Bridal Veil Falls, Franklin/Highlands

Bridal  Veil Falls is a fun walk to the 120-foot waterfall, which is located  about 2.5 miles west of Highlands on Hwy 64. It is on a tributary of the  Cullasaja River. There is a little loop off the highway so you can  drive right under the falls, but will sneak up on you. If you miss it,  pull off after the waterfall in the wide area on the right and park or  circle back around.

Bull Pen Falls, Cashiers

Bull  Pen is as much rapid as waterfall. While not the most dramatic falls in  the area, this is a great place to hang out for a while and explore the  Chattooga River Trail. (Credit GoCashiers) However, white water  rafting, canoeing, and kayaking is prohibited in this section of the  Chattooga. The falls can be easily viewed at the bridge or you can take a  short trail just past the west side of the bridge to the top of the  cascade. At the bottom of the cascade, the powerful Chattooga has carved  deep swirl-holes in the rock. Over thousands of years, small pebbles  and grains of sand were swirled around by the water to create these  holes. Several hiking trails are in the area, including a new loop trail  that follows the river upstream. Plus, this is a popular spot for fly  fishing.

Quarry Falls, or, "Bust Your Butt Falls", Sapphire

A  popular swimming and sliding area along U.S. Highway 64 is "Bust Your  Butt Falls" (also known as Quarry Falls or Bust-Yer-Butt Falls). For  added excitement, there is a "jump off" rock for diving into the chilly  waters. It's six miles west of Highlands on U.S. 64 (about 3 miles from  Dry Falls). (Courtesy Romantic Asheville)

Cullasaja Falls, Franklin/Highlands

Big  falls at 250ft and considered to be one of the most picturesque falls in western North Carolina. This fall is the first seen from U.S. 64/28.  The falls are spectacular and this wavy strip of U.S. 64/28 is a paved marvel of highway. A real hang onto your hat kind of road but well worth  the drive. Directions: Located on U.S. 64/28 between Highlands and Franklin

Lower Cullasaja Falls

The lower portion of Cullasaja Falls is a cascade of water which flows about 250 ft down. It is located on the Cullasaja River at the lower  part of the Cullasaja Gorge. It is part of the Mountain Water Scenic  Byway. Cullasaja Falls is only visible from your car; there is no  adequate pull-off from the road. Directions: Cullasaja is located off  U.S. 64, 11 miles east of Franklin, 9 miles west of Highlands in the  Cullasaja Gorge.

Drift Falls, Cashiers

This  waterfall is somewhere around 80 feet long. It doesn't drop straight  down like a traditional waterfall, but instead slides at close to a  45-degree grade. This waterfall can be used as a water slide by the  brave and hard-headed. From Cashiers follow US-64 10 miles east to  Sapphire. Turn right on the 'Whitewater' Road and then south about 3  miles to the Horsepasture River.

Dry Falls, Highlands

Dry  Falls is in the Nantahala National Forest. You can see it from the road  and no, it's not dry! There is an old log shelter at the trail-head. A  lot of water pours over this wide waterfall. There is a well maintained  path that leads a short distance down from the parking area. The path  doesn't end at the falls but travels under the falls. It's a breath  taking experience to stand under the falls and watch millions of gallons  of clear mountain water pour over your head and before your eyes at a  height of 75 ft. Directions: On U.S. 64/28 four miles from Highlands.

Glen Falls, Highlands

Glen  Falls is a must see. This is a favorite and probably one of the most  beautiful waterfall setting in the Highlands area! It's a great hike and  I always like to take a back pack with sandwiches and snacks! Glen  Falls is on the east fork of Overflow Creek in the scenic Blue Valley  area in Nantahala National Forest. The hike is down hill from the  parking lot, so it's quite a climb

to  return. There are quite a few switchbacks, so the climb is not too  steep. As you descend, you will reach a beautiful view from the top of  Glen Falls .Continue down hill to the upper section of the waterfall,  dropping about 70 feet. There is plenty of room to rest and relax on the  rocks at the base of the falls and maybe have a picnic. Continue about  1/3 mile to the middle section of the falls that drop 60 feet, with  water stair-stepping down a wide rock face.

Frolictown Falls, Panthertown Cashiers

Frolictown  Falls is a small but nice waterfall in Panthertown Valley. Hiking in  this area, you really get the feel of being in the woods. There are no  panoramas from this thickly vegetated valley floor. Be sure to get a map  of Panthertown Valley or find someone to lead you, as the trails can be tricky.

