Accessibility – Moderate+
Height – 25′-30′ (over several drops)
Distance – 10.8 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 4
Photo rating – 3
Solitude – 8
GPS Info: LAT 35.06797 LONG -82.40188
Last Updated – 12-28-2024
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This hike wasn’t about the waterfalls. It was about exploring the abandoned town of Lost Cove. The fact there were two waterfalls was a bonus.
Where to park: The parking is at a wide area near the end of Flat Top Road E. The road goes into a left turn and there is parking at the outside of the turn. The GPS of the location is at 36.0546, -82.37829. The Lost Cove Trail departs from the apex of the turn, embarking on an easy climb to Joe Lewis Fields This is the highest elevation on the hike and the trail makes a hard left on the summit and begins the descent toward Lost Cove. The Devil’s Creek Trail departs on the right at the 1.5 mile mark of the hike, this is just before the Lost Cove Trail goes into another set of switchbacks. In another 1.1 miles, the Lost Cove Trail comes to a T Intersection. Heading to the right will lead you to an old house and the school, while making a left will lead you past some chimneys, an old truck, and a corn crib before passing Miracle Rock.
It’s worth exploring all of it, including Lost Creek Cemetery. Once you pass Miracle Rock, there isn’t anything else to see until you get closer to the railroad tracks. The Lost Cove Trail parallels a creek as it nears the tracks, and when that creek joins Lost Cove Creek, head upstream to see the waterfall. There is a nice cascade you’ll come to first before you reach the waterfall. The Lost Cove Trail ends at the railroad tracks, and 0.25 of a mile from where the trial ends, Trackside Falls can be seen if you look to the right. This is an active railroad spur, and several trains passed while we were exploring the remains of the town.
I couldn’t help myself with the black and white conversion on the pictures of the town. The other very cool thing about our visit to the ghost town of Lost Cove was making the hike on Halloween!
