Courthouse Falls Trail (#130)
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Route of the Courthouse Falls Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route of the Courthouse Falls Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Courthouse Falls Trailhead @ F.R. 140 -- 3,420'
The short path to Courthouse Falls begins off Forest Service Road 140 just past its uppermost crossing of Courthouse Creek, about 3 rough and steep miles where it leaves NC-215...
Courthouse Falls/Summey Cove Trail -- 3,420'
The trail as is departs Forest Service Road 140 alongside Courthouse Creek...
Courthouse Falls/Summey Cove Trail -- 3,410'
The trail follows Courthouse Creek closely all the way to the falls...
Courthouse Falls/Summey Cove Trail -- 3,400'
A particularly pretty section of the trail...
Courthouse Falls/Summey Cove Trail Junction -- 3,400'
At the point where the two trails diverge, along this log marked "falls", the Courthouse Falls Trail switches back sharply to make its steep final descent to the pool below the cascade...
Courthouse Falls Trail -- 3,380'
The spur down to the falls isn't all that steep but the ravine it runs the length of is another story...
Courthouse Falls Trail -- 3,350'
An open ledge just above the falls is perpetually soaked in runoff. It's quite remarkable that debris falling from above hasn't taken out the dilapidated old boardwalk beneath it as yet...
Courthouse Falls Trail -- 3,350'
The star of this trail finally makes an appearance through the trees ahead...
Courthouse Falls Trail -- 3,320'
One last steep flight of wooden steps and the trail arrives alongside Courthouse Creek...
If you were to force me to come up with a 'Top-5' North Carolina waterfall list, this one would defiantly be on it. I never tire of visiting it...at 45' high, Courthouse Falls and its moss covered cliffs are stunning no matter how many times one visits...