Accessibility – Easy+

Height – 15′-18′

Distance – 0.1 (out and back)

Beauty – 6

Photo rating – 8

Solitude – 5

GPS Info: LAT 35.3398 LONG -82.7892

Last updated – 04/01/2017

Home     Alphabetical Listing     Numerical Listing     Location Listing   US276 Waterfalls

As you drive along US276 through Pisgah Forest, most of your trip will be with Looking Glass Creek mirroring your path. From there it joins into the Davidson River near the intersection with FR475, Looking Glass Creek is going to be on one side of the road or the other. Several bridges pass over the creek. Looking Glass Falls and Moore Cove are on the right side when heading toward the Blue Ridge Parkway while Sliding Rock and three lesser falls are all on the left.

Starting at the intersection of US64/SC280/US276 in Brevard, follow US276 North for 7.4 miles to a pull off on the left. There are several turnouts on the left side of the road. You can use any of them but the path down I took was from the first one. A good way to tell is you are in the right place is by the presence of a large rock wall across US276.

Just off the side of the parking area are several large boulders. The scramble path down to the base of the falls is between these boulders. The way down is marked with numerous boulders and stones, so use caution on the descent. Near the intersection with the creek the trail goes both up and downstream. To get below the falls turn to the left and make your way to the base of the falls. If the creek is up, the spray off the falls is going to play havoc on your lens, so keep this in mind.

The hike is steep but mercifully short so it isn’t going to wear you out but if you have smaller children, consider their experience before taking them along. It isn’t worth the chance of a fall. My daughter had no issue with the hike but there were a few times when I had to map out her path on the way out. The waterfall is last drop in a section of cascades and drops on this section of the creek. Possibly the neatest thing about this waterfall, besides it not being on most maps is the effects of the creek from where I took my shots. Directly downstream of the falls the temperature was easily 10-15 cooler on my June 2014 visit from the spray coming off the cold water.

The best and possibly only photo opportunity is from behind the boulders on the right side of the creek. There was a downed tree jammed in the base of the falls on both of my 2014 visits. I wasn’t back in 2015 to see if it was still present. You will get a nice shot from creek level but the mist can be a problem.