Lookingglass Falls, Pisgah Forest

A  beautiful waterfall along an incredible forest drive in Pisgah. This is  an easy waterfall to get to without any hiking needed. Just pull over  along the street (plenty of easy parking) and walk up to the huge  mountain face that bears a cascading waterfall, Lookingglass.

The Narrows, Sapphire

The beautiful Narrows waterfall is located on the Horsepasture River in Sapphire Valley.

Enjoy the scenic trails that lead you to different sections of the river!

Rainbow Falls, Sapphire

Rainbow  Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfall settings in the Blue  Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This 150-foot tall waterfall is  impressive, especially after rainy weather that swells the Horsepasture  River, its source. The best feature of Rainbow Falls is the ability for  visitors to experience the falls from the front, bottom, side, and top!  (courtesy Romantic Asheville)

Schoolhouse Falls, Panthertown Cashiers

Among  the many hikes and waterfalls in Panthertown, Schoolhouse Falls is one  of our favorites. This moderately easy hike takes you to a beautiful  waterfall cascading into a swimming cove. This is a great spot to bring a  picnic and relax in the sun.

Silver Run Falls, Cashiers

Just moments from Sapphire, a few miles South on 107. A short and enjoyable  hike, where you even get to cross a tree fallen across the creek. Very easy walk with a picturesque finale.

Sliding Rock Falls, Pisgah Forest

Sliding  Rock is a natural water slide, created by the Chattooga River gliding  over a 10-foot high rock face with a few large potholes. It's a popular  local spot during the summer because the water is quite cool. You can  slide down the rock, cannonball into one of the potholes or just wade in  the pool below the rock.

Turtleback Falls, Sapphire

These  falls offer a 20-foot drop over a curved rock face into a pool that can  have strong currents. At lower water levels, it's a popular spot to go  sliding and swimming. You should be a good swimmer, since there are no  lifeguards. The rocks and currents can make it dangerous if  inexperienced. Do not attempt to slide when water is high, since the  rushing water can take you down river over Rainbow Falls (150 ft drop so  do not get too close!). There are several great vantage points to enjoy  the falls - and the people sliding. (courtesy Romantic Asheville)

Whiteside Mountain, Highlands

A landmark in the Nantahala National Forest, the Whiteside hike rises to  an elevation of 4,930 feet, located between Cashiers and Highlands. A  loop trail takes you on top of sheer 750-foot high cliffs with  incredible views (from the safety of railings of course). This hike is a  favorite of ours.

Whitewater Falls, Cashiers

These falls are awesome! This is the highest set of falls east of the Rocky  Mountains having a total drop of almost 700 feet. Upper Whitewater Falls  plunge an amazing 411 feet! South Carolina's Lower Whitewater Falls  drops another 400 feet. In the cool, moist shade of steep slopes and  rock cliffs, wildflowers and salamanders are plentiful. Also enjoy the  beauty of berries and blooms throughout the seasons.

Local Restaurants

Cork and Barrel

An Americanized sports tapas bar, connected to Table 64. Great for a light dinner.

3093 Highway 64 East, Sapphire Valley

828-743-7889

Slopeside Tavern

A great place for lunch and dinner right in the thick of the Sapphire Valley Resort. Full bar. Great for lunch and dinner right off the ski slope.

217 Sapphire Valley Rd., Sapphire, NC.  

828-743-8655

Chili Loco

The best, most authentic Mexican in town. Great for lunch and dinner.

45 Slab Town Rd., Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-1160

Crossroads Custard & Cold Brew

Really good coffee, ice cream, and breakfast

45 Slab Town Rd. A6, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-2888

Mica's Restaurant & Pub

Restaurant and sports pub right in the thick of Sapphire Valley Resort. Full bar.  Great dinner spot and very centralized. When Sapphire was a "dry town",  Mica's was the only place that served alcohol!

25 Logan Creek Trail, Sapphire, NC. 28774

828-743-5740

Osteria del monte Ristorante

Very good, but seasonal - in Tampa, FL. during the winter

19131 Rosman Highway, Sapphire, NC. 28774

828-883-2551

The Library Kitchen & Bar

All organic, delicious food. A little more expensive. Dinner only.

184 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire, NC. 28774

828-743-5512

Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company

Casual dining connected to the Sapphire Valley Golf Course with a full bar.

