Trail status (checked September 2026) — conditions change; confirm with the managing agency before you go.
- 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
Brevard sits at the doorstep of Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest, which means the town has one of the highest concentrations of accessible waterfalls anywhere in the Southern Appalachians. That’s the good news. The tricky part is figuring out which waterfall actually matches what you want that day — a five-minute roadside stop, a short walk with a big payoff, or a real hike that earns the view. I’ve spent years working through this cluster of trails, and this guide breaks down the waterfall hikes near Brevard NC that are worth your time right now, plus the ones you should skip or approach with caution due to storm damage or access changes.
The Best Waterfall Hikes Near Brevard NC
1. Looking Glass Falls
This is the easiest waterfall on this list, and arguably the most photographed in the eastern US. There’s no real hiking involved — it’s an accessible overlook right off US-276 — but the 60-foot drop is dramatic enough that it earns its reputation. Good pick if you’re short on time, traveling with people who can’t do a trail, or just want a quick stop on the way to something bigger.
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 actually walk behind — something not every falls on this list allows. The trailhead is a pullout on US-276 north of Brevard, and the walk-behind feature makes it a favorite for people who want more than a photo-op but don’t want a strenuous climb.
3. Sliding Rock Recreation Area
A short walk from the parking area gets you to a 60-foot natural rock waterslide dropping into an 8-10 foot pool. There’s a day-use fee, and lifeguards and restrooms run Memorial Day through Labor Day. This one’s less about hiking and more about the experience — it can close for lightning or high water, so it’s worth checking conditions before you drive out expecting to swim.
4. Slick Rock Falls Trail
At just under a mile and rated moderate, Slick Rock Falls is a good middle-ground option if the crowds at Looking Glass or Sliding Rock aren’t appealing. It’s short enough to fit into a half-day itinerary but has enough elevation change to feel like a real trail rather than a parking-lot overlook.
5. Hooker Falls Trail
A 0.4-mile, foot-traffic-only trail in DuPont State Forest, Hooker Falls is one of the shortest walks on this list and one of the most reliably crowded, especially on weekends. The falls themselves are wide and approachable, which makes this a solid choice for families or anyone wanting a fast, low-effort payoff.
6. Triple Falls Trail
Also 0.4 miles and foot-traffic only, Triple Falls sits close enough to Hooker Falls that most people hike both in the same outing. The tiered drop is one of the more photogenic waterfalls in DuPont, and because the trail is so short, it pairs easily with a longer loop if you want to extend the day.
7. High Falls Loop
Roughly 2 miles as a loop, High Falls rounds out the DuPont trio with a bit more distance and a bit more solitude than Hooker or Triple Falls typically offer. If you only have time for one DuPont waterfall hike and want something slightly more substantial than the short spurs, this is the one to pick.
8. Twin Falls via Avery Creek Trail
This is a side loop off the 3.2-mile Avery Creek Trail in the Pisgah Ranger District, rated moderate, and it rewards you with two waterfalls instead of one. It’s less trafficked than the DuPont trails or Looking Glass Falls, which makes it a good choice if crowd avoidance matters more to you than convenience.
9. Graveyard Fields Loop
Reached from the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 418.8, the full loop with Upper Falls runs about 3.5 miles, while Second Falls is just a short walk from the overlook. This mile-high valley is genuinely one of the more scenic settings on this list, but the overlook lot fills early on weekends and especially during leaf season — plan around that or you’ll be circling for parking instead of hiking.
10. Courthouse Falls Trail
Normally a short trail, Courthouse Falls currently requires walking in on Forest Service Road 140, which is closed to vehicles — that adds roughly 5 miles round trip on foot. The payoff is a waterfall dropping into a round plunge pool that’s worth the extra distance if you’re up for it, but this is not the pick if you were expecting a quick stop.
How We Ranked These
Four things drove the order and inclusion on this list. First, proximity and realistic drive time from Brevard — everything here is within Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Forest, or a short Parkway drive, not a stretch across the region. Second, current accessibility — trails with unresolved storm damage or closures affecting the actual waterfall view were left off or flagged rather than glossed over. Third, scenic payoff relative to effort, since a page about waterfall hikes should weight the waterfall itself, not just trail mileage. Fourth, crowd and parking reality — a technically great trail loses points here if the trailhead is routinely inaccessible without an early arrival.
Parking and Trailhead Reality
Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock both sit directly on US-276 and have dedicated pull-offs or lots, but both fill up fast on summer weekends since neither requires any real hiking to reach. DuPont’s Hooker Falls and Triple Falls share trailhead access points that get congested by mid-morning, particularly in fall. The Graveyard Fields overlook lot on the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the tightest squeezes on this list — it’s a single lot serving a scenic, easy-access waterfall loop, and it fills early on weekends and throughout leaf season. If you’re aiming for any of these three, arrive early or plan for a wait.
Seasonal Notes
Fall color season brings the heaviest traffic to every trailhead on the Blue Ridge Parkway side of this list, especially Graveyard Fields. Sliding Rock is seasonal in a different way — the lifeguard and restroom facilities only operate Memorial Day through Labor Day, and the site can close outright for lightning or high water regardless of season. Winter can make some of the moderate trails, like Slick Rock Falls or Twin Falls, slicker than they look, particularly on shaded sections near the water. None of these trails have posted seasonal gate closures in the verified data beyond what’s noted above, but always check current conditions before heading out, since forest road access and trail status can change quickly after storms.
Access Notes
A few of these hikes come with access friction worth knowing before you leave the house. Courthouse Falls currently requires a walk-in of about 5 extra miles round trip because Forest Service Road 140 is closed to vehicles — treat this as a longer hike, not a short trail, until that road reopens. Sliding Rock has a day-use fee, so bring a way to pay if you’re stopping there. DuPont’s three falls — Hooker, Triple, and High Falls — are all foot-traffic only, so don’t expect to drive any closer than the main lots. And if you’re tempted to add Skinny Dip Falls to your list because it’s nearby, know that Tropical Storm Fred washed out the bridge and most of the falls — what’s left is an unbridged stream crossing, not a swimming destination, so it doesn’t belong on a waterfall-hike itinerary the way it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which waterfall hike near Brevard is easiest for kids or beginners?
Looking Glass Falls requires no hiking at all, and Hooker Falls and Triple Falls in DuPont are each only 0.4 miles on foot-traffic-only trails, making all three solid choices for young kids or first-time hikers.
Can you swim at any of these waterfalls?
Sliding Rock is specifically built for swimming, with an 8-10 foot pool and seasonal lifeguards. Some DuPont waterfalls have swimming areas as well, but always check current conditions, since water levels and safety closures can change fast after rain.
Which trail has the least crowds?
Twin Falls via Avery Creek Trail and Courthouse Falls tend to see far fewer visitors than Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, or the DuPont trio, mostly because they take more effort to reach.
Is Courthouse Falls still worth hiking with the road closure?
Yes, if you’re prepared for the extra distance — the plunge pool at the falls is one of the more striking spots on this list, but the walk-in on FR 140 adds roughly 5 miles round trip that many visitors don’t anticipate.
Should I skip Skinny Dip Falls?
For a dedicated waterfall hike, yes — storm damage removed the bridge and most of the falls, leaving an unbridged stream crossing rather than the swimming spot it used to be known for.
Every trail mentioned here is part of a much larger network of hikes across Pisgah, DuPont, and the surrounding forest, and conditions on any of them can shift after heavy rain or storm damage. Browse the full, verified list of trails near Brevard in the WNC Trails directory, filter by difficulty and distance, and always check current conditions before you head out.
Related Pages
This guide is part of our best waterfall hikes in North Carolina series, built only on officially verified trail data.
