Glassmine Falls is an ephemeral waterfall in
, on Glassmine Branch, near
Barnardsville, NC. It is located below the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway, All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is the longest linear park in the U.S., runs for through 29 counties in Virginia and ...
around milepost 362.
Geology
When it flows, the falls slides down the rock face of Blackstock Knob Mountain down to the
North Fork Swannanoa River. The flow is not constant and can sometimes nearly dry up completely. It is most visible after heavy rains, which can be at any time during the year. A sign at the overlook for the falls claims that the falls is over 800 ft (247m) high, although the actual height is probably much less, possibly around 200 feet.
History
At the base of the falls is the old Abernathy Mine, a
mica
Micas ( ) are a group of silicate minerals whose outstanding physical characteristic is that individual mica crystals can easily be split into fragile elastic plates. This characteristic is described as ''perfect basal cleavage''. Mica is co ...
mine. The miners referred to the mineral they mined as "glass", which is how the falls got its name.
Visiting the falls
Access to the falls is restricted to a viewing platform at milemarker 361.2 on the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway, All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is the longest linear park in the U.S., runs for through 29 counties in Virginia and ...
. The falls is directly in the
City of Asheville's watershed, so direct access to the falls is strictly prohibited.
Nearby falls
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Walker Falls
Walker Falls is a 45-foot cascading waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Its ease of access makes it a popular destination for waterfall hunters. It is in a region of Buncombe County that has a large number of small waterfalls and sever ...
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Douglas Falls
Douglas Falls are a 60-foot waterfall located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is on a tributary of Waterfall Creek which flows into the Ivy River, and it is within the Big Ivy section of the Pisgah National Forest. The stream ...
*
Mitchell Falls
Mitchell Falls is a waterfall located in Yancey County, North Carolina on the slope of Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain chain and highest point in the eastern United States. The falls, the mountain and its relat ...
*
Setrock Creek Falls
Setrock Creek Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina.
Geology
The falls is located at the base of Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain in the United States east of the Mississippi River, on Setrock Creek, a small t ...
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Roaring Fork Falls
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Whiteoak Creek Falls
See also
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List of waterfalls
This list of notable waterfalls of the world is sorted by continent, then country, then province, state or territory. A waterfall is included if it is at least tall and has an existing Wikipedia article, or it is considered historically sig ...
*
List of waterfalls in North Carolina
The waterfalls of North Carolina, U.S., are a prominent feature of the geography of the Piedmont and mountain regions of the state, as well as a major focus of tourism and outdoor recreation. Many of these falls are located in state parks, nation ...
External links
North Carolina Waterfalls Waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Protected areas of Buncombe County, North Carolina
Waterfalls of North Carolina
Landforms of Buncombe County, North Carolina
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