I, Colette, have always loved waterfalls and Looking Glass Falls, in Brevard, NC, is my favorite. I visited many other waterfalls in NC, GA, TN, and abroad, but still Looking Glass holds a special place in my heart! I have been visiting the area since I was a teen and even attended Brevard College for two years. We moved back to the area in 2022 and we live about 20 minutes away from the falls and still visit it often. It’s been great to see the falls as the seasons change and hike in the area.

Looking Glass is easily accessible! Visible from the road, this scenic and popular waterfall plunges 60 feet into the clear pool below. It’s located 9 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway on US 276 South in the Pisgah National Forest. It’s close to the Davidson River which has lots of places for a picnic by the river.

To view this waterfall, park on the same side of the road as the falls. There is a paved walkway that allows viewing from the street. For a closer look, take an easy, short walk to a viewing platform. To get to the water, wooden steps lead down to a series of large boulders. If you choose to go down to the water; remember rocks are slippery, and waterfalls are powerful. We have tried to capture Looking Glass Falls in all 4 seasons! It’s beautiful any time of year! During the summer some people, including our daughter, are brave enough to get in the water and grab a photo under the falls.

There is a lot to do in Brevard and Pisgah Forest and I will be writing more about that soon.

Mom’s Recommendation: You can easily spend a whole day in this area. I recommend trying to plan a trip here during the week and make time to visit both Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock – you kids will never forget a trip down Sliding Rock. Check the weather ahead of time, as this area gets a lot of afternoon thunderstorms.

Travel Tip: Looking Glass Falls is a popular spot and can get very busy at times, so please be patient and only park in designated areas. There’s also plenty of camping and other hiking trails in the area. Sliding Rock is nearby and a great place to take the kids in the summer. https://www.ncwaterfalls.com