A granite dome and two waterfalls near Brevard
At the end of August 2025 we spent a long weekend in the Pisgah Ranger District near Brevard, North Carolina. We hiked Looking Glass Rock, stopped at two waterfalls along US 276, and spent a day in DuPont State Forest.
🥾 Looking Glass Rock
Looking Glass Rock is the big granite dome you see from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Forest Service lists the Looking Glass Rock Trail at 3.1 miles, moderate, with an elevation change of about 1,700 feet and a “virtually constant climb.” Other sources give 6.4 miles round trip, which matches 3.1 miles each way. The trailhead is just up Forest Road 475 off US 276.
The trail is roots and switchbacks most of the way, and then it comes out on open granite slabs near the top.
🥾 Looking Glass Falls
The next morning we started at Looking Glass Falls, right beside US 276. It has a viewing deck at road level and stairs down to the creek. It is usually given as 60 feet tall.
🥾 Moore Cove Falls
A little farther up US 276 is the Moore Cove Trail, which the Forest Service lists at 0.7 mile, easy, to a falls that “drops 50 feet over a cave-like rock outcropping.” The Forest Service does not recommend going into the area behind the water, because the wet rock is slippery.
From there we went on to DuPont State Forest, whose waterfalls have their own post.
🥾 Trail facts
- Looking Glass Rock Trail: 3.1 miles (one way, by other sources), moderate, about 1,700 feet of elevation change, foot traffic only
- Looking Glass Falls: roadside on US 276, viewing deck and stairs, no fee, limited parking
- Moore Cove Falls: 0.7 mile, easy, 50-foot falls, parking on the shoulder of US 276
- Status: a small wildfire near Looking Glass Rock in April 2026 closed FR 475 and the trailhead for a while. Check with the Pisgah Ranger District before you go.
- Managed by: USDA Forest Service, Pisgah Ranger District
Trail facts checked October 2026. Sources: USFS: Looking Glass Rock Trail, USFS: Looking Glass Falls, USFS: Moore Cove Trail, USFS: Looking Glass Fire update. The height of Looking Glass Falls is from secondary sources. Trails and roads change, so check with the managing agency before you go.
