North Carolina Waterfalls: A Hiking and Photography Guide

• #50 in Best Photography Books

19 Reviews

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This is the updated version of the 1994 book - and at its release - it's extremely accurate of trail conditions (just used it). This is the bible for NC waterfalls in my opinion. The chapters are laid out nicely according to region and there are enough details to always set you right direction to each falls.

If you are a photographer, this book is even more enjoyable. Kevin has laid out how to approach many of the shots, what conditions are right, what to expect, and so forth. This makes visiting the falls exciting, but photographing them even more so. He offers quite a few tips and tricks, but does not go overboard with photography advice (aimed primarily for the serious amateur or pro).

If you are visiting NC - this is a must have. After reading it, I'd buy it even if I wasn't visiting. It has a lot of history of each falls and also of the local regions, so as a geography book, it's a great read.

This book (and previous) version made us go out of our way on two vacations to spend extra days in western NC. We're probably going to plan dedicated trips to this area now - we like it so much.

Also - Kevin's website suppliments the book VERY nicely to include updates and changes.

This is never a boring book and is an enjoyable read even when you're not exploring!

I visited the mountains last week (Mid May) and with the help of this book I was able to find some really beautiful waterfalls. I never would have known they were there if not for the book. The directions were clear and easy to following, and the information on where to park was extrememly helpful. The best part about it was the fact that we had every waterfall to ourselves. I would highly recommened this book to anyone who enjoys unspoiled waterfalls.

Any outdoors-oriented traveler planning a journey to North Carolina will find North Carolina's Waterfalls: A Hiking And Photography Guide packed with details on how to visit the area. Many of the state's best waterfalls receive little tourist attention: North Carolina Waterfalls remedies the lack of information, offering 'beauty ratings', accessibility details, maps, directions, and more. A lovely, comprehensive guide for destination-oriented outdoors adventurers.

This is a fantastic book! In addition to an enormous amount of information on when, where and how to find over 600 waterfalls throughout North Carolina, Mr. Adams writes in a manner that is as entertaining as it is informative. His love and respect for the natural world is evident, as is his desire for others to experience it without ruining it for others or endangering themselves along the way. As a budding photographer, the section of waterfall photography was particularly interesting and useful.

This book is a must if you are making a trip to any North Carolina Waterfall. It gives very detailed information on how to navigate your way and how to photograph these wonderful images of nature. I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Adams at one of his signings and was able to witness his passion for the outdoors in person. Great resource for everything that is NC Waterfalls.

Buy this and forget all other waterfall and hiking books for WNC.
This is the only book you'll need to find the best waterfalls in Western NC. Adams rates each of the waterfalls for beauty, ease to photograph and trail accessiblity. I carry it in my car. Adams has never lead me astray with directions or lead me to a waterfall I didn't think was worth seeing.

I am an amatuer nature photographer so I am always on the look-out for books to know where to go to shoot. This book may be the best photography guide I have ever had. He tells you where the waterfalls are, and how to photograph them. Best of all he has the guts to rate the quality of each waterfall on a scale of 1 to 10. There are so many waterfalls that I can't visit them all. With this book I can go only to the highly rated ones and know they will be knock-outs. When I get there he will help me to know how to shoot it. This is a great book!

I gave this as a gift to my boyfriend who is a "waterfall buff" and hiker. The book gives info on where these falls are located and how to get to them. The book was a hit and I think anyone who is a hiker and loves waterfalls would love this guide..

EXCELLENT BOOK!!!! VERY EASY TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS TO MAJOR WATERFALL HIKING AREAS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

This is a great book to help plan a trip to the waterfalls in North Carolina. Lots of tips for anyone wanting to explore and photograph the falls of North Carolina.

