Updated July 2026
Courthouse Falls
Courthouse Falls is a roughly 45-foot plunge on Courthouse Creek that drops into a deep emerald pool inside a rock-walled cove in Pisgah National Forest. It is reached via a short but steep trail off the Summey Cove Trail near Balsam Grove.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Pisgah National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Courthouse Falls drops about 45 feet. That makes it the 453rd-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 34% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Courthouse Falls Trail (Summey Cove Trail) reaches it about 1.9 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 328 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Balsam Grove. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Pisgah National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.
No best-season window is documented for Courthouse Falls. As a general rule, waterfall flow peaks with spring snowmelt and after sustained rain, and drops sharply in late summer.
More North Carolina waterfalls
- Bridal Veil Falls · 120 ft
- Catawba Falls · 100 ft
- Crabtree Falls · 70 ft
- Cullasaja Falls · 200 ft
- Daniel Ridge Falls · 150 ft
- Dill Falls · 50 ft
- Douglas Falls · 60 ft
- Dry Falls · 75 ft
Sources
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