Hike the Devils Courthouse Trail

View from top of Devils Courthouse

NPS Photo / A. Armstrong

The Devils Courthouse Trail is a great hike for the entire family. Children and family members with a reasonable amount of physical fitness can enjoy the walk to the overlook. Once you’re at the top, look down at the parking lot and take pride in how far you’ve hiked. Enjoy the sweeping views in every direction. From this vantage point you can see into three other states—South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

The paved trail starts from the Devils Courthouse Overlook at Milepost 422 on the Parkway. The climb up the moderate to strenuous trail is worth the view from the overlook at the top. The first portion of the trail is paved.  The hike is only 0.5 miles to the top, but it's a steep climb. There are places to stop and rest along the way. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a light jacket. It can be windy up top.

The surrounding red spruce and Fraser fir forest is a unique ecosystem that is a relic from the last ice age dating back over 10,000 years ago. Glaciers didn't come this far south, but temperatures were cooler. Species that could tolerate and thrive in cold temperatures survived farther south than they typically do now. Tiny fragments of these forests remain today on high mountain peaks due to their cooler and moister environments. Hiking the trail at Devils Courthouse is like hiking in the boreal forests of Canada.

Toward the end of the trail, a connector trail to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail breaks off to the left. To continue to the overlook, keep right. At the top, the forest gives way to a rocky outcrop and the overlook at the very top. On a clear day, this viewpoint allows a panoramic vista of the surrounding mountains and the valley below Devils Courthouse. It is a great place to look for soaring birds like hawks, vultures, and eagles. Peregrine falcons have nested on the rock face below, however not for several years. Biologists believe visitors climbing over the barrier walls at the overlook may have unwittingly interfered with these threatened bird’s fragile nesting habitat. Please remain behind the overlook walls.


 

Details

Duration

1-2 Hours

Hiking the trail round trip will take everyone a varying amount of time depending on their fitness level, how frequently they stop along the way, and how long they spend at the overlook. There is a picnic table available at the end of the parking lot and a large grassy area where visitors can spread a blanket to picnic, if they’d like. The drive time from Waynesville is about 30 minutes. Driving from the Asheville area is about an hour. Consider taking your time, stopping along the way, enjoying a picnic at Devils Courthouse or at another picnic area along the Parkway. Pisgah and Waterrock Knob both have picnic facilities available.

Activity

Hiking

During the hike, there are opportunities to look for wildlife, bird watch, identify wildflowers, take photos, and have a picnic.

Age(s)

It’s not a matter of age. It’s a matter of physical ability, mobility, and fitness. We see people of all ages heading up the trail, and parents of little ones strapping on backpack carriers.

Pets Allowed

Yes

Pets are allowed on leashes no longer than 6 feet long.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Devils Courthouse, Milepost 422

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

The Parkway is often closed at high elevations in the winter. Check before you head out to make sure the road is open.

Time of Day

Day, Dawn, Dusk

Accessibility Information

The first half of the trail is a paved walkway 3-4 feet wide with a grade that varies between an estimated 4%-20% and includes raised water diversion humps. At the midway point, the trail becomes a steep, narrow rocky path which includes a series of wooden steps.