Using this book in conjunction with the [...] website, you can spend a lifetime hunting waterfalls in north carolina. Kevin Adam's separate beauty rating and photography rating is extremely helpful. Trail directions are excellent, although some waterfalls take a bit more effort to track down than others (but then again, that's what makes it fun). This book is a necessary investment for anyone who loves the outdoors and lives in or near the carolinas (or just likes to visit). You'll get your money's worth out of this book on your first outing.

My only regret is that I found this book AFTER visiting North Carolina in October. I purchased a second copy for my son right after I got my copy. Great tool for planning our next trip. This is the best I have seen. Photo tips and rating ease of access. Thanks, Dale

I've read through previous versions of this book, and this by far exceeds them in content.

As an avid photographer, I was looking for the definitive reference on North Carolina waterfalls, and I found it with this book.

Kevin's passion shines through with every description, and it's evident that he is dedicated to providing the reader with the most exhaustive listing of waterfalls available in one volume!

If you plan on spending time in North Carolina shooting waterfalls, buy this book. It's that simple!

Mr. Adams takes the time to explain fundamental photography principles geared towards waterfall images, which is a nice touch for the beginner.

He breaks down North Carolina in to various hubs, which makes the book a nice companion for planning trips to certain areas of the state.

His descriptions of waterfalls, trail directions and general comments are a great resource. The rating of the falls is valuable in terms of maximizing vacation time. He tells you which falls are the (subjective) best and which ones can be avoided if time is short.

I can't imagine a better reference than this book, and I've yet to find one.

Thank you, Kevin, for your more than 20 years of hard work on this book. It's a joy to use, and a pleasure to recommend!

I'd add to his teaching that a nice set of Graduated ND filters (Singh-ray or equivalent) can be just as useful and beneficial as a circular polarizer. Especially if you're shooting mountainscapes in addition to waterfalls. There are times when you risk blowing out the sky without a graduated ND when shooting relatively dim waterfalls with the sky above them.

This book (as another reviewer mentioned) is the WNC Waterfall Bible as far as I'm concerned! As someone who lives in WNC and loves to take pictues, I keep this book in my car almost all the time. It's great. I love to look for short hikes that can be done after work -- the book gives excellent details to decide how much time to alott for each fall. I mainly look at trail length and difficulty to decide if it warrants a post-work trip. Photography ratings are very detailed--letting you know what kind of shots you can get, if shrubs are usually in the way, where to get the best vantage point, etc.
The book is divided into hubs, so it's easy to catch several waterfalls in one trip -- or do a spontaneous hike based on where you are. There's a map of NC in the front showing the location of each hub.
The directions to the trails, descriptions of said trails, and instructions on how to get the best view are perfect. You couldn't ask for more.

I borrowed this book from a friend when she heard we were heading to the mountains. My husband and I loved it so much, that I bought one for us! We love finding all of the different waterfalls. It's like a scavenger hunt! The auther does such a great job of explaining how to find these hidden (and sometimes obvious) falls. We mark off the ones we've seen and I throw pictures of us in front of the falls - kind of like a scrapbook. If you love the outdoors but never quite know where to go, you should pick this book up. We've seen more of NC than we even knew existed! And lots of gorgeous waterfalls to boot. So fun!!!

I'm planning a photographic trip to NC to do waterfalls. This book has more falls than I can possibly photograph. Book is well organized. Gives helps with travel, times to photography, best locations. It's all in this book. Hikers will also find it beneficial.

This is an essential guide for anyone who loves waterfalls and lives/travels to North Carolina. The photo tips are very helpful. This is a great update to the original, as access points and property ownership change. The author has even changed his mind about some of his initial beauty ratings -- some up; some down -- so you know he's done his research as well as the footwork.
I also recommend Kevin's book on Virginia/West Virginia waterfalls and North Carolina wildflowers.

Excellent book for locating waterfalls. Very good directions. Is a good book for those just wanting to look for waterfalls, but not much for a regular hiker as most of the trails are either very short, or there is a need to bushwack.

A good reference, but I found the directions confusing at times. You need to drive slowly and read carefully.