The Cove Creek and Caney Bottom trails are less traveled but worthwhile destinations in the Pisgah National Forest, in close proximity to the more heavily trafficked Looking Glass Rock and Moore Cove Falls.
Park at the Cove Creek parking area along FS475 a short ways past the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, there is parking along both sides of the road. Start the hike passing the sign kiosk, and continue along the trail which follows a gravel road to the Cove Creek Group Camp. I went counter clockwise, following the trail through the grassy meadows of the group camp. Along the way you will pass several cascade of varying sizes along Caney Bottom Creek. Just under 1.5 mile mark you will reach Caney Bottom Falls. After this waterfall, continue on until you reach the intersection of the Cove Creek and Caney Bottom Trails to start the loop back.
Now on the Cove Creek trail, you’ll gently climb and then descend back down rejoining Cove Creek. At mile 3.5, take the short but steep side trail down to enjoy the largest waterfall on the hike, Cove Creek Falls. A short walk after the falls returns you back to the road at the beginning of the Group Camp area. Follow the road back out the way you came in.
As a bonus, once you get back to the parking area, cross the road and take a dip in one of the best swimming holes in the Pisgah National Forest at Whaleback Falls. Less than a minute walk from the road, there is a beautiful falls and a deep pool with plenty of rocks to relax on right where Lower Cove Creek feeds in to the Davidson River.