Trail Guide · ~26 min from Pisgah Base Camp
Moore Cove Falls
A gentle 50-foot veil you can stand behind, at the end of an easy half-mile walk through the forest.
Drive Time
~26 min
from the house
Height
50 ft
veil over an overhang
Round Trip
1.4 mi
0.7 mi each way
Difficulty
Easy
good with kids
What to Expect
A short walk to a waterfall you can stand behind
Moore Cove Falls is an easy 0.7-mile walk from a small pullout on US-276, about a mile past Looking Glass Falls. The trail starts across a wooden footbridge over Looking Glass Creek, then follows the cove gently uphill through hardwoods and rhododendron to an observation deck facing the falls. Most people take about fifteen or twenty minutes each way at an easy pace.
The falls themselves drop 50 feet over a wide, cave-like overhang. The water falls clear of the rock, which leaves an open space behind the curtain. You can step into it, and plenty of people do, but the Forest Service asks visitors to enjoy the view from the deck. The rock back there stays wet and slick, and it is the one part of this otherwise gentle outing that turns serious.
This is one of the best short hikes in the area for families, a rest day, or anyone who wants a real trail without a real climb. The grade is easy, the distance is short, and the payoff at the end is a waterfall you will want to photograph. Pair it with Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock a little farther down the road for an easy US-276 waterfall day.
The catch is the same as most stops on this road. The lot is small, room for about 10 cars, and it fills fast on warm weekends and through fall color. Early morning and late afternoon are your best windows. After rain the trail gets muddy in a few low spots near the creek, so wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty.
The Falls
What you're looking at
The Veil
50 ftA thin curtain of water sliding 50 feet over a wide, cave-like rock overhang. The flow runs light and lacy in dry stretches and fills out after rain. Because the water falls clear of the rock, there is an open, sheltered space behind it, which is what makes this falls unusual.
The Walk Behind
Look, don't lingerThe space behind the curtain is the reason a lot of people make the walk, and yes, you can step into it. The Forest Service asks visitors to enjoy the falls from the observation deck instead. The rock back there stays wet and slick year round, and it is where people get hurt.
After Rain
A different fallsA quiet trickle in a dry spell turns into a real curtain after a good rain, when the falls are at their best. The trail turns muddy then too, with a few soft spots near the creek, so wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty.
Why We Love It
The easiest real hike with a big finish
Some outings make you choose between an easy day and a memorable one. Moore Cove gives you both. It is short and gentle enough for little kids and tired legs, but it still feels like a proper walk in the woods, and the waterfall at the end is the kind of thing people remember from the trip. That combination is rare.
It also sits right on the US-276 corridor that leads to most of the forest, so it folds into almost any plan. String it together with Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock for a half-day of water, or save it for a slow morning when you want a little walk and a lot of payoff. Bring a snack, take the kids, and let it be simple.
Backstory
Why you can walk behind it
The overhang is the whole story. The falls pour over a hard lip of rock that juts out past softer rock underneath. Over a long time the softer rock weathered back into a shallow, cave-like recess, so the water now drops clear of the wall instead of running down it. That is what leaves the open space behind the curtain.
The walk itself begins by crossing Looking Glass Creek, the same creek that feeds Looking Glass Falls just down the road and Sliding Rock a few miles up. It is a good reminder of how much of this corner of Pisgah is shaped by one watershed and the road that runs alongside it.
Know Before You Go
Short hike, small lot
- Easy and kid-friendly. About 0.7 miles each way on a well-worn path with a gentle grade. One of the best short hikes around for families or a relaxed morning.
- Small lot, park smart. Room for roughly 10 cars in the roadside pullout just before the stone bridge. It fills on warm weekends, so go early or late.
- The trail gets muddy. A few low spots near the creek stay soft after rain. Wear real shoes and expect to pick your line in places.
- No restrooms. Nothing at the trailhead. The nearest options are back toward the ranger station or up at Sliding Rock in season.
- No fee. Moore Cove Falls is free and open year round.
- Dogs welcome. Leashed dogs are fine on the trail. Keep them off the slick rock near and behind the falls.
- Stay off the top. The observation deck is the spot. The rock behind and above the falls stays wet and dangerous.
Safety First
Real risks at the falls
- The rock behind and above the falls stays wet and slippery. The Forest Service asks visitors to stay at the observation deck rather than go behind the curtain.
- Do not climb to the top of the falls. People have died attempting it here. There is no safe route up, and the wet rock gives way.
- The trail turns muddy and the creek rises after rain. Watch your footing near the water and keep kids close.
- Stay on the established path. The social trails past the falls are steep, exposed scrambles, not maintained trail.
- This is black bear country. Pack out all food and trash.
Directions
From Pisgah Base Camp to the trailhead
Moore Cove sits right off US-276 in the Pisgah Ranger District, about a mile north of Looking Glass Falls. Park in the small pullout on the right just before the stone bridge over Looking Glass Creek. The trail starts across the footbridge and ends at an observation deck facing the falls.
- 1 From the house, head toward the Pisgah Forest entrance and the US-276 corridor.
- 2 Turn north onto US-276 and enter Pisgah National Forest at the ranger station.
- 3 Stay on US-276 for about 5 miles, passing Looking Glass Falls, then continue about 1 mile past it.
- 4 Watch for the small parking pullout on the right, just before the stone bridge. If it is full, continue up the road and circle back rather than parking along the highway.
US-276 and the surrounding forest can close in sections for weather, repairs, and fire activity. Check current Pisgah status before you go.
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You Already Know the Trip You Want
An early start. A big day outside. Then a hot shower and a quiet night when you get back.
That's the trip. You just need the right place to do it from.
We'll help you sort out the plan before you get here. You bring the bikes, boots, rods, and the dog.