50 Slicers Drive, Sapphire Valley

828-743-0220

Canyon Kitchen @ Lonesome Valley

Fine dining with exceptional food and a backdrop of mountains that is second to none

Sapphire, NC. 28747

Casa Amigos Bar & Grill

Newly opened and very good, nice ambience too!

3638 U.S. Highway 64, Sapphire, NC. 28747

828-743-9997

Slab Town Pizza

Hand-tossed, New York-style. Our favorite pizza in town! Also serving calzones and subs.

45 Slab Town Rd. D-1, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-0020

Hotel Cashiers Kitchen & Bar

Very nice atmosphere. A little pricey, but worth it.

45 Slab Town Rd., Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-1160
 

Whiteside Brewing Company

Great sandwiches, salads, and entrees. Perfect lunch spot with a full bar.

128 NC-107, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-6000

Elevated Kitchen @ Whiteside Brewing Company

Food truck with delicious eats

128 NC-107, Cashiers, NC. 28717

Buck's Coffee

Great coffee spot right in the center of Cashiers with excellent breakfast sandwiches.

6 Highway 107, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-9997

Subway

For those that miss the city life, we have the fast food chain that managed to blend into its surroundings!

Highway 64 East, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-1300

Carolina Smokehouse BBQ

Our favorite BBQ spot in town! Get the pulled pork.

Highway 64 West, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-3200

Cornucopia

Casual dining in Cashiers for lunch & dinner with a joining cheese shop. Great for dinner. Brunch on Sundays!

16 Cashiers School Rd., Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-3750

On the Side BBQ

Great take-out BBQ within the Cashiers Farmers Market. Use the walk-up window and sit at the umbrella tables with some of the best pulled pork and Cuban sandwiches in town.

78 U.S. Highway 64 East, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-4334

Village Pantry

Homemade delicious food for eat-in or take-out

32 Village Walk Way, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-9997

The Orchard Restaurant, Events Barn & Guest Cottage

Fine dining featuring fish, steaks, and chicken. Reservations suggested. Dinner only.

905 Highway 107 S, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-7614

Zookeeper Bistro

Another good option for breakfast!

45 Slab Town Road, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-7711

Las Margaritas

Good food!

127 U.S. Highway 64, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-745-6900

Ingles

Believe it or not, our grocery store has a good breakfast you can take to-go!

U.S. Highway 64 East, Cashiers

828-743-3801

El Manzanillo Mexican Restaurant

In the Ingles shopping center. Always good and fast.

64 Cashiers Shopping Center, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-5522

Ugly Dog Pub

Great lunch and dinner spot with full bar and good music

25 Frank Allen Road, Cashiers, NC. 28717

828-743-3000

Happ's Place Restaurant & Bar

A family favorite of ours. Great food, drinks, and music.

5914 SR 107, Glenville, NC.

828-743-5700

The Local

Great food, not expensive, fabulous Cuban fare too. A great dive bar.

Glenville, NC. 28717

Panthertown Cafe

Drop in for a quick breakfast or lunch

16614 Rosman Hwy, Lake Toxaway, NC. 28747

828-862-3663

Grand Olde Station Restaurant

Great food and service, right across from the lake.

502 Blue Ridge Rd. Lake Toxaway, NC. 28747

828-966-4242
 

The Greystone Inn

Country club fine dining

220 Greystone Lane, Lake Toxaway, NC. 28747

828-743-9997

Los Vaqueros

Great and affordable Mexican cuisine

69 Toxaway Falls Dr. Lake Toxaway, NC. 28747
 

Villa Amato

Good pizza place

15887 Rosman Hwy, Lake Toxaway, NC. 28747

828-885-7700

Boating

Lake  Glenville is just a few miles north of Cashiers along NC Highway 107.  With 26 miles of shoreline, Lake Glenville is the highest in elevation  east of the Mississippi (mean sea level is 3,500 feet). It's a great  place for fishing and boating, as well as tubing and skiing. Find a  beach across from the High Falls trailhead. Boat rentals on Lake  Glenville are either at Lakeshore Marina or Signal Ridge Marina, and  their contact info is as follows:

Signal Ridge Marina

4769 NC-107, Glenville, NC 28736

828-743-2143

Water Sports

If  you're looking for kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boating, stand-up  paddle-boarding, or sailing, Lake Fairfield is a gorgeous secluded lake  in Sapphire where no motorized boats are permitted in order to keep the  tranquil feel of the area. With your amenities while staying in our  home, you have access to these services. 
Their contact info is as  follows:
828-743-1182

Fishing

Two  official National Wild and Scenic Rivers: the Horsepasture and  Chattooga on the Fly Fishing Trail. Otherwise, you can fish anywhere  around Cashiers and Sapphire!

