Whiteside Mountain Fall Hike: A Stunning, Foggy Adventure in Western North Carolina

On Friday, October 23, 2020, my son and I set out to hike Whiteside Mountain. Located between Cashiers and Highlands, North Carolina, the mountain rises to 4,930 feet and is estimated to be more than 390 million years old. After reading several reviews, I knew we needed to arrive early because the parking lot is small and roadside parking isn’t allowed. Fortunately, when we arrived at 9:00 a.m., we were only the second car there. Unfortunately, the heavy fog made visibility extremely limited—we could barely see a few feet ahead. As much as I had been looking forward to the views, we had to rely on our imagination, since the scenery was completely hidden, as you can tell from the photos below.

The hike itself is a moderately difficult two-mile loop and was quite enjoyable. The trail is well maintained, and there is a $3 per-vehicle fee, paid on the honor system.

Even without the views, fall was in full bloom, and the autumn colors were absolutely stunning. I’ll definitely return someday and hope for a clear day to finally experience the breathtaking vistas I’ve only seen through others’ photos. Update: I returned in January 2026, happy to confirm that the views are indeed breathtakingly beautiful.

References My Winter Whiteside Mountain Hike, Whiteside mountain on All trails, wikipedia