Chasing waterfalls: Check out these whimsical waterfalls right here in the Triangle

You don't have to drive all the way to the North Carolina mountains to see beautiful waterfalls this season – there are several beautiful and historic waterfalls right here in the Triangle. One is even hidden in the middle of a Raleigh neighborhood.

Instead of rippling down craggy mountainsides, most of the Triangle-area waterfalls are built into antique mills. However, a couple are tucked away in botanical gardens or off country roadsides.

Here's your guide to chasing waterfalls right here in Raleigh – or very close by!

1. Lassiter Mill - Waterfall hidden in a Raleigh neighborhood

Did you know a beautiful waterfall is hidden right in the middle of a Raleigh neighborhood?

A blend of history and nature, this hidden gem is tucked away inside the Beltline at the intersection of Lassiter Mill Road and Lassiter Falls Circle.

Originally known as the 'Great Falls of Crabtree,' this section of creek has been used as a mill site even before the City of Raleigh existed. Today, you can see remnants of a mill, including a grand stretch of falls reaching across the entire body of water. Beautiful homes surround the site, which today serves as a popular city park.

Buckeye Drones captured some incredible overhead footage of the Lassiter Mill Falls and accompanying waterway and ruins.

On any given day, you'll see kids splashing in the pools of water, families sitting on the warm boulders and people with fishing poles on a sunny afternoon. There are picnic tables and nearby hiking trails, making it a great place to spend a few hours. It's hard to believe a historic waterfall like this can be found so close to North Hills.

2. Juniper Level Botanic Garden - Hidden waterfall in a 'secret garden'

Only open two weekends each season, the Juniper Level Botanic Garden in Raleigh offers a glimpse of rare plants from around the world in artfully landscaped scenery.

Their campus is 28-acres and full of over 27,000 plants – including rare, exotic and unusual specimens.

Among their wonders is an enchanting waterfall rippling over boulders and into a pool below. When temperatures drop below freezing, the magical sight becomes even more enchanting – a waterfall of ice.

Their website has many more photos and explains which dates the garden is open for public viewing.

3. Ole Gilliam Mill Park - Waterfall runs beneath NC's longest covered bridge

Not far from Raleigh is the Ole Gilliam Mill historic site and covered bridge. The longest covered bridge in North Carolina stretches 140 feet across rushing water.

The land's history as a mill site has been traced back to the 1850s, when a man named Stephen Henley built the original mill. For decades, the mill provided for the surrounding rural community. The park features the mill, bridge, moonshine stills and many other historic structures.

The rapids tumble into a waterfall in several places on the rolling, rustic landscape.

You can find it along NC-42 west of Sanford. Complete with an old windmill and reconstruction of an old mill site from the 1800s, the Ole Gilliam Mill historic park is open for visitors to explore year-round. Once a year, the owner cranks up the mill and allows visitors a chance to come see it in action.

4. Yates Mill - Restored, functioning mill from 1750s

The last remaining mill in Wake County, Yates Mill is still standing and functioning after centuries of use. It opened in 1756, and like Lassiter Mill, it was around before Raleigh even existed.

"This was ten years before Wake was established as a county, 15 years before the American Revolution, and 30 years before the General Assembly agreed to build the state capital on land purchased from Joel Lane," explains the website for Yates Mill.

Roughly 70 mills once provided for Wake County, but Yates Mill is the only one still fully intact. It was restored after several years of disuse. Today, it allows visitors a chance to view a mill up-close and even, on occasion, go inside.

Yates Mill Historic Park has a series of hiking trails and picnic tables. One of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Raleigh, you'll often see people posing for photos with the waterfall splashing behind them.

5. Little River Park - A waterfall right next to a beach

Little River Park is one of the oldest parks in Zebulon – and it has everything from abandoned ruins to waterfalls to a beach, all right next to each other.

There's a grassy field for picnics, or you can dip your toes in the sandy beach alongside the water.

Photos from Lori Staley Truzy show the site before the dam broke, when there was a full waterfall at all times. Now, depending on water levels, a small or moderate-sized waterfall flows over the ruins of the old mill site.

6. Perry's Pond - Tall falls hidden along rural NC roadways

While you're in Zebulon visiting the Little River Park, take a look at Perry's Pond. The mile-long pond sits alongside a centuries-old mill, not far from Zebulon – and it has three waterfalls on the same site!

"The mill and pond are still in the Perry family and run as a fishing and boating spot. For a few dollars, visitors can fish from the bank or take their boat or canoe on a scenic ride," according to the Grey Area News.

Photos from Lori Staley Truzy show the waterfall as taller than the ones found at Yates or Lassiter Mills, with rushing white caps and rapids underneath.

So if you like fishing, kayaking, historic mills and waterfalls off the rural roadways of North Carolina, Perry's Pond is a fine spot to chase a waterfall.

Want a unique birds-eye view of the falls? Check out Buckeye Drones' breathtaking drone footage of Perry's Pond's striking waterfalls – all three!

7. West Point on the Eno - Historic waterfall near Raleigh

West Point on the Eno is like a dream come true for any nature lover, even though it's a city park. It sits just six miles north of downtown Durham, right near the heart of the Research Triangle.

This park goes for 404 acres along the beautiful Eno River, and the waterfall comes from a historical dam, making this park a history lesson too. The waterfall makes for a beautiful site as well as the center for numerous environmental education programs.

After you take in the beauty of the waterfall, you can explore other areas like the West Point Mill, which is a colonial-era mill reproduction and now a museum.

You'll also find the Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography packed with historic photographs from the site. The park boasts five miles of trails, making for some perfect hiking spots. It also has picnic facilities, canoe access to the Eno River, and a huge space for children to play.

8. Stone's Creek at the Pleasant Green access of Eno River State Park

Thanks to a WRAL viewer, one might miss this somewhat hidden stream off the Eno River State Park! It isn't that tall, but it's nonetheless a fascinating sight of nature that you can sit and stand nearby to appreciate.

The Eno River State Park is a sight to behold in itself, so don't forget to walk through the park where you can access swimming holes, parts of the Eno River and the Eno State Quarry.

To get to this water falling stream at Stone's Creek, head to the Pleasant Green Access for Eno River State Park. While most people will leave the parking lot and hike trail along the river, you will need to take the dirt path that starts at the north end of the parking lot, just left of the information board.

After walking a few yards, you'll go down an old gulley before coming to a fork in the trail. Head left and walk around an old cove from the river. You should see some fencing to the left that separates the trail from an industrial substation. After a few yards, you should start to hear the falls.

Did we miss any local waterfalls?

If you know of a hidden waterfall gem that we didn't know about, please email kdang@wral.com so we can add it to the story.