Cove Creek Falls

Height: 50 feet
Trail Type: Gravel and Dirt
Hike Distance: 2.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: 7
Beauty: 7

Overview:

Cove Creek Falls is located on the Cove Creek Group Campground, but in general, this is a lesser known waterfall in the area, so it’s possible you won’t have much company here. The trail along Cove Creek has several nice cascades along the way, and you can get right up next to the 50-foot Cove Creek Falls.

Directions:

From the intersection of US 64 and US 276 in Brevard, head north on US 276 for 5.3 miles and turn left onto FR 475. Drive about 3 miles to where the pavement ends and park in the pullout on the left side of the road. The trail starts on the other side of the road.

Hike Description:

Okay, if you want to do this hike the right way, don’t do what I did. I think I took every wrong turn I possibly could and turned a 2.5-mile hike into a 5-mile hike. The waterfall is nice, but it’s not worth walking 5 miles to get to it.

From the parking lot, cross the road that needs to the Cove Creek Group Campground. The main path requires a creek wade, but there’s a side path with a bridge. Take that route.

You’ll rejoin the main path and walk along Cove Creek for a few hundred yards. There are some nice cascades here that are worth checking out. Just before you reach the clearing for the campground, you’ll see signs for the Caney Bottom and Cove Creek trails. Turn left here.

A short distance up the trail, both trails break to the right and cross a small stream. Turn here. You’ll walk along the back side of the campground and up the ridge along Cove Creek. (Going straight instead will take you up the mountain and to the trail where you can access Toms Spring Falls).

After another few minutes, the Caney Bottom and Cove Creek Trails split. Turn right and take the Caney Bottom Trail. I know this seems counterproductive, and if you stay on the Cove Creek Trail, you’ll even come to a Cove Creek Falls side trail. But this takes you to the top of the falls, which is just stupid.

Instead, follow the Caney Bottom Trail to a primitive campsite and look for a trail to the left going upstream. Follow this to the base of the falls.