Courthouse Falls

The Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest is home to numerous beautiful waterfalls and has miles of hiking trails to explore. If you are coming to North Carolina to visit waterfalls for the 1st time, this would be an excellent area to start in. Some of the trails are multiple use - hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding - and I would highly suggest stopping at the Visitor's Center and buying a trail map if you are not familiar with the area. It's about 1.5 miles up Hwy 276, north of the 280/276/64 intersection in Brevard and has lots of other info about the area, books, postcards, and rest rooms - their phone # is 828-877-3350. You can also buy this and other trail maps online here. For more detailed info on other activities in the forest, click here and visit the Pisgah section of ncnatural.com. When I talk about roads that start with FR, this indicates a forest road and will probably be gravel. Most of these are narrow and you should drive slow! No telling if another vehicle might be coming around the next bend. Also, forest roads are subject to temporary closings - especially in the winter - so call ahead during business hours or have a Plan B just in case. Click here for a listing of proposed actions for 2008 in the NC national forests. Scoll down a couple of pages for locations and phone numbers for the various ranger offices.

I've tried to arrange the waterfalls in a way that might make it easier for you to plan a trip if you have never been to this area. Some of the sections are really close to one another, so that's why one of those trail maps will be really handy. It also has main roads, forest roads and other helpful info. These 1st waterfalls are accessed from Hwy 276.

Twin Falls on Henry Branch - these are off of FR477 which turns off Hwy 276 north of the visitor's center - very nice hike but a lot of fallen timber in the falls

Looking Glass Falls - perhaps the most photographed falls in the area - it's right next to the road and handicap viewable.

Moore Cove Falls - just up the road from Looking Glass - easy hike and family friendly

Jack's Cove Falls - accessed from the same parking as Moore Cove Falls. I made this name up and the trail is not on the map, so if you ask about this one at the Visitor's Center, they may look at you as if you have lost your mind.

Sliding Rock - a natural water slide area off 276 set up by the US Forest Service - kid safe

Falls near Log Hollow - off FR475B near the Cradle of Forestry off 276 - these 2 falls are right next to the path and it's an easy hike - kid friendly

High Falls - not very high actually, off 276 near the Pink Beds - more for the adventurous type

waterfall on Billy Branch - a short detour off the trail to High Falls

This next group of falls is accessed from FR475. Drive 5.2 miles up Hwy 276 north from the 276/280/64 intersection and turn left towards the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Conservation. Mileages are from the turn at Hwy 276. The pavement used to end at the Pisgah Center, but now extends on to Cove Creek Group Campground.

0.4 miles - No waterfall here, but on the right is the parking area for the trail up to the top of Looking Glass Rock. I haven't been up here yet, but will eventually.

1.4 miles - The Pisgah Center and fish hatchery is on the left and there is a large parking area and access to several trail heads. Park here for -

2 waterfalls on Cedar Rock Creek and a falls on Grogan Creek - these are smaller waterfalls, but the hike is easy to moderate and family friendly.

1.5 miles - bear right up FR475B to get to Slick Rock Falls - kid friendly.

2.1 miles - a small waterfall on the right if you care to stop. FR475 has been recently paved in this area and it isn't safe to pull off the side of the road. The shoulder is soft and you'll probably sink up to your axles. If you want to stop, look on the left at 2.0 miles for a small gravel area, pull off there and walk down.

3.2 miles - Cove Creek and Caney Bottom Creek Falls and Cove Creek Group Campground. Park on the left - easy to moderate hike

3.9 miles - Parking for Daniel Ridge Falls is on the right - aka Toms Spring Falls and Jackson Falls. The hike to this 100' waterfall is easy, but getting across the washed out bridge could be tricky. This bridge is scheduled for replacement beginning April 2008, so be prepared for this area to possibly close.

The Daniel Ridge Loop Trail, near Daniel Ridge Falls, is a nice hike and has some smaller falls along the way.

6 miles - Gloucester Gap - turn right on FR229 to head up to the parking for Shuck Ridge Creek Falls - the hike to this 25' beauty is harder, but I think it's worth it. Part of the hike includes a drop in elevation of about 1000' in a mile.

These next waterfalls are in the Hwy 215 area near the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you look at your map you'll see that you can head up Hwy 276 north, get on the Blue Ridge Parkway south (closed in the winter months), and get off on Hwy 215 to combine waterfalls of both areas. You'll pass Graveyard Fields on the Parkway before Hwy 215.

waterfalls at Living Waters Ministry - French Broad, Shoal Creek, and Cathedral (Bird Rock) Falls - This is actually private property, but the kind folks at Living Waters share the beauty of these waterfalls with the public - family friendly.

Falls on Double Branch - one of the lesser known falls

Courthouse and Upper Courthouse Falls - off of Hwy 215, 6.5 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, then up FR140

Red Rock Falls - also on Courthouse Creek, up FR140

Falls and cascades on Mill Station Creek - park at same place for Upper Courthouse Falls

Chestnut Falls - also off of FR140, on the way up to Courthouse Falls

Kiesee Falls - also off of FR140, on the way up to Courthouse Falls - there are actually 2 waterfalls here

Dill Falls - Hwy 215 is the border between the Pisgah and Nantahala Natonal Forests. Dill Falls is actually in the Nantahala, but you will pass the left turn that leads to the parking on the way to the Parkway from FR140 up 215 north.

Flat Laurel Creek Falls and Cascades - off 215 just north of the Parkway

Green Velvet Falls, an unnamed falls, and Bubbling Springs Branch Cascades - these 3 are north of the BRP off of 215

Falls on Sam Branch, Wash Hollow, and the West Fork of the Pigeon River - the 1st 2 are not well known, but easy to get to and quite gorgeous, the latter is right next to the road.

Graveyard Fields - a very popular area off the Blue Ridge Parkway, north of Hwy 215. Second Falls is easy to get to - the others are a bit more difficult.

Skinny Dip Falls - right off the Blue Ridge Parkway near graveyard Fields

The last group are at other locations in the forest -

Catheys Creek Falls - off of Hwy 64, west of Brevard

Barbara Falls - aka Upper Shoals or Grace Falls - also on Catheys Creek

Dismal and Rhapsodie Falls - off of 281 north of Lake Toxaway

Stillhouse Falls - also off of 281 north of Lake Toxaway

Laughing Falls - near the intersection of Hwys 280, 276 north, and 64 - not really worth it