Editing Franklin, North Carolina (section)

==Recreation==
===Hiking===
The mountains that surround Franklin are lined with many hiking trails including the famous [[Appalachian Trail]]. The AT runs north and south, passing 10 miles west of Franklin; it can be accessed at many locations in the area. Some 40 miles of side trails interlace with the AT in the region as well.

Another, lesser known trail also passes through the area: [[Bartram Trail]], named for American botanist [[William Bartram]], who documented the native flora and fauna of the area in 1775. Bartram Trail climbs into the hills of the Franklin area; hikers may follow the explorer's footsteps and discover the exuberant natural world in which he took such delight.<ref name="Ref-2">{{cite web |url=http://www.franklin-chamber.com/visitorInformation/ |title=Mountain Treasure, Simple Pleasures |access-date=January 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220012929/http://www.franklin-chamber.com/visitorInformation/ |archive-date=December 20, 2008 }}</ref>

Both the Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail cross over [[Wayah Bald]], one of the best known places in the Franklin area for [[sightseeing]].<!-- Needs expansion and explanation -->

===Gem mining===
The Franklin area is famous for its gem mining. Franklin hosts the jewelry and gem show, "Macon County Gemboree", twice a year. The Cowee Valley north of Franklin attracts thousands of visitors annually to its mines, which continue to yield valuable stones. There are also other gem mines located throughout the area. Among the native stones found are [[ruby]], [[sapphire]], and [[garnet]]s. The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum is free to the public and is noted for its exhibits.<ref>http://www.fgmm.org/ Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum</ref>

===Waterfalls===
====Cullasaja Falls====
{{main|Cullasaja Falls}}
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Cullasaja Falls is a [[waterfall]] in Southwestern [[North Carolina]].  The waterfall is located on the [[Cullasaja River]] in the [[Nantahala National Forest]] and is part of the [[Mountain Waters Scenic Byway]].  ''Cullasaja'' comes from a Cherokee word meaning "honey locust place."  The falls is the last major waterfall on the Cullasaja river.<ref name="Kevin Adams Book">Kevin Adams, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'', p. 470</ref>  The falls is a long cascade over the course of {{convert|0.2|mi|km}}.

The height of the falls is given as 200&nbsp;ft (61 m) in Kevin Adams' book, ''North Carolina Waterfalls''<ref name="Kevin Adams Book"/> and 250&nbsp;ft (77.1 m) by NCWaterfalls.com.<ref name="NC Waterfalls Height">{{cite web|url=http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/cull1.htm|title=Cullasaja River Gorge & Falls|website=www.ncwaterfalls.com|access-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref>  However, Google Earth gives a height (based on the elevation of the water at the top of the falls and the elevation of the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls) of 137&nbsp;ft (42 m).  The falls may be glimpsed by people driving along [[U.S. Highway 64|Highway 64]], but it is difficult to see more fully from the road. The falls are located beside of a series of blind curves on with sheer rock cliffs above and below the road. A small pull-off is located near the falls, but walking on the road puts visitors in danger of being hit by a passing vehicle.

====Dry Falls====
{{main|Dry Falls (Macon County)}}
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Dry Falls, also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a 65-foot (20.1 m) [[waterfall]] located in the [[Nantahala National Forest]], northwest of [[Highlands, North Carolina]].  Dry Falls flows on the [[Cullasaja River]] through the Nantahala National Forest.  It is part of a series of waterfalls on a {{convert|8.7|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the river that eventually ends with [[Cullasaja Falls]].  Dry Falls flows over an overhanging bluff that allows visitors to walk up under the falls and remain relatively dry when the waterflow is low, hence its name.  Visitors will get wet if the waterflow is high.  The falls has been called Dry Falls for a long time, but has also gone by a few other names, including High Falls, Pitcher Falls, and Cullasaja Falls.<ref name="Adams Book">Kevin Adams, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'', p. 467</ref>  Dry Falls is located on the side of [[U.S. Highway 64]] {{convert|15.7|mi|km}} southeast of Franklin, North Carolina.  There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park before walking the short path with stairs to the falls. The [[United States Forest Service]] has made improvements to the parking area and has reopened the public area.

====Bridal Veil Falls====
{{main|Bridal Veil Falls (Macon County)}}
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Bridal Veil Falls is a 45-foot (20.1 m) [[waterfall]] located in the [[Nantahala National Forest]], southeast of Franklin. With a short curve of roadway that passes behind the falls, this is the only waterfall in the state where one can drive a vehicle under the water.  Bridal Veil Falls flows on a tributary of the [[Cullasaja River]] through the Nantahala National Forest. The falls flows over an overhanging bluff. Visitors can walk behind the falls and remain dry when the waterflow is low. During periods of drought, the stream may nearly dry up, though visitors will get wet if the waterflow is moderate or high.

Bridal Veil Falls is located on the side of [[U.S. Highway 64]] {{convert|16.5|mi|km}} southeast of Franklin. Highway 64 originally used the curve of roadway behind the falls exclusively, so that all traffic went behind them. But this caused problems with [[ice|icing]] of the roadway during freezing weather, and Hwy. 64 has been re-routed around the front of the falls since.  A parking area is located on the side of the road, so that visitors can park and view the falls from there.

In 2003, a massive boulder slid off the left side of the falls, blocking that side of the drive-under completely.  However, in July 2007, that boulder was removed by a local developer.<ref name="NC Waterfalls Bridal Veil">{{cite web|url=http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/bridal_veil1.htm|title=Bridal Veil Falls, Highlands North Carolina - drive behind|website=www.ncwaterfalls.com|access-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref>

====Quarry Falls====
{{main|Quarry Falls (Macon County)}}
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Quarry Falls is a small [[waterfall]] (or perhaps large rapid in high water) located beside US Hwy. 64 southeast of Franklin, North Carolina. Known to locals as "Sliding Rock", it is best known for the large, deep pool at the bottom. It is a popular place for swimming during warm weather.

=== Scottish Tartans Museum ===
Franklin has been home to the Scottish Tartans Museum since 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishtartans.org/about.html |title=What is the Scottish Tartans Museum |publisher=Scottish Tartans Museum |access-date=June 22, 2012}}</ref> It shows materials common to some of the Scots-Irish immigrants who settled in this area in the late eighteenth century and later.