# Turtleback Falls

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Turtleback_Falls.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtleback_Falls
> Source revision: 1339393927
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use American English|date=February 2026}}
{{No footnotes|date=January 2012}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox waterfall
| photo = fls-turtle-flip.gif
| photo_caption = Although dangerous, [Swimming](/source/Human_swimming) is a popular activity at Turtleback Falls
| name = Turtleback Falls
| location = [Horsepasture River](/source/Horsepasture_River), [Pisgah National Forest](/source/Pisgah_National_Forest), [Blue Ridge Mountains](/source/Blue_Ridge_Mountains), [Transylvania County](/source/Transylvania_County), [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina)
| type = Cascade
| height = {{Convert|20|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
| number_drops = 1
| coords = {{coord|35.0922|-82.9663}}
}}

'''Turtleback Falls''', also called Umbrella Falls, is a [waterfall](/source/waterfall) in Western [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina), located near [Rosman](/source/Rosman%2C_North_Carolina).  The falls is located on the [Horsepasture River](/source/Horsepasture_River) in the [Pisgah National Forest](/source/Pisgah_National_Forest).  The falls is usually accessed by a hike starting in Gorges State Park which passes through Pisgah National Forest property.

Turtleback Falls is a popular place for [swimming](/source/human_swimming) and people frequently slide over the falls into the Chug Hole during low water; however, the currents can be dangerous in higher flows and people have drowned at Turtleback, or have been swept downriver and over 125' Rainbow Falls.

==Geology==
The falls has a large, deep pool at the bottom commonly known as the "Chug Hole". The river flows over a large, sloping slab of rock before curving steeper and finally dropping into the pool. The appearance of the rock, similar to a turtle's shell, gives the falls its name.

==Nearby waterfalls==
*'''Little Falls''' - located on private property upstream from Drift Falls
*'''Narrows Falls''' - located in a gated community upstream from Drift Falls
*'''Rock House Falls''' - 55-ft falls located on private property on Burlingame Creek, a tributary of the Horsepasture River
*[Rainbow Falls](/source/Rainbow_Falls_(Horsepasture_River))
*[Drift Falls](/source/Drift_Falls)
*[Stairway Falls](/source/Stairway_Falls)
*[Sidepocket Falls](/source/Sidepocket_Falls)
*[Windy Falls](/source/Windy_Falls)

==See also==
* [List of waterfalls](/source/List_of_waterfalls)
* [List of waterfalls in North Carolina](/source/List_of_waterfalls_in_North_Carolina)

== Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/horse1.htm Turtleback falls on NCWaterfalls.com]
*{{cite book|url=http://www.ncparks.gov/About/plans/gmp/gorg/2005/Operations.pdf|title=Gorges State Park General Management Plan|chapter=VIII. Operations Issues|publisher=N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation|date=January 2005|format=PDF}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Protected areas of Transylvania County, North Carolina
Category:Waterfalls of North Carolina
Category:Pisgah National Forest
Category:Waterfalls of Transylvania County, North Carolina

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Turtleback Falls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtleback_Falls) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtleback_Falls?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.