Waterfall seen from slightly elevated level flowing into a pool below. Some vegetation is visible from the very bottom of the photo.
Looking Glass Waterfall from the middle platform.

Pisgah National Forest Field Report

Waterfall flowing into a rocky stream with a Stone cliff wall to the right
Looking Glass Waterfall is one of the most popular sights at Pisgah National Forest. It’s best to arrive early or just be lucky of you want a parking spot.

I started this day with a mission. My twin goals were to visit Looking Glass Falls and Moore Cove Falls in Pisgah National Forest. I’ve been to and through Pisgah many times. Every time, I hope to get a chance to visit these two waterfalls, but by the time arrive, they’re always packed. Looking Glass Falls can be so much a zoo that I get a little stressed driving by. With people parking outside the designated spots and some walking down the middle of the road, I’m always worried that someone will dart out into my path. With overflowing parking at Looking Glass, I just give it a miss only to discover that the parking at Moore Cove Falls is full too.

Waterfall on the right side of the picture with a paved walkway and railing on the left side.
There are three viewing platforms at the Looking Glass Waterfall each on a different level, but they all offer great views of the waterfall. This is the middle level.

But I decided today would be different. For one, it’s still kind of cold and I’m getting a predawn start. There were a few other folks with the same plan, but no crowds, so we were all able to enjoy the forest without getting in each other’s way.

Looking Glass Falls

Waterfall seen from slightly elevated level flowing into a pool below. Some vegetation is visible from the very bottom of the photo.
Looking Glass Waterfall from the middle platform.

My first stop was Looking Glass Falls. It’s right beside the road with a paved area for parallel parking just before the falls. There were a few cars already ahead of me, but still lots of parking. As I said, Looking Glass Falls is right beside the road and can be seen while driving by. But to get a closer look, the NPS has built a short series of stairs leading down to the base of the falls. There are a total of three viewing platforms on the short trip down – one at the very top, one mid way, one at the bottom. All three give great views of the waterfall. Overall, it’s not a long staircase, maybe two or three stories at most.

Flight of paved stairs leading up and then turning to the right and going up again. A railing and stonework are on each side of the stairs.
The top most viewing platform as seen from the lowest. The stairs lead up to the middle platform.

Looking Glass Falls itself is medium sized waterfall with a strong flow. To the right of the waterfall is a cliff wall towering above top of the falls. From the riverbed at the bottom, it’s a truly impressive sight. The river bed at the base of the falls is accessible from the lowest platform, but the rocks can be really slippery. Unless you have a good reason to veer off, stay at the lowest platform because the view isn’t any better from the river.

Moore Cove Falls

Smallish waterfall falling straight down over some rocks with an open space behind on the very bottom.
Moore Cove Falls may have less water flow than other waterfalls in Pisgah Forest, but it’s rocky cavern underneath more than makes up for it.

Moore Cove has been my white whale for many years. I visited it a long time ago, but I had forgotten exactly where it is. All I had was a photograph (not digital) and thinking it was somewhere around Brevard. After a while with the help of Google, I was able to identify it as Moore Cove although the current falls aren’t exactly like I remember. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to go back, but just like Looking Glass Falls, Moore Cove is a popular stop in Pisgah.

When I left Looking Glass, there was only one other car in the parking area, so I was hopeful Moore Cove wouldn’t be too busy. After driving the mile to my next stop, the roadside parking area had quite a few cars, but still room enough for me to park. For this waterfall you can either pull in straight or back in. If at all possible, I’d suggest backing in. It will just make things easier when it’s time to get back on the road. In peak season, Highway 276 can get really crowded.

Timber retaining stairs leading up and to the left in a wooded area.

The trail to Moore Cove Falls is really short, but you’ll be going uphill almost the whole trip.

The trail to Moore Cove Falls is only .7 miles and listed as “Easy”. Now after a winter of sloth, I your humble narrator didn’t find the hike easy, but it was doable. It starts off with a series of wooden stairs going up to the trail itself. The trail is uphill most of the way to the falls. It will level out a couple times and may even seem like it’s going down hill, but don’t be fooled. You’ll be hiking uphill again soon with a few sets of earthen steps to help you along your way. If you pace yourself you probably won’t have a problem.

