Devil’s Courthouse is an amazing and quick hike for any Blue Ridge Parkway adventure. There are so many things I love about this hike, but of course, the stunning view that allows you to see into four states has to top the list. The Blue Ridge Parkway is filled with amazing hikes, but this one is extra special because it’s conveniently located and such a quick, short hike!
Devil’s Courthouse Quick Info
TRAIL LENGHT: 1 Mile Total Roundtrip, Out and Back Trail
TRAIL DIFFICULTY: This trail is rated moderate. Although it’s very short, it’s pretty much straight up and straight down.
GETTING TO THE DEVIL’S COURTHOUSE TRAILHEAD: The Devil’s Courthouse Trailhead is very conveniently located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 422. This is also a beautiful overlook to hang out at if you have people with you who aren’t up for the hike. Especially since it’s a quick hike.
OTHER TRAILS NEARBY: Skinny Dip Falls, Black Balsam Knob and Graveyard Fields – all of these trails are also just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out this post on 16 amazing hikes near Asheville.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR HERE: Asheville, North Carolina or Brevard, North Carolina
UNREACHABLE IN WINTER: Because many sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed in the winter, this trailhead is unreachable in the wintertime. Be sure to enjoy this hike in the spring, summer and autumn!
DON’T FORGET TO PACK: A few hiking items I recommend for this hike (and other NC hikes) are: Teva Sandals for both men and women, hiking poles, a reusable water bottle, a daypack and travel insurance!
Detailed Devil’s Courthouse Hike Experience
Devil’s Courthouse is one of my favorite Blue Ridge Parkway hikes because it is just so much bang for a really short hike. The view of the actual mountain is absolutely beautiful from the parking area, as well as the surrounding areas, of course. It makes for a very peaceful spot for a picnic or relaxing before or after the hike. I love that you can see the hikers on the summit from down here, and they look like ants! In fact, the very first time I did this hike with my dad, my mom took a picture of us up on the summit (photo above) and it’s super crazy to see!
The Devil’s Courthouse hike takes you along the parkway for just a minute or two and then instantly up into the trees. I would say close to half of the trail is paved with little speed bumps in it. That said, I don’t know that I would call this section of the trail accessible, because of how steep it is! Remember, you summit a 5700-foot mountain in half a mile! Plus, the second half of the trail is gravel and requires steps up, over and around tree roots and rocks. Plus, the summit is its very rugged terrain!
If the sound of a super-steep hike seems daunting, don’t worry they have benches along the way for resting. It is steep, but I would still very comfortably rate this trail as moderate, not strenuous.
The summit of the mountain has a decent amount of space, so even if you’re up there at a busy time, you’ll find your own little piece of peace while atop this mountain. The mountain’s view is so impressive that you can see all the way to South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee from this NC summit. This is an amazing site to see at any time of the day, but if you’re looking for a sunset spot along the Blue Ridge Parkway, this summit ends facing the Western horizon, meaning it’s the perfect place to catch that sunset view.
Where Does Devil’s Courthouse Get Its Name?
Some say the name Devil’s Courthouse is rooted in Cherokee-lore. Legend has it that an evil slant-eyed giant called the ‘Judaculla’ held court in this cave. Although, an anthropologist who specialized in the Cherokee culture apparently found that the Judaculla cave was actually on Mount Tanasee. However, the name Devil’s Courthouse is still attached to this mountain. Other sources say, the name comes from the sheer rockiness of the mountain face that give it a “demonic” look.
My Memories from This Hike
Because I’ve done this hike so many times, and that at my core, I want this blog to be both a tool for travelers and a place to share about my personal experiences, I want to share some of my very favorite moments hiking up Devil’s Courthouse.
MY VERY FIRST DEVIL’S COURTHOUSE HIKE – In 2014, I did this hike with my dad. My mom isn’t super into heights, so she stayed down at the bottom while we did this hike. I had lived in Asheville for a few months, and I had had my eye on this hike since I had arrived, but I wanted to save it to do with my dad. It was instantly a Parkway favorite.
MY SUNSET DATE WITH MATT – When Matt and I lived in Asheville in 2015, Matt got off work and we just got the itch to get outside. Since it was already early evening, we knew we needed to do something relatively short. So we drove up the parkway to catch a beautiful sunset on top of the Devil’s Courthouse. That was such a special time in our lives and this experience was so indicative of how we lived