Chasing waterfalls in North Carolina is a fun way to spend your time, especially when the falls and surroundings are as amazing as they are at Moore Cove Falls, near Brevard. If you're anything like us, you've likely spent some time researching "waterfalls near me in North Carolina." If you live in Western North Carolina, you're in luck! Here, the water from Moore Creek flows over a towering bluff and then free falls for 50 feet before landing on a waterfall ledge below to cascade further down the hill. So grab your hiking pack and let's get ready to hike the Moore Cove Falls Trail.
With just a short drive off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can find yourself right at the trailhead for Moore Cove Falls. If you are anything like us then you will want to pair this trip with waterfalls like Looking Glass Falls, or the famous Sliding Rock before continuing on a Blue Ridge Parkway adventure.
Waiting for you at the end of the trail is this massive waterfall. As a great big bonus, that giant bluff has a ledge under which to take cover, making it possible to walk all the way behind Moore Cove Falls.
The trail starts right here, just across the street from the parking area located right on US-276 just 6.6 miles north of Brevard. The parking area is very small so make sure you come early if this is a place that you want to visit. The narrow and windy roads make it difficult to turn around safely but if you continue down the road there are a few places where you can turn around. If you see this bridge then you know you are at the trailhead.
The easy trail is 1.2 miles in length and has an overall elevation change of just 154 feet. In our experience, it was a very simple and family-friendly hike.
Then waiting at the end of this out-and-back trek is the fabulous Moore Cove Falls, where the surroundings are as remarkable as the waterfall itself.
Signs are posted stating not to climb the falls. Many people can not resist the urge to walk behind the waterfall to get a peek from the inside out. We can tell you from when we explored this waterfall, that going behind it is a magical experience. Depending upon recent rainfall amounts, the water flow could be as little as a trickle to a massive amount.
Bring the whole family (even the dog, if it's leashed), this trail is perfect for little ones.
Know that after a rain, it can be a little messy for a few days as things dry out. You may end up with some very muddy hiking boots!
This waterfall was a really remarkable find on our journey. We would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to do some waterfall chasing. The Moore Cove Falls photos just don't quite do it justice and this is one of those places you have to explore on your own.
The trail to Moore Cove Falls can see a lot of traffic, so just be kind to others and make sure you snap some amazing pictures of this waterfall.
Your best bets to avoid the crowd are to arrive very early in the day or to hike this trail during the week instead of the weekends! For directions to Moore Cove Falls follow the link at the end of this article.
The next time you're wondering, "What are some waterfalls near me in North Carolina?" we hope this fun adventure comes to mind. Already hiked to Moore Cove Falls? What did you think? Beautiful, right? If this will be your first time, you can learn more about this hike by checking out this Moore Cove Falls Trail map from our friends at AllTrails!
If you want to see when we visited this waterfall check out this Adventuring in the Moment video:
What's your favorite waterfall in North Carolina? Tell us in the comments below -- we'd love to hear from you!
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