Turtleback Falls, also called Umbrella 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....

. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River

Horsepasture River

The Horsepasture River is an National Wild and Scenic river in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river rises in Jackson County, North Carolina, and flows through the Jocassee Gorges area and ends at Lake Jocassee in South Carolina...

. It is on 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...

 land just outside Gorges State Park

Gorges State Park

Gorges State Park is a North Carolina state park in Transylvania County, North Carolina in the United States. The land, along Jocassee Gorges, was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation in 1999. It is North Carolina's westernmost state park and one of the state's newest. The park is...

.

Geology

The falls has a large, deep pool at the bottom commonly known as the "Chug Hole". The river flows over a large, sloping slab of rock before curving steeper and finally dropping into the pool. The appearance of the rock, similar to a turtle's shell, gives the falls its name.

Visiting the Falls

The falls is accessible by a short hike starting in Gorges State Park & passing through Pisgah National Forest property. From NC 281

North Carolina Highway 281

North Carolina Highway 281 is a primary state highway in the state of North Carolina. The highway runs north–south, connecting communities in western Jackson County and scenic areas of southwest Transylvania County...

, drive 1.6 miles (2.6 km) to a parking area & follow the trail-head at the corner of the lot.

Follow the orange blazes along the gravel path for approximately 20 minutes until you pass into the Pisgah National Forest. From there, follow the dirt trail for 15 minutes through a primitive campsite to Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is the name of several waterfalls:New Zealand:* Rainbow Falls , at Kerikeri* Aniwaniwa Falls near Lake WaikaremoanaCanada:*Rainbow Falls, British ColumbiaUnited States:...

 & take the right fork for a 5 minute hike up to the falls.

Turtleback Falls is a popular place for swimming and people frequently slide over the falls into the Chug Hole during low water; however, the currents can be dangerous in higher flows and people have drowned at Turtleback, or have been swept downriver and over 125' Rainbow Falls. There have been many people killed this way. The latest death was a 28 year old woman in June 2010.

Nearby Falls

• Little Falls - located on private property upstream from Drift Falls
• Narrows Falls - located in a gated community upstream from Drift Falls
• Rock House Falls - 55-ft falls located on private property on Burlingame Creek, a tributary of the Horsepasture River
• Rainbow Falls
  Rainbow Falls (Horsepasture River)
  Rainbow Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River. It is on Pisgah National Forest land just outside Gorges State Park.-History:...
  
  
• Drift Falls
  Drift Falls
  Drift Falls, also known as Bust-Yer-Butt Falls and Driftwood Falls, is a waterfall located in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, North Carolina.-History:Drift Falls flows on the Horsepasture River in the Jocassee Gorge. The falls is an 80-ft...
  
  
• Stairway Falls
• Sidepocket Falls
• Windy Falls