One of the most popular scenic areas in Brevard's Pisgah National Forest is Looking Glass Falls. To some, this picturesque North Carolina waterfall rates a 10 on the pageant scale and is often cited as one of the most photographed waterfalls in the east, right after Niagara Falls. Near the midpoint of the Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway, Looking Glass Creek drops 60 feet right alongside U.S. Route 276. Ample parking, kid friendly and wheelchair accessible, this overlook provides splendid views of the falls. Stone stairs lead down to the creek and this collection of wading shoes and sandals indicate that despite the cold water, folks will swim and wade in the plunge pool beneath the falls.
   The creek and waterfall name comes from nearby Looking Glass Rock, a massive pluton dome. Sometimes seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 417, the granite monolith, when wet or slick with frozen ice, appears as a polished looking-glass.
   Once part of the George Vanderbilt estate, a lush Pisgah Forest, the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, and humbling mountain views make this area along U.S. Route 276 a sightseer’s wonder. Easy access, a roadside overlook and concrete steps down to the creek make this waterfall stop as easy as a walk in the park.

   As with any waterfall site, wet rocks and slippery stairs pose slipping hazards. When young children are eager to be the first to explore the falls area, parental guidance is necessary.

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