Lower Cascades (Hanging Rock)
Lower Cascades is a waterfall in North Central North Carolina, located in Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County.
| Lower Cascades | |
|---|---|
 Lower Cascades, September 2005 | |
| Location | Hanging Rock State Park, Stokes County, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 36.414907°N 80.268480°W |
| Type | Cascade |
| Total height | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
History
The falls was first seen by Europeans when German naturalist Lewis David von Schweinitz discovered it, and was originally named Schweinitz Falls (or Cascades).[1]
Geology
The waterway is Cascades Creek, which flows through Hanging Rock State Park. The falls has an overhanging bluff and a large plunge pool at the base.
Visiting the Falls
The falls are open to the public and are accessible beginning at a parking area on the side of Hall Road. Visitors may take a moderate-difficulty 0.3-mile (.5 km) trail to the falls. The trail used to be extremely difficult at the end with a dangerous cliff scramble, but has been made much easier by the addition of a set of stairs to the plunge pool.
Nearby Falls
Hanging Rock State Park hosts 4 other waterfalls: