Trail status (checked September 2026) — conditions change; confirm with the managing agency before you go.
- The Catawba Falls loop reopened after Hurricane Helene, but the upper viewing platform and the Wildflower Trail were still closed for repairs. Source: U.S. Forest Service
- Forest Service Road 140 to the Courthouse Falls trailhead is closed to vehicles (open to foot traffic), adding about 5 miles round trip. Source: U.S. Forest Service
- Tropical Storm Fred (2021) washed out the bridge, pool and most of Skinny Dip Falls; the walk now ends at an unbridged stream crossing, not a swimming hole. Source: Blue Ridge Parkway / Friends of the MST
Pisgah National Forest holds one of the densest clusters of waterfalls in the Southern Appalachians, but not every one of them is worth your Saturday. Some sit twenty feet off US-276. Others take a five-mile round trip on foot just to reach the trailhead because the forest road is closed. This page sorts the verified Pisgah waterfall hikes by what actually matters when you’re planning a day: how far you’ll walk, how hard it is, and whether the payoff justifies the drive.
The Best Pisgah Waterfall Hikes
1. Looking Glass Falls
This is the easiest waterfall in Pisgah to reach, full stop. There’s an accessible overlook right off US-276, and the 60-foot drop is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the eastern US. If you have limited mobility, young kids, or just twenty minutes between other stops on the Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway, this is the one. It’s not a hike in any real sense, but it earns its spot because almost anyone can see it.
2. Moore Cove Falls Trail
About 1.5 miles round trip and rated easy to moderate, this trail leads to a 50-foot waterfall you can walk behind. The trailhead is a pullout on US-276 north of Brevard, and the short distance combined with the behind-the-falls payoff makes it one of the better bang-for-your-effort hikes in this cluster.
3. Sliding Rock Recreation Area
Sliding Rock is less a hike and more a short walk from the parking area to a 60-foot natural waterslide dropping into an 8-10 foot deep pool. There’s a day-use fee, and lifeguards and restrooms operate Memorial Day to Labor Day. It can close for lightning or high water, so this is worth checking on before you drive out, especially if you’re bringing kids who want to actually get in the water rather than just look at it.
4. Graveyard Fields Loop
Off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 418.8, this loop runs about 3.5 miles for the full circuit including Upper Falls, while Second Falls is just a short walk from the overlook if you’re short on time. Two waterfalls sit in a mile-high valley managed by Pisgah National Forest, and the open, low-shrub terrain here feels different from the dense forest most other trails on this list run through. The overlook lot fills early on weekends and especially during fall color season, so plan around that.
5. Twin Falls via Avery Creek Trail
A moderate side loop off the 3.2-mile Avery Creek Trail in the Pisgah Ranger District gets you to two waterfalls instead of one. This is a good pick if you want more trail time than Looking Glass or Moore Cove offer without committing to a strenuous full-day hike.
6. Catawba Falls Trail (Loop)
This 3.5-mile loop, rated easy to intermediate, reaches a 205-foot lower falls and an 80-foot upper falls. It reopened after Hurricane Helene, but at last check the upper viewing platform and the Wildflower Trail portion were still closed. That means you can still get a solid two-waterfall hike here, just not the complete original route — worth knowing before you commit to the full loop mileage expecting every viewpoint to be open.
7. Upper Creek Falls Trail
In the Grandfather Ranger District off NC-181, this loop trail reaches tiered cascades and carries the Forest Service’s “most difficult” rating. If you’ve done the easier falls on this list and want something that feels like a real backcountry hike rather than a short walk to a viewpoint, this is where to go.
8. Toms Creek Falls Trail
Near Marion, this is about 0.8 miles round trip on a short, mostly flat trail to a roughly 80-foot waterfall. It’s an easy, low-commitment option if you’re staying on the northern end of the forest and want something family-friendly.
9. Slick Rock Falls Trail
At just under a mile and rated moderate, Slick Rock Falls is a smaller, quieter option than the big-name falls on this list. It doesn’t draw the crowds Looking Glass or Sliding Rock do, which is exactly the appeal if you want a waterfall without the parking lot scene.
10. Courthouse Falls Trail
The trail itself to this plunge pool waterfall is short, but Forest Service Road 140 is currently closed to vehicles, which adds roughly 5 miles round trip on foot to reach the trailhead. That turns what used to be an easy afternoon stop into a genuine half-day hike. Confirm the road status before you go — this one changes the character of the trip entirely depending on whether FR 140 has reopened.
One honest note: Skinny Dip Falls, off the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 417, isn’t included in the main list above. Tropical Storm Fred washed out the bridge and most of the falls and pool, so today it’s an unbridged stream crossing rather than the swimming destination it used to be. It’s still walkable, but if you’re going specifically for a waterfall or swimming hole, it won’t deliver what older writeups describe.
How We Ranked These
Three things drove the order above. First, accessibility relative to effort — a 60-foot waterfall you can see from a paved overlook ranks differently than one requiring a multi-mile approach, and both have a place depending on who’s asking. Second, current trail condition reports, since Hurricane Helene closed or altered several routes in this region and we’re not going to send you to a trailhead that’s gated or a viewing platform that’s fenced off. Third, scenic payoff relative to distance — some of these hikes reward a short walk with a genuinely dramatic waterfall, while others ask more of you but deliver two falls, tiered cascades, or a swimming hole most crowds don’t reach.
Parking and Trailhead Reality
US-276 through Pisgah gets heavy weekend traffic, and both the Looking Glass Falls overlook and the Sliding Rock lot fill fast on summer afternoons and during leaf season. The Moore Cove Falls trailhead is a simple pullout, which means it fills up too — there’s no overflow lot to fall back on. Graveyard Fields has one of the more notorious parking situations on the Blue Ridge Parkway; the overlook lot is small relative to how popular the loop is, and arriving before mid-morning on weekends makes a real difference. If Courthouse Falls‘ access road (FR 140) is still closed when you go, budget extra time and treat it as a longer hike, not a quick stop.
Seasonal Notes
Fall color season pushes traffic and parking pressure across nearly every trailhead on this list, especially anything accessed off the Blue Ridge Parkway like Graveyard Fields. Summer brings the highest water volume for swimming spots like Sliding Rock, but also the lifeguard season restrictions (Memorial Day to Labor Day) — outside that window you’re on your own for safety. Winter can mean icy approach trails and rocks around waterfall bases, which matters most on anything with stairs or a steep final approach. Spring generally means higher water flow and more dramatic falls, but also muddier trail conditions on unpaved sections. Check current conditions before you go regardless of season — several of these trails have had partial closures since Hurricane Helene, and status can change.
What to Bring
Footwear with real traction matters more here than almost anywhere else in WNC — wet rock near waterfall bases is slick even when the trail itself is dry, and several of these hikes (Moore Cove, Courthouse Falls) end at spray zones. Bring cash or a card for the Sliding Rock day-use fee. If you’re attempting Courthouse Falls while FR 140 is closed, treat it like a longer day hike: water, layers, and enough daylight buffer for the added road-walking distance. None of these trails require a permit, but always confirm current Forest Service road and trail status before driving out, since post-Helene recovery work is still affecting access points across the forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Pisgah waterfall hike is best for young kids?
Looking Glass Falls is the easiest, since it’s viewable from an accessible overlook with essentially no hiking required. Toms Creek Falls and Moore Cove Falls are both short and mostly flat if you want a bit more trail time with a manageable distance.
Can you swim at any of these waterfalls?
Sliding Rock is the clear answer, with an 8-10 foot deep pool and seasonal lifeguards. Skinny Dip Falls used to be a swimming spot, but storm damage means it no longer functions that way — don’t plan a trip around it for swimming.
Is Catawba Falls fully open?
The main loop reopened after Hurricane Helene, but at last check the upper viewing platform and the Wildflower Trail section were still closed. You can still reach the lower and upper falls views, just not every part of the original route.
Do I need a permit for any of these trails?
None of the trails listed here require a hiking permit. Sliding Rock charges a day-use fee, and that’s the only cost associated with any trail on this list.
What’s the hardest waterfall hike in this list?
Upper Creek Falls Trail carries the Forest Service’s “most difficult” rating among these options. Courthouse Falls, while short on paper, currently adds significant mileage due to the FR 140 closure, which makes it feel harder than its trail description suggests.
For the full picture of what’s currently open, closed, or under repair across Pisgah and the rest of Western North Carolina, browse the complete, verified trail listings in the WNC Trails directory, where you can filter by difficulty, distance, and reported conditions. Always check current conditions before heading out, especially on anything affected by recent storm damage.
Related Pages
This guide is part of our best waterfall hikes in North Carolina series, built only on officially verified trail data.
