Chestnut Cove Branch Falls
Avery County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Avery County, North Carolina
- Access status
- National forest trails; wading for the view
- The walk
- About 2.4 miles return
- Ground & access
- Moderate. Steep descent near the creek. Wading in the pool for the best view. Rocks are slippery.
From NC 181 north of Morganton, turn right on Pittman Gap Road (becomes Clarktown Road), then left on Old Jonas Ridge Road and right on Old Mortimer Road at the church. The road becomes gravel FR 464. Drive 4.4 miles to a pulloff on the left opposite a gated road. Take North Harper Creek Falls Trail (#239) down about a mile to North Harper Creek Trail (#266). Turn left and descend about 0.1 miles to the creek at the top of the waterfall. Right goes to North Harper Creek Falls; turn left on #266 and in about a hundred feet an obvious path on the right leads to the base. The falls is a sliding cascade on North Harper Creek where Chestnut Cove Branch enters at the base. Wading is usually needed for a full view.
Plan your visit
FR 464 pulloff, North Harper Creek Falls Trail and North Harper Creek Trail to Chestnut Cove Branch Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a 2.4 mile round trip from the FR 464 trailhead.
Moderate. Steep descent near the creek. Wading in the pool for the best view. Rocks are slippery.
Where to start
Pulloff on the left of FR 464, 4.4 miles from Old Jonas Ridge Road, opposite a gated road. Published trailhead coordinates: 36.01062, -81.82573.
Timing & water
Gravel forest road. Creek crossings are harder in high water.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned. Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Ranger District.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- North Harper Creek FallsNational forest trails; one creek crossingAvery County, NC0.1 miNW
- Upper Little Lost Cove FallsPartial: walk on a road closed to vehicles, then an unsigned steep path; older route descriptionAvery County, NC1.4 miN
- Little Lost Cove FallsPartial: forest road walk, then a steep rough path with off-trail scramblingAvery County, NC1.4 miNE
- Skidder FallsAvery County, NC1.6 miSW
- Bard FallsPublished national forest trail route; creek wadeAvery County, NC1.9 miE
- Huntfish FallsSigned national forest trail; steep return; current storm-recovery status not confirmedAvery County, NC2.1 miE
- Huntfish Sidekick FallsForest Service trail; side view and base of Sidekick Falls at the trail endAvery County, NC2.1 miE
- Upper South Harper Creek FallsAvery County, NC2.2 miSE
- South Harper Creek FallsAvery County, NC2.2 miSE