Visitors to Whitewater Falls Recreation Area south of Highlands will enjoy a better view this summer.

A large landslide triggered by excessive rain last September during back-to-back tropical storms wiped out a 200-foot-wide swath of trees, creating a clearing.

The downside, however, is the large scar running down the mountain from the parking lot area to the river below, burying a portion of the Foothills Trail in the process.

“There were a lot of underground spring heads and a whole section of that came loose and took off down the side of the hill,” said Erin Bronk with the Highlands District of the Nantahala National Forest.

The forest service will use part of its storm repair money to stabilize the slide. The slide is nearly vertical and in danger of crumbling more. The slope will be give a more gradual grade and large rocks will be piled on the slope to keep it from slipping.