Courthouse Creek
Trailhead to NF French Broad
| Difficulty | IV(V+) |
| Length | 2.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 26, 2026 |
Courthouse Creek is a great option for high water days in the Balsams. Driving up the dirt USFS road you'll get a great feel for the creek, which boasts quite a few nice Class IV bedrock rapids. About a mile and half up two closely spaced bridges bracket of two of the bigger rapids on the run. Paddlers can put in above or below these rapids, or drive up away from the Creek for a ways and put in below Courthouse Falls. This run is likely of comparable difficulty to the North Fork of the French Broad or the Upper Davidson though with a greater number of challenging rapids than the latter.
If you are feeling like a big challenging waterfall, scout and consider the 45-foot Courthouse Falls. The falls were probably first run by Kent Wigington and Russ Kulmar around 1992.
NOTE: Hurricane Helene did a number on Courthouse Creek Road. The road is washed out in several places. This road is gated & seems the gate will remain closed until further notice. To reach the put in you'll have to park at the bridge on NC 215 & hike approximatly 3mi & over 600ft of elevation to reach Courthouse Falls. You could hike up & put in below it but still a trek with a boat. Another option would to hike up Summey Cove. This trail is just under a 2mi climb but similar elevation.
Good parking here allows paddlers to put in above or below the rapids between the bridges, and to road scout much of the run on the drive up.
Paddle under the 215 Bridge and take out on the left to access the ample parking area. Note the gage under the bridge.
Nov 11, 2022
Fun day during a fall hurricane with pretty ideal flows.
Jul 14, 2013
Ran this creek 7/5/2013 @ 2' 6' on the 215 bridge at the take out, the French Broad Rosman gauge was around 2500 and dropping, we rant it & again on 7/7/2013 @ 2' 0' on the 215 bridge, the Rosman gauge was around 1700 cfs. On 7/5/13 we got to the high water bridge, and choose not to drive across and hiked up the 1.5 miles to the water fall, none of us ran the falls. There was some wood in the section between the falls and the low water bridge but we didn't have to portage any rapids, we only got out to scout for wood. There was less wood above the low water bridge than below the low water bridge. On these dates you could paddle the stretch without portaging wood but a few spots were tight or required some precise moves.
This was a great run at 2' 6' and when we found our selves out there again 2 days later at 2' we still had a good time. On 7/7/13 we did not drive or hike up to the falls, just did a few laps from the low water bridge down. 2' is a good minimum, any lower and it would probably get scrappy but I would do it again at 2' for sure.
Jan 9, 2007
Below the falls is a class 5 section with lots of potential for wood.
Most people put in on the lower run from the low water bridge down. This option is great micro creeking with wood pontial. As of December 06 there was only wood on one spot which was a mandatory portage and you can see it from the road. There is more wood but you can sneak around it.
Mar 15, 2006
After finding the creek too low to run, the hike into Courthouse Falls was a good substitute.
Jan 20, 2006
To access the falls/creek: drive past the North Fork put-in a few miles, on 215, until you pass through a very small community, there will be a small trout farm on your left- turn onto the forest road on the right(It is currently gated off), just before the bridge:the creek will cross 215 here. The falls are about 10min, by car, up the road. after the 2nd or so bridge there will be a trail off to the left, park on the right and you can hike to the falls from here. For the upper portions of the creek, continue driving/hiking up the dirt road. The creek is roadside the majority of the way. There is a tributary, about 300yards up from the gate, which continues along HWY 215, which is worth looking at: very tight, technical, steep slides and big drops.
