Moore Cove 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 ...

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 ...

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 Brevard.

Natural history

The name comes from Moore Cove, and was named for Adam Q. Moore, who purchased the property. In 1891, the property was sold to

George W. Vanderbilt George Washington Vanderbilt II (November 14, 1862 – March 6, 1914) was an art collector and member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, which amassed a huge fortune through steamboats, railroads, and various business enterprises. He commissi ...

for $155 to become part of the Pisgah National Forest.Kevin Adams, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'', p. 216

Geology

The waterway is Moore Creek, which flows through the

. The falls flows over an overhanging bluff that allows visitors to walk behind the falls. The creek occasionally dries to a trickle.

Visiting the waterfall

The waterfall is open to the public and are accessible beginning at a parking area on the side of

U.S. Highway 276 U.S. Route 276 (US 276) is a United States highway that runs for from Mauldin, South Carolina to Cove Creek, North Carolina. It is known both as a busy urban highway in Greenville, South Carolina and a scenic back-road in Western North Caroli ...

, approximately 6.6 miles north of the intersection of 276,

U.S. Highway 64 U.S. Route 64 (US 64) is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles (3,743 km) from Nags Head in eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 1 ...

, and NC Highway 280 in Brevard, North Carolina. Visitors may take a moderate-difficulty ¾-mile (1.2 km) trail to the falls. As with all waterfalls, hikers must exercise caution. While the area around the bottom of the falls is flat and generally not dangerous, unofficial paths lead to the top of the falls and are treacherous. On April 29, 2007, a hiker fell from the top of the falls to his death. On November 22, 2016, a hiker fell from the top of the falls to his death. Another hiker died here while trying to cross the top of the falls on August 23, 2017.

Nearby falls

There are several sliding falls along the trail to Moore Cove. At Moore Cove, there is a smaller, nearly identical waterfall on the side of the cove opposite the trail. It is much more difficult to get to, and is usually not attractive for waterfall tourists.Kevin Adams, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'', p. 217 *

Looking Glass Falls Looking Glass Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. Natural history The name comes from nearby Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a wintertime mirror (or "looking glass") of sunlight, as water freezes on its side ...

* Slick Rock Falls * Sliding Rock * Cedar Rock Falls * Cove Creek Falls * Daniel Ridge Falls * Twin Falls * Log Hollow Falls * Falls on Log Hollow Branch * Key Falls

References

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External links

North Carolina Waterfalls - Moore Cove Falls

HD Carolina - Moore Cove Falls
Protected areas of Transylvania County, North Carolina Waterfalls of North Carolina Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls of Transylvania County, North Carolina