Golf

There  are so many golf courses in the Cashiers area, many of them private.  For public courses, we recommend Red Bird Golf in Sapphire Valley, or  High Hampton in Cashiers.

Train Excursions

Nothing  but the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad! Take a steam engine train on a  tour of the North Carolina Mountains for an afternoon and experience  beautiful views of our surrounding areas. Their contact info is as  follows:

www.gsmr.com
800-872-4681

The Crossroads

This is the center of town in Cashiers, which holds a lot of the Cashiers shops. If you're up for browsing, just go to the cross section of N.C. Highway 107 and U.S. Highway 64,  and enjoy! You can find Zoller Hardware and Kitchen, antique shops,  consignment shops, Highland Hiker for sporting goods, plant nurseries,  and various restaurants. You can spend an afternoon exploring and  enjoying these shops and also take a walk in our 12-acre park, Village  Green.

Ingles Shopping Center

Ingles  is our local grocery store for everything you might need! Other than  Ingles, in that shopping center you also have Dollar General, a beauty  salon, and other miscellaneous shops. Located at U.S. Highway 64 East.

Downtown Highlands

Take  a short trip to the center of Highlands, another picturesque mountain  town, for great shopping and restaurant life. To see a list of shops and  their addresses, visit their website. Most of these shops can be found on Main Street in Highlands.

Downtown Brevard

This  town is just 30 minutes down the mountains where you can find more  interesting shops and delicious eats (we recommend Mayberry's for lunch  and Square Root for dinner!). Most of these shops can be found on Main  Street.

Downtown Asheville

For  a more modern flair with a feel for city life, head an hour over to  Asheville! This city, which has our closest airport, contains an  incredible amount of shopping and is also a great "foodie" destination!

Downtown Sylva

For  a true small town experience with beautiful sights, visit Sylva! Home  of the filming site of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, you  can visit the filming locations just walking down Main Street, which is  also the home to old government buildings and several cool shops and  restaurants.h our extensive database of rental properties to find the perfect one for you. Filter by location, price, and amenities to narrow down your options.

Groovin' on the Green

Live bands play on evenings in the Crossroads Area of Cashiers, NC. Very casual and a lot of fun for the whole family. *Mostly a summer or springtime endeavor.*

Mountain Theatre Company

If you'd like to see some of the local theatre talent, Mountain Theatre Company in Highlands, NC. (just a 20-30 minute drive). Check out their current season and check for tickets here!

Sapphire Concert Series

A family-friendly concert series right in the heart of Sapphire Valley! Featuring both local and national talents, concerts continue throughout the summer and early fall! Check the schedule here!

Highlands Art Show

For nearly 20 years, people have flocked to Highlands to visit artisans of all mediums to admire and shop pieces of art from paintings, to pottery, to vases in the shape of your dog's face! There's sure to be something for everyone at this outdoor wonderland. Check the schedule here!

Highlands Saturday Concerts

More summer outdoor concerts with a day by day schedule which can be viewed here!

Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival

For obvious reasons, this festival occurs only during the autumn. It's an outdoor arts show perched among the changing leaves of the Western North Carolina mountains. It's a free event that welcomes over 100 artists to share their work for purchase. There's also food, drink, and live music! Check dates here.

Sapphire Arts & Crafts

Another great arts festival in the heart of Sapphire Valley! A great family-friendly outdoor event with a "Bark Park" for the pups adjacent to the vendor tents. A great event to keep children entertained with corn hole, buckets of bubbles, and kerplunk! Check the dates here.

Mark Wise Lake Tours

With over 40 years of boating experience, the amazing Mark Wise will give you a guided tour of some of the sweet spots of our corner of the world. At 28 feet long, Mark's luxury pontoon yacht on Lake Glenville could be the perfect way to relax, get to know Lake Glenville, and of course, feast your eyes with gorgeous waterfalls! Check reservations here.

July 4th & Other Festivities

There are countless Independence Day celebrations in our area. Please check our local websites for the most up to date information. Feel free to use these individual calendar for events taking place throughout the year!

Highlands Shopping

Highlands has some of the BEST shopping in our corner of the world! Visit the Highlands Chamber website to learn more!