Black Dome’s Asheville Outdoors Guide

Sliding Rock is not a waterfall so much as a waterslide, and that’s why kids love it. They’ll never forget the 60-foot slide into a deep pool of cool mountain water. It’s a harmless ride, though their bottoms may be a little sore the next day.
Something this fun can’t be kept secret, however. The waterfall sits right next to a parking lot, and there’s even a guardrail on the path to the top. Expect large crowds just about any day in the summer, or whenever the weather is nice.
Admission costs $1 per person from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. The fee provides a lifeguard on duty and open changing rooms, but only during the peak season.

Directions:

From Asheville, take the Blue Ridge Parkway to U.S. Highway 276, just past milemarker 411. Take a left on the parkway and head south for 7 miles. Turn right into the Sliding Rock Recreation Area.

Like a large, white curtain, this waterfall measures 30-feet wide by 60-feet tall. A cool, misty canyon with some swimming holes beckons visitors down the short trail to the bottom. The falls can be seen from the road, so traffic often backs up in the area and parking can be difficult.

The name “Looking Glass” comes from the nearby Looking Glass Rock, one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the area. Water draining off the face of Looking Glass Rock often freezes in the winter, then sparkles in the evening sun.

There’s a great hike to the top of Looking Glass Rock.

Directions:

From Asheville, take the Blue Ridge Parkway to U.S. Highway 276, just past milemarker 411. Take a left on the parkway and head south for 9 miles. Look for parking off the side of the road.