All About Cashiers, North Carolina

Village Green, Cashiers, North Carolina

Cashiers, NC is centered around the busy intersection of Highways 64 and 107, know to the locals as “Cashiers Crossroads”.  All up and down the roads leading to the crossroads are bustling antique shops, clothing stores, mountain interior design shops, crafts stores and eateries.

As you drive along the winding roads leading to Cashiers there are many places to stop and take in the breathtaking views of the surroundings.  Yellow Mountain is the highest peak in the area at 5,127 feet and boasts a spectacular 360 degree view of the Cashiers Highlands Plateau.  Hiking trails abound throughout Yellow Mountain and other mountains in the area. 

Whiteside Mountain possesses the highest vertical drop east of the Mississippi and is a gorgeous and popular hiking destination.  Whiteside can be seen from many different points around Cashiers.  It is distinctive for the rock formation called “Devil’s Courthouse” near the top.

Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall this side of the Rocky Mountains borders Jackson and Transylvania counties.  An easy walking trail leads to an overlook of the Falls.  There are many other waterfalls in the area too; Turtle Back, Rainbow, Silver Slip and Sliding Rock, to name just a few.  Maps with hiking trails to many of the local waterfalls can be purchased at the local hiking shop next to the crossroads or at one of the bookstores or gift shops.

Cashiers was the property of the Cherokee Nation until 1819, when a treaty was signed that made it the last section of the state open to settlers.  One of the biggest local mysteries is how Cashiers got named.  One version attributes the name to a horse named Cash that got loose in the valley.  Another gives credit to a bull named Cassius that belonged to Civil War Confederacy General Wade Hampton.  Maybe it was because the crossroads was a place where miners “cashed” out after a long work day.  No one knows for sure where the name originated.

General Wade Hampton

The area grew slowly and in 1850 there were few families living in the area because it was so remote.  Soon after the Civil War, however,  people from South Carolina began to flock to Cashiers to escape the summer heat.  Word spread and people from all over the southeast began investing in summer homes that transformed a sleepy little village into a favorite mountain retreat.

Today, people come to Cashiers for many reasons; amazingly beautiful scenery, interesting historic sites, eclectic shops and boutiques, boating, golf (there are 300 holes within 15 minutes of Stonefly), hiking, rafting, fishing and antiquing.  No wonder so many people are leaving the hustle and bustle of the cities behind them and finding their way to Cashiers to vacation or build their dream home in this secluded mountain wonderland.

Chattooga River Runs through Stonefly

Wild & Scenic Chattooga River

The Chattooga originates at the base of Whiteside Mountain, a massive, 4,800 foot tall granite wall.  The multiple creeks and streams that flow through Stonefly are the headwaters of the Chattooga River.  Waterfalls dot the landscape throughout this area and hiking trails are plentiful.  In 1974 the Congress of the United States designated the Chattooga River as a “Wild and Scenic River”. 

If you want to spend time fishing, you have your pick from many lakes, ponds, streams and creeks.  The Chattooga is home to more than a hundred types of fish, including three species of trout.  The Walhalla State Fish Hatchery regularly releases trout into the local rivers, creeks and streams.

The forests around the Chattooga River are home to a multitude of flowers, plants, trees, and animals.  The banks are dotted with native Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalea and many species of fern.  In early spring it is possible to see otter, bear, beaver and later, the migrating songbirds passing through during their trip north.

Peregrine Falcon

Through the endangered species program, the peregrine falcon was reintroduced in1985 to Whiteside Mountain, part of the bird’s native range. These birds return annually to nest on the exposed rock faces. If you are hiking near Stonefly during the spring and summer, you may see peregrine falcons flying above or sitting on rock outcrops. During falcon nesting season however, normally February 15 to July 15, the rock face is closed to rappelling and climbing. Consider yourself most fortunate if you see a peregrine falcon, one of nature’s fastest and most beautiful birds.  Whiteside Mountain is located near Cashiers, North Carolina and overlooks Stonefly.