Kiesee Falls
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Transylvania County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Partial guide: access road closed for storm damage; bushwhack with an exposed rock face
- The walk
- About 6 miles return while FS 140 is closed; about 1.4 miles return from the curve if it reopens
- Ground & access
- Overgrown roads with downfall, bushwhack, creek crossing and a steep, exposed rock face. For experienced off-trail hikers only; not for children.
From the sharp left curve on FS 140, follow the old logging road. Go right at the fork at 0.26 mile, then at 0.48 mile take the overgrown road bearing right down to Kiesee Creek (left leads to Upper Kiesee Falls). Scramble down to the creek, cross to the left bank going upstream, and push through dog hobble to a small falls and pool. Climb the bank and come back down a steep, exposed rock face to the creek, then creek walk to the base. There is no safe route down from Upper Kiesee Falls.
Plan your visit
FS 140 (Courthouse Creek Road) to Kiesee Falls by old logging roads and a bushwhack
NCWaterfalls gives about 0.7 mile one way from the sharp left curve 2.3 miles up FS 140. The Forest Service lists FS 140 as closed, so the longer figure adds the 2.3-mile road walk each way from NC 215.
Overgrown roads with downfall, bushwhack, creek crossing and a steep, exposed rock face. For experienced off-trail hikers only; not for children.
Where to start
FS 140 leaves NC 215 6.65 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. With the road closed, NCWaterfalls says to park in the area beside NC 215 across from FS 140 and walk the road. The Forest Service lists FS 140 as closed due to storm damage and does not say whether foot travel is allowed.
Timing & water
FS 140 has been closed since Hurricane Helene. Logging in 2020 changed the start of the route; directions may be out of date.
Before you go
Current fees and reservation requirements unknown.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Kiesee FallsPartial guide: the access road is closed and the path may have changed since loggingTransylvania County, NC0.0 miNE
- Chestnut FallsPartial guide: FR 140 closed for storm damage; long road walk and faint pathTransylvania County, NC0.3 miW
- Lower Chestnut FallsPartial guide: access road closed for storm damage; bushwhack and creek walkTransylvania County, NC0.3 miSW
Courthouse FallsApproach road closed due to storm damage; no open parking-to-falls route verified.33 ft (10 m) · Transylvania County, NC0.9 miSW- Cody FallsPartial guide: Courthouse Creek Road is closed for storm damage and foot access on it is not confirmedTransylvania County, NC1.0 miSW
- Upper Courthouse FallsPartial guide: Courthouse Creek Road is closed to vehicles, so the walk is about 4 miles each wayTransylvania County, NC1.0 miW
- Summey Cove FallsPartial: FS 140 closed for storm damage; view mostly blocked by treesTransylvania County, NC1.2 miSW
- Sassafras Knob FallsTransylvania County, NC1.3 miE
- Laurel Fork FallsPartial: no trail for the last half mile; difficult bushwhack52 ft (16 m) · Transylvania County, NC1.4 miE