Outdoors
Check out these guided outdoor activities or scroll down for waterfalls & swimming!
Brookings' Anglers
Highlands & Cashiers- Â 828.743.3768
Brookings is a fly fishing outfitter that has become a destination for anglers to experience what WNC fly fishing is all about. Shop for gear at one of their locations or book a guide fly-fishing trip!
Headwaters Outfitters
Rosman, NC- 828.877.3106
Headwaters Outfitters provides outdoor family fun centered on activities and preservation of the French Broad River. They offer canoeing, kayaking and tubing trips along the river and fly fishing expeditions.
Highlands Excursions
Highlands, NC -Â 864.373.4022
Offering cruise tours, guided treks, and waterfall visits or a combination of excursions. Cruise lesser traveled roads and learn local history, see spectacular views and waterfalls or go off-roading and enjoy guided hikes to popular destinations.
Highlands Aerial Park
Scaly Mountain, NC- 828.266.0449
Take the time to enjoy all our beautiful scenery from a unique perspective as you zip. Experienced guides take you on a fantastic journey across 17 elements, including 8 zip lines. Family friendly!
Lakeshore Marina
Lake Glenville- 828.743.9998
Located on the beautiful Lake Glenville, Lakeshore Marina offers pontoon, paddle board, canoe, kayak, tube and knee board rentals. You can also take a three hour private tour where you will be guided around the 26 mile shoreline of Lake Glenville.
Sapphire, NC- 828.966.9646
Become one with nature as you make your way on horseback through a variety of private trails. Experience a bit of history on both Native American trails and historic logging roads. Also offering gem mining.
Waterfalls & Swimming
Always follow trail signs and read signage around water. Have fun and stay safe!
Glen Falls
Highlands Waterfall
From Roostica, head towards Main Street Highlands. Take a right at the first light onto NC 106 and follow about 1.7 miles to the sign for the falls. Turn left, then immediately right onto a dirt road. Drive 1.1 miles to where the road dead-ends at a parking area. Glen Falls is composed of three falls dropping 640 feet. The foot trail descends some 700 feet in one mile. The walk down is easy, but the walk back up is fairly steep.
"Bust Your Butt" Falls
Highlands Waterfall & Swimming
From Roostica, take a right onto US 64 West and drive about 5 miles to a large pull over on the right with a sign. This is a popular swimming hole. For the brave, one can jump off a boulder into the Cullasaja River.
Silver Run Falls
Cashiers Waterfall & Swimming
Enjoy this 25-foot waterfall and popular swimming hole in the Nantahala National Forest. From Roostica, head towards Main Street. Take a left at the second stop light onto US 64. Continue to the Cashiers crossroads and take a left onto NC Hwy 107 South and follow for 4.1 miles. Park in the designated gravel pull-off on the left and take a short walk into the woods to view the falls.
Sliding Rock
Cashiers NC Waterfall & Swimming
From Roostica, head towards Main Street. Take a left at the second stop light onto US 64. Continue to the Cashiers crossroads and take a left onto NC Hwy 107 South and follow for 1.8 miles. Turn right on Whiteside Cove Road. Continue for 2.8 miles. After crossing the bridge, pull off onto dirt on right. Follow trail to right for 100 yards to Cashiers Sliding Rock. Swimming holes are above and below the waterfall.
Secret Falls
Highlands Waterfall & Swimming
Secret Falls (also known as Big Shoals Falls) is a gorgeous 50-ft. waterfall on Big Creek close to the GA/NC line. From Roostica, head towards Main Street and follow straight through town. Follow down the ridge on a very curvy paved road for 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Walking Stick Rd (SR1608), an unpaved one-lane road. Drive 2.5 miles to a fork in the road and veer right, crossing a bridge. Go another quarter of a mile and turn right on FR4567 (sign is hidden in trees). Drive another quarter of a mile to a small, dirt parking area on the left. Look for the stake that says "Secret Falls." Sometimes (especially winter), this last road is gated. But, you can park and walk the extra quarter-mile.
Highlands Lake & Hiking Trails
Offers seven hiking trails, a six-acre lake and two spectacular waterfalls make Cliffside Lake Recreation Area and Van Hook Campground a mecca for those who enjoy the outdoors. From Roostica, turn right onto US 64. Follow for about 2.6 miles and turn right at the signage. Day use is $4 per car or $16 for season pass.