WaterfallNear Me

Upper Kiesee Falls

Transylvania County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Access status
Partial guide: the access road is closed and the path may have changed since logging
The walk
About 0.8 miles each way from the curve on FS 140, plus about 2.3 miles each way on the closed road from NC 215
Ground & access
Overgrown logging roads, a makeshift steep path and a steep sloping rock at the creek. NCWaterfalls says a rope is needed if the rock is icy or covered in wet leaves. Do not try to climb down to the lower falls from here; it is surrounded by steep rock walls.
NCWaterfalls.com: Upper Kiesee Falls

Upper Kiesee Falls is a 16-foot waterfall with a swimming pool on Kiesee Creek in Pisgah National Forest. NCWaterfalls says FS 140 is closed indefinitely, so park beside NC 215 across from FS 140 and walk the road to its sharp left curve. From the curve, follow the old logging road; go right on the lower path at a fork at 0.26 miles and left at another fork at 0.48 miles. About 0.25 miles later, past a small wet-weather branch, a makeshift path descends a few hundred feet to the creek.

Plan your visit

FS 140 (Courthouse Creek Road), closed to vehicles, then old logging roads and a makeshift path down to Upper Kiesee Falls

NCWaterfalls gives about 0.8 miles from the curve on FS 140 and says the curve is 2.3 miles up FS 140 from NC 215. With the road closed, the road walk is added.

Overgrown logging roads, a makeshift steep path and a steep sloping rock at the creek. NCWaterfalls says a rope is needed if the rock is icy or covered in wet leaves. Do not try to climb down to the lower falls from here; it is surrounded by steep rock walls.

Where to start

Area beside NC 215 across from FS 140, 6.65 miles south of Beech Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway and 10.4 miles north of US 64. Driving up FS 140 is not possible while the road is closed.

Timing & water

FS 140 is closed to vehicles indefinitely according to NCWaterfalls. The route description dates from 2020, when logging was underway, so the path may have changed.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Transylvania County, North Carolina.

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