A sheet of water flows down onto rocks below with a wooden platform, a small trail, and lots of flora visible on the other side.
View looking out from behind Moore Cove Falls. The viewing platform to the left lets you get a great view of the waterfall in safety.

Once you arrive at the waterfall, you’ll see a nice wooden observation deck to your right and a trail veering off to the left that will take you to the base of the waterfall. The waterfall itself has much less flow than Looking Glass, but the rock formations around and under the waterfall make it stand out. I remembered form my previous trip that people often make their way to shallow cavern behind the waterfall. From the outside, it looked much smaller than I remembered, but once I was behind the falls, it was much roomier than I thought. The boulders would make a great place for a picnic or just to relax and enjoy a cool breeze on a hot day.

Area behind a waterfall. High granite walls giving way smooth boulders on the base of the area. The water from the fall can be seen on the left side of the photo.
When looking at the waterfall, it really doesn’t look too roomy behind the water curtain, but looks can be deceiving. Be warned that there are signs warning of the danger of making your way off the trail.

The wooden observation deck probably offers the best views of the waterfall. There’s a sign on the far end warning people not to climb to the top of Moore Cove Falls and that people have fallen to their deaths from beyond that point. That sign wasn’t there for my last visit when I climbed up the hill beside the waterfall to just relax a little. But it’s best to take warnings like this seriously. You may only be a little over a half mile from your car, but with the spotty mobile phone service in the National Forest, you’d have a hard time getting help if you fell.

Picnic Spots

Large open area dotted with trees and picnic tables.
The Pink Beds near the Cradle of Forestry is one of the largest picnic areas in the forest.

One thing I will say about the Moore Cove Falls trail is that’s it’s really easy on the way back. It should be, it’s all down hill. But I digress, after getting back to my car, I headed back down 276 to the Pink Beds Picnic area. That’s the last picnic ground in Pisgah National Forest along this road and is just past the Cradle of Forestry Entrance – note that the CoF is closed until sometime in April.

Picnic table at the base of a pine tree with a grill sitting nearby.
The picnic tables at Pink Beds are the basic cement type with a pedestal grill you find at most National Parks of a certain age.

Pink Beds is a large open area with lots of picnic tables, grills, and a shelter on the far end. There’s lots of open room for kids to play and restrooms (although currently closed for the winter) are located near the entrance from the parking lot. A nature trail runs around the picnic area with 3 and 5 mile distances. Although today I didn’t jump onto the trail, I have in the past and remember it to be level and a pretty easy walk,

Picnic table on the left side of the road
Highway 276 is dotted with places where you can pull off the road along side the river. Many of them have picnic tables others are just a convenient place to park and unload bikes or go fishing.

There are a couple similar picnic areas closer to the main entrance. These are next to the creek and offer the sounds of flowing water. There are also a bunch of roadside picnic tables where a single family can pull over and picnic beside the river.

Davidson River Road

My GPS told me that there was another cool water fall just off the road that the Animal Education Zone is located. Unfortunately the Education Zone has a sign up saying that it’s closed until further notice. That could be like the CoF and only open during the warmer months. The road GPS told me to take was right next to the fish hatchery but had an open gate on it and a sign saying that it’s for Authorized Vehicles only. I’ll have to get conformation on that before I go back.

Waterfall flowing under a stone bridge with a tree in the way of the shot.
Sunburst Falls is one of many waterfalls in Pisgah Forest that are never as busy as Looking Glass. However you may have to settle for an obstructed view.

But I went back to Davidson River road just to see what was down further. I drove past Starburst Falls without stopping (although I have stooped in the past). Eventually the paved road ended at Cove Creek Organized camp and continued on as a gravel road. I turned around here, but I found out later when I stopped at the Visitor Center that there are indeed a few nice waterfalls down that road. Oh well, that’s for next time. So until then, I’m, signing off.