Slick Rock Falls is a waterfall

Waterfall

A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...

 in Western North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, located near Brevard

Brevard, North Carolina

Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County....

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Geology

Slick Rock Falls flows on Slick Rock Creek over an overhanging bluff. The falls occasionally dries to a near-trickle, depending on the available watershed.

Natural history

The falls is named for the slick rocks at the top and bottom of the falls. Before becoming a part of the Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...

, a cattle

Cattle

Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...

 trail crossed Slick Rock Creek near the top of the falls, and occasionally, a stray animal would be carried over the falls.

Visiting the Falls

The falls are open to the public and are accessible by traveling on U.S. Highway 276

U.S. Route 276

U.S. Route 276 is an United States highway that runs for from Mauldin, South Carolina to Cove Creek, North Carolina. It is known both as a busy urban highway in Greenville, South Carolina and a scenic back-road in Western North Carolina.-Route description:...

, approximately 5.2 miles north of the intersection of 276, U.S. Highway 64

U.S. Route 64

U.S. Route 64 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles from eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 160 in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. The highway's eastern terminus is at NC 12 and U.S. Route...

, and NC Highway 280

North Carolina Highway 280

North Carolina Highway 280 is a state highway in western North Carolina that runs from the town of Fletcher in Henderson County to the city of Brevard in Transylvania County. It is approximately in length, starting at the intersection of U.S. Route 64/U.S. Route 276/NC Hwy 280 north of Brevard, to...

 in Brevard, North Carolina

Brevard, North Carolina

Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County....

. Turn left onto Forest Road 475 and go 1.5 miles, and turn right onto Forest Road 475B. Go north 1.1 miles. You will come to a sharp left-hand curve with a small pullout on the outside of the curve. Park here and follow the trail for 55 yards, taking the right fork to the base of the falls in approximately 45 yards.

Nearby Falls

Approximately .5 miles (.9 km) north of Slick Rock Falls on Forest Road 475B is Rockhouse Creek Falls. It is almost impossible to view the falls anytime other than winter, due to a thick forest of rhododendron

Rhododendron

Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...

, mountain laurel, and dog hobble. There is no trail of any kind to the falls, and exploring this area is extremely hazardous.

• Rockhouse Creek Falls
• Looking Glass Falls
  Looking Glass Falls
  Looking Glass Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard.-Natural history:The name comes from Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a wintertime mirror of sunlight, as water freezes on its sides and reflects the sun.-Geology:The waterway is Looking Glass Creek, which flows...
  
  
• Moore Cove Falls
  Moore Cove Falls
  Moore Cove Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard.-Natural history:The name comes from Moore Cove, and was named for Adam Q. Moore, who purchased the property. In 1891, the property was sold to George W. Vanderbilt for $155 to become part of the Pisgah National...
  
  
• Sliding Rock
  Sliding Rock
  Sliding Rock is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard, so named because visitors can slide all the way down the waterfall into the plunge pool below.-Geology:...
  
  
• Cedar Rock Falls
  Cedar Rock Falls (Grogan Creek)
  Cedar Rock Falls is a waterfall in Transylvania County, North Carolina.-Geology:Cedar Rock Falls is a 20' waterfall located on Cedar Rock Creek, near the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Fish Hatchery in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. It is located downstream of the junction of...
  
  
• Cove Creek Falls
• Daniel Ridge Falls
• Twin Falls
• Log Hollow Falls
  Log Hollow Falls
  Also known as the Falls in Log Hollow, or simply the Waterfall on Log Hollow Branch, Log Hollow Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County, North Carolina. It's a steep cascade with a couple of sections of free falling water. Visitors can drive to within 1/2 miles of...
  
  
• Falls on Log Hollow Branch
• Key Falls
  Key Falls
  Key Falls, on is a 50 ft waterfall located near Brevard, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.- Geology :Key Falls is a waterfall with a very small watershed located on an unnamed tributary of the French Broad River...
  
  

External links

• North Carolina Waterfalls - Moore Cove Falls