Whiteoak Creek Falls

Last updated
Whiteoak Creek Falls
Whiteoak creek falls yancey county nc.jpg
Location Pisgah National Forest, Yancey County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina
Coordinates 35°49′37″N82°13′12″W / 35.82682°N 82.21987°W / 35.82682; -82.21987
Type Cascade, Slide
Total height 20 feet (6 m)

Whiteoak Creek Falls, is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina.

Contents

Geology

The falls is located on Whiteoak Creek, a tributary of the South Toe River, which itself is a tributary of the North Toe River.

Tributary stream or river that flows into a main stem river or lake

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater, leading the water out into an ocean.

South Toe River river in the United States of America

The South Toe River is a river in Mitchell, Yancey and McDowell counties in Western North Carolina. The name Toe is taken from its original name Estatoe, pronounced 'S - ta - toe', a native American name associated with the Estatoe trade route leading down from the NC mountains through Brevard where there is a historical plaque with information that affirms the route, on into South Carolina where a village of the same name was located.

North Toe River river in the United States of America

The North Toe River is a large stream in the North Carolina High Country. The name Toe is taken from its original name Estatoe, pronounced 'S - ta - toe', a native American name associated with the Estatoe trade route leading down from the North Carolina mountains through Brevard. There is a historical plaque in Brevard with information that affirms the route, which continues into South Carolina, where a village of the same name was located. Due to difficulty in pronouncing the name it was shortened over the years to Toe.

Height

There are multiple cascades, slides and drops. The largest single drop is probably only around 20' but taken as a whole the entire section probably covers 80'+

Visiting the Falls

From the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Hwy 80, drive north on Hwy 80. At 2.2 miles is the left hand turn to Roaring Fork and Setrock Creek Falls (South Toe River Rd). Continue past there on Hwy 80, drive just over 5 miles and turn left on White Oak Rd (SR1156). Drive another 1/2 mile or so and turn left on White Oak Creek Rd (SR1157). This road dead ends after another 1.5 miles. Park here and walk up the old logging road and look for some side paths down to the base.

As of July 19, 2009, during a recent windstorm, a large tree has fallen into the creek between the lower and upper cascades, meaning you can't see the upper portion from the lower portion of the falls.

Nearby Falls

Roaring Fork Falls (Yancey County) waterfall

Roaring Fork Falls, also called Roaring Creek Falls, is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina.

Setrock Creek Falls waterfall

Setrock Creek Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina.

Mitchell Falls waterfall

Mitchell Falls is a 25-foot (7.6 m) waterfall located in Yancey County, North Carolina on the slope of Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain chain and highest point in the eastern United States. The falls, the mountain and its related state park are named for Elisha Mitchell, a professor who, while confirming his measurements of the mountain, fell over a rocky ledge above the falls to his death on June 27, 1857.

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References

    Whiteoak Creek Falls on NCWaterfalls.com
    Online update to Kevin Adams NC Waterfalls book
    Photos from 5/2/2008