Fishing Looking Glass Creek in the Pisgah National Forest

The confluence of Looking Glass Creek and the Davidson River is located approximately eight miles inside the entrance of the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina on Highway 276 which crosses the creek just before curving to the right. Looking Glass Creek is a typical shallow running rocky bottom stream with pockets of deeper water and the occasional deeper pool.

Classified as a Wild Trout Stream by North Carolina Wildlife, only artificial lures with a single hook may be used when fishing. A limit of four fish may be harvested daily and must be at least seven inches in length. The river is open to fishing year round and is inhabited by wild rainbow trout which are easily spooked. The river is easily accessible as the highway continues to follow Looking Glass Creek until just below the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Center.

As you begin to drive along Looking Glass Creek you will soon come to what is perhaps the most recognizable natural feature of the Pisgah Region of Pisgah National Forest. Looking Glass Falls is approximately sixty feet tall and is a truly spectacular waterfall. Fishing below the falls consists of a descent pool at the Hwy 276 Bridge and mixed flat and pocket water up stream to the falls. Over hanging laurel, rhododendron and hard woods provide cover for trout and aid in forming dark pockets which should be worked at every opportunity.

When approaching the falls, there are some larger rocks along the banks which have formed washouts beneath them; these have been known to hold decent trout from time to time. There is a newly reconstructed trail which will lead you up to the highway and parking area and enable you to walk around and upstream past the safety fence at the top of the falls. There have been many accidents around the falls as a result of people getting too close, slipping on mossy rocks, and falling over the edge. Safety fence and warning signs are now posted warning of the dangers associated with water falls.