Chestnut Falls

FR 140 gate and FR 5031 to Chestnut Falls

Kevin Adams gives a little over 1 mile one way from the gate on FR 140 (0.1 miles on FR 140, 0.8 miles on FR 5031 and several hundred feet of path). Rich Stevenson reported in May 2025 that FR 140 was closed since Tropical Storm Helene and that the walk up the road to the Courthouse Falls trailhead is 3 miles; the FR 5031 turn is about 0.4 miles short of that. The longer figure adds about 5 miles of road walking.

Gated forest roads then an overgrown, hard to find path with fallen trees. Adams rates it a moderate Class I bushwhack.

Where to start

Adams parks in the cleared area on the left at the FR 140 gate, 2.5 miles up FR 140 (Courthouse Creek Road) from NC 215. Adams adds that FR 140 was closed indefinitely at the time of writing; if closed, park in the area beside NC 215 across from FR 140 and walk the road. FR 140 leaves NC 215 6.65 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway or 10.4 miles north of US 64.

Timing & water

The Forest Service lists Courthouse Creek Road (FS 140) as closed due to storm damage. A May 2025 visitor report said the waterfalls were still reachable on foot. Check with the Pisgah Ranger District before going.

Before you go

No fee reported. Pisgah National Forest, Pisgah Ranger District.