Moore Cove Falls Hike

This showery plunging waterfall is located in one of the most popular areas of the Pisgah National Forest, near the Davidson River in the "Land of Waterfalls". It's a delightful, beautiful walk thru fern-filled woods. And it's easy enough for families with small children to complete. This falls is highly recommended, and it could be combined with another nearby hike in the area if you want to add some more trail mileage to your day.

Directions

From Asheville, take I-240 west, to I-26 east, to Exit 40, for the Asheville Airport and NC Hwy. 280. Turn right onto 280; follow this 4-lane highway for 16 miles toward Brevard. At the intersection with US Hwys. 276 and 64, turn right onto US 276 west. Proceed on US 276 for 6.6 miles past the Pisgan National Forest stone entrance marker. The parking area is on the right just before the highway crosses stone bridge over Looking Glass Creek.

Details

Hike Description

Begin the hike by crossing the sturdy wooden pedestrian bridge over Looking Glass Creek, built in June of 2007. It replaced another bridge that was just a few years old, which replaced the sketchy rock-hop or harrowing trip across the road bridge needed to get to the trail in years past. On the other side of the first bridge, the trail starts climbing - moderately at first, over some steps, before leveling out and even going downhill a bit.

The entire Moore Cove Falls trail was re-graded in late 2011, eliminating almost all obstacles from the surface and providing sturdy wood structures for all creek crossings.

The wide, smooth trail travels through a lush, vibrant primarily cove hardwood forest the entire way to the falls. Trees such as tulip poplar, oak, and maple can be found, along with dark, lacy hemlocks (most of which have been killed, unfortunately, by the Hemlock Woolly Adelged - an exotic pest insect). An understory of rosebay rhododendron is found in places, and in other spots the steeply sloping forest floor is covered with a dense carpet of various ferns.

There are a couple of seeps located along this first section of the hike, which generally winds along the hill above Looking Glass Creek. You'll also find a couple of bridges and waterbars. At one point the trail skirts the base of a very large rock outcropping with two tall, straight birch trees growing up its face.

The trail then turns left into Moore Cove itself. After doing so, it's generally a steady, gradual climb up to the falls - but it does undulate up and down gently along the way as it winds around through the tall trees. All of the large hemlock trees are dead now, and will be shedding their limbs over the next few years before falling down completely. Since they tower over the trail, be careful on windy days! Some smaller hemlocks remain alive, for now.

You'll cross Moore Cove Creek on wooden bridges several times, and at several points along the way there are long log viaducts to keep the hiker dry through streamside wetland areas. The trail has been re-routed around all the rough sections, and some major dirt-moving was done to keep it a smooth path the whole way. Watch out for a few stray stobs and roots that remain, though.

The trail ends at a large, new viewing area on the right side of the cove, with a great view of the falls. The big curved hemlocks that used to grow here have been cut down. You can still get behind the falls by going around the fence; although it's obvious that the Forest Service does not encourage this, on a hot day, the showery spray is inviting. {.clear}

Be careful on wet and slippery rocks, and do NOT attempt to reach the top of the falls. Several people have died here trying, and it is absolutely not the best view. And not only is it dangerous to you, it's destructive to the fragile plant communities that grow on the steep banks.

When you're finished enjoying the falls, return to your vehicle on the same path.

All Photos from This Hike

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Map

Green highlight indicates the route to follow within the trail network for this hike.

Tip: Printing this map? You can pan and zoom the map as desired before printing to show the area you need.