Whiteoak Falls (Upper)

You start at the Whiteoak Canyon parking area near Skyland and immediately begin a descent through a thick hardwood canopy — which means the return trip is where this hike collects its toll. The trail drops steadily along a rocky, root-laced path that follows Whiteoak Run downstream, crossing a few small feeder streams before the forest opens up and you hear the falls before you see them. Upper Whiteoak Falls drops roughly 86 feet over a moss-slicked rock face into a shallow pool, and the viewing area at the base lets you feel the mist on your skin. The trail surface is uneven throughout, with exposed rock slabs that get slippery when wet. That return climb — over a thousand feet of elevation gain packed into just over two miles — will remind your legs that 'moderate' is doing some generous work. Waterfall chasers and hikers who like earning their views will love this one.