Glassmine Falls, Cascading waterfall in Buncombe County, North Carolina
Glassmine Falls is a waterfall in Buncombe County that plunges down a rocky cliff face of Blackstock Knob Mountain into the North Fork Swannanoa River valley. The water drops in stages over rough stone surfaces, creating a cascading flow through the mountainous terrain.
The name comes from an old mica mine at the base where miners extracted a mineral they called glass. This mining activity took place during the economic development of the Appalachian region.
The waterfall forms part of the Blue Ridge Parkway system, which preserves natural and historical features across the Appalachian Mountains.
The waterfall can be viewed from an observation platform at mile marker 361.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Craggy Gardens. This accessible location lets visitors see the falls without strenuous hiking.
The falls display varying water volumes depending on recent rainfall, becoming a thin trickle during extended dry spells. Visitors hoping to see it at full force should time their visit after rain.
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