Courthouse Falls is a

waterfall A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...

in Western

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

, located near Balsam Grove.

Geology

Courthouse Creek A courthouse or court house is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English-spe ...

flows through the

Pisgah National Forest Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is complet ...

near a

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited Summit (topography), summit area, and ...

called the Devil's Courthouse then through a narrow chute into a natural amphitheater of bedrock.

Visiting

The falls are accessible to the general public on a trail of moderate difficulty. To reach the falls, either go down NC Highway 215 for 6.5 miles south from the

Blue Ridge Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenand ...

and turn left onto Forest Road 140 (Courthouse Creek Road). Go 3 miles down the road and park on the right just after crossing the bridge over Courthouse Creek. Follow the marked trail for .36 miles to the falls, which will be on the left.Kevin Adams, North Carolina Waterfalls, pp. 311-312

Nearby falls

About 1.4 miles from NC 215 on Forest Road 140, on the way to Courthouse Falls, is a 200' high waterfall on a side stream of the North Fork French Broad River. Upper Courthouse Falls is another waterfall a half mile upstream on Courthouse Creek. The trail is overgrown and the falls are difficult to reach. About 3/4 mile upstream from that is ''another'' falls also referred to as Upper Courthouse Falls. Other falls in the region include: * Chestnut Falls * Kiesee Falls * Dill Falls * French Broad and Mill Shoals Falls * Bird Rock Falls *

Eastatoe Falls Eastatoe Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, United States, located on private property near the town of Rosman. The public was once allowed access, but as of 2019, the property has been sold, and it has been closed to the public. S ...

References

External links

North Carolina Waterfalls - Courthouse Falls

Video Overview of Courthouse Falls
Protected areas of Transylvania County, North Carolina Waterfalls of North Carolina Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls of Transylvania County, North Carolina