Nantahala National Forest

A series of spectacular waterfalls are concentrated in the southeastern section of the forest. At Dry Falls, you can walk behind a 75-foot waterfall without getting wet. Whitewater Falls, at 411 feet, is the highest falls east of the Rockies. Other waterfalls worth beholding include Bridal Veil Falls, Cullasaja Falls, Glen Falls, and Silver Falls. Within this ring of waterfalls, Whiteside Mountain rises 4,930 feet into the air—sheer rock cliffs with heights of 450-700 feet distinguish this among the eastern giants. The mountain boasts an impressive 2,100-foot vertical drop from its summit to the valley floor.

The Cherokee Indian Reservation is located near the northern boundary of the forest. Also just north, you'll find the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with its impressive Clingman's Dome—at a cloud-splitting summit of 6,643 feet, it is the second highest east of the Mississippi. Adjacent national forests include Pigsah, Cherokee, Chattahoochee, and Sumter.