Upper Whitewater Falls, plunging 411 feet, is reported to be the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. There’s also a Lower Whitewater Fall in South Carolina that drops 400 feet.
This waterfall is easy to get to but hard to get close to. It can be found off Highway 281, southeast of Cashiers, NC, in the Nantahala National Forest (map). There’s a parking area and then an easy 1/4 mile walk to the upper viewing area. There’s also a stairway that leads to a lower and smaller viewing area.
The first photo was our initial view of the falls from the upper viewing area. As you can see there were still some spectacular remaining autumn foliage colors.
The second photo gives a better view of the details of the falls–be sure and click on it for a larger image.
Almost no post-processing was needed for these two photos.
Oh…and happy Friday the 13th! 
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Both offer fine views of this very tall falls. I like the remaining autumn looking trees. The larger view does give the viewer much more detail. I’d like to visit there one day!
I really like the second shot here. The earth tones and detail that frame the falls is beautiful.
Can’t beat a waterfall and fall foliage. Either one is special. The combo is dynamite. If we had waterfalls nearby, this truly would be paradise.
@don – Even from a distance it an amazing and beautiful view. It appears someone is doing helicopter tours of the falls, as one flew low over the area while I was there. If you ever find yourself in the area be sure and let me know and we’ll meet up somewhere.
@Mark – Thanks, I liked the second photo best as well but I felt the first photo gave more overall context of the falls surrounding environment. Together they seemed to give more of the bigger picture.
@Anita Jesse – In this case I was lucky to have both waterfall and foliage at the same spot, but I’ll take luck any day. One of my biggest surprises on this trip was how bright some of the foliage still was. I had expected mostly browns.
It’s funny how the human mind works. I will often look at some of your wonderful shots and think…wow, now if I only had that landscape near my home–it’s alway greener on that other side I guess.