, 2 & 3BR cabins, secluded tent camping and RV sites located on 14 mountaintop acres less than 10 minutes from Dupont State Forest and downtown Brevard. Amenities include a hot tub, hiking trails, and our own small waterfall.
Rainbow Lake Resort - rustic elegance just south of Brevard, NC
Camping North Carolina - lots of good info on camping and attractions all over the NC mountains
Catawba Falls Campground - RV and tent camping on the Catawba River in Old Fort. Very close to the elusive Catawba Falls
All Smoky Mountain Vacations - your one-stop internet guide for log cabin or chalet rentals, wedding chapels, bed and breakfast inns, luxury resort lodges, corporate meeting retreats, real estate, events and information about Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend, Sevierville, Cosby and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Serendipity - A Mount Mitchell cabin rental
Cabin Fever - Secluded country cabins nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Saluda, NC
Smoky Mountain Mall - lots of good info on what to do and where to stay in the Smokies
Asheville Cozy Cabins - restored log cabins for rent in the Asheville area
Asheville Bed and Breakfasts - At Cumberland Falls: - The premier Asheville NC bed and breakfast. Pure luxury located 3 miles from the Biltmore House Estate in Western North Carolina. Jacuzzis, gardens, waterfalls, lavish gourmet breakfasts, fireplaces, massages, and the best luxury amenities. Romantic turn-of-the-century Victorian B and B in the historic district.
Biltmore Village Inn - A North Carolina Bed and Breakfast located in Historic Asheville North Carolina. Enjoy A North Carolina Vacation at the historic Biltmore Inn just a stones throw away from the Biltmore Estate!
Trout House Falls - A Secluded Cabin and Lodge… Private Waterfall and Wild Trout Stream …surrounded on two sides by 5,000 acre preserve… 12 miles from Brevard, NC
Asheville North Carolina Cabin Vacation Rentals - Luxurious antique cabin vacation rentals located in the mountains of Western North Carolina justJocassee Lodge - Private, new 4 bedroom waterfront home on Lake Jocassee for rent. Great views - 1/2 mile from Devil's Fork State Park.
The Waverly Inn - a Hendersonville Bed & Breakfast
HiddenVacation.com - really nice log cabin for rent in the Smokies near Franklin, NC
Bear Lake Reserve - Discover Bear Lake Reserve vacation homes in North Carolina. Luxury Lake Homes and Mountain Homes are now available. Beautiful Smoky Mountain Real Estate and Property.
Pine Mountain Resort - a year round resort next to South Mountain State Park
Big Branch Cabins - 2 bedroom cabins for rent in a secluded area south of Brevard, NC
Maplecrest at Lake Jocassee - 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house for rent less than a mile from Devil's Fork State Park in SC
Laurel Rock Cabin - 3 bedroom cabin for rent in Sapphire Valley near Cashiers
Luxury Asheville Cabin Rentals - 7 cabins on a private spring fed, stocked lake with hot tubs, fishing, trail rides.
Stay in North Carolina.com - VACATION RENTALS IN THE MOUNTAINS IN ALL OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA! Bed and Breakfasts, Cabins and Cottages, Conference/Meeting Centers and Campgrounds! Visit our web site for all your vacation needs! Accommodations for 2 to 100. Call us at 1-800-367-0152 or email us at info@StayInNorthCarolina.com
Brevard Mountain Rentals - an extensive listing of homes available for weekly, monthly, and longer term rental in western North Carolina
Brookside at Ivy Knob - Secluded Asheville area timber-frame, off-the-grid vacation rental bordering Pisgah National Forest, 3 BR, 3.5 BA
Foxfire Mountain Cabins - The highest elevation lodging in South Carolina! These rental cabins in Caesar's Head are across the road from the trailhead to Raven Cliff Falls in the beautiful Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area.
These next sites have info on hiking around the USA
National Parked - a new site with info, forums, and a place for users to upload their own photos of the different national parks in the USA
These next links have waterfall photos and info from North Carolina and other parts of the world. Some offer prints and other merchandise for sale.
TibArt Images - A special collection of nature photographs, digital art, audio, poetry, essays, and much more by North Carolina artists and photographers
Ron Anderson Photography - waterfall and outdoor photography
New England Waterfalls - new site about falls in the New England area
Waterfalls of North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains - excellent photos by Dan Heimsoth
some more great NC waterfalls photos - by David
Western North Carolina Waterfalls
Waterfalls of Northeastern United States
Waterfalls of Southern Ontario
Jon Maloney's Waterfall Picures - nice photos of NC, SC, GA, and KY waterfalls
Waterfallz of North Carolina - Vic's waterfalls page
Road not Taken - waterfall hiking and mountain biking adventures in Nova Scotia, Canada
Dan's Waterfalls - Dan Weemhoff's Webshot's waterfall gallery - he's got NC waterfalls I haven't been to yet
Waterfalls of the World - an extensive listing with links of waterfalls from around the world
carolinawaterfalls.com - North and South Carolina waterfalls by Larry Yeats
Greg Lief Photography - Pacific Northwest landscapes with beautiful waterfall images
NorthCarolinaPics.com - beautiful North Carolina images for sale
Next are sites with great photos, prints, or other Southern Appalachian artwork or crafts for sale. They don't necessarily have anything to do with waterfalls or NC, but ones I think you will enjoy.
Appalachian Designs - Extended line of custom designed rustic log furniture, accessories and art to beautify your log home, rustic home, western, mountain, Appalachian, country or log cabin home. Hand made, hand peeled and carved, hand hewn pine log furniture and stair railings. Appalachian Designs - since 1993. We create the sturdiest log furniture and stair railings and provide the best customer service. Lifetime guarantee. In-house designer.
- beautiful nature photos, note cards and poster prints
by photographer Scott Hobbs
Jessie's Garden of Wildflowers - photos of the wildflowers of the southern Appalachians
AmericanScapes - original framed photographic prints, greeting cards, and photo licensing
A S Hnatko Designs - fine art photography featuring waterfalls of the New York Fingerlakes Region
Love Fine Art - Paintings and wall art from California artists Paul and Susanne Renee Leasure