Moore Cove Falls Best Hike
Synopsis
This plunge-type falls 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 take. This falls is highly recommended, and a hike to it can be combined with another hike in the area if you are looking for a more difficult day of hiking.
Hike Statistics
- Difficulty: Easy
- Total Length: 1.4 mi
- Trail Tread Condition: Few Obstacles
- Climb: Climbs Gently
- Total Elevation Gain: 160 ft
- Trails/Roads Used: Moore Cove Falls
- Hike Configuration: Out-and-back
- Starting point: Parking area along US 276.
- How to Get There: 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 stone entrance gate. 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 a brand-new, sturdy wooden pedestrian bridge over Looking Glass Creek, built in June of 2007. It replaced another bridge that was just a few years old. This entire hike was re-graded in late 2011, eliminating almost all obstacles from the trail and making all creek crossings happen on sturdy wood structures. On the other side of the first bridge, the trail starts climbing - moderately at first, then leveling out some before going downhill a bit.
The wide, smooth trail travels primarily through a lush, vibrant 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 are being 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 along this first section, 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 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 behind 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.
Be careful on wet and slippery rocks, however, and do NOT attempt to reach the top of the falls. This would be dangerous to you, and 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.
View more photos in this hike's gallery.
Map
Here's an interactive GPS map of this hike. Yellow highlight indicates the route followed by this hike within the trail network. Only the trails and points of interest along the hike, and those in the immediate vicinity, are shown. For expanded maps, see this hike's Trailhead area.
Download GPS Data
Routes
Points
Feedback
Ratings
Average Rating: 4.0 (rated 1 times)
Rate It Now:
