Cove Creek Falls

This beautiful falls is often overlooked but the hike to it is easy and well worth it. It's a high, sliding falls, where the flow splits into several paths on the way down. Like most waterfalls, it looks higher in real life than in any pictures I've taken or seen.

Directions

Driving

From the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 64, 276, and N.C. Hwy. 280 in Brevard, go West on 276 (into the Pisgah National Forest) for 5.2 miles. Bear left on F.R. 475 at the signs for the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Go 3.2 miles to the end of the pavement; the parking area is on the left. You will pass the Pisgah Center (and Fish Hatchery) on the left along the way.

Trail

The hike to Cove Creek Falls is about 2.5 miles round trip and easy to moderate in difficulty. The road to the Cove Creek Group Campground starts across the main road from the parking area, by the sign boards. Walk up this road. It crosses Cove Creek almost immediately; take the trail to the right and cross the creek on a footbridge instead. The trail merges back with the road on the other side.

Continue following the gravel road, which ascends gently beside Cove Creek, passing a nice cascade along the way. Once it levels out, you have two ways to reach the falls. The way I prefer, which I think is a bit easier, is to stay on the road through the group camp until you reach the end of it at the second open field. You'll pass another small cascade - a small "sliding rock" with a deep pool - on that route. When you reach the second field/camping area, bear left toward the out building and pick up the trail leading upstream along the creek. Follow this trail straight through a couple of junctions. It becomes an "unofficial" but obvious and well worn path. It ascends, getting steep at one point, and then descends to the base of the falls on the right side.

If you'd prefer to take a more "official" route, or the camp is occupied and you don't want to walk through it, then bear left when you see the signed Caney Bottom Extension trail on your left. This trail undulates - steeply in places - to a junction with the Caney Bottom trail on the right. Continue straight, now on the Cove Creek trail. You will see and hear the falls on the right; an obvious faint scramble path angles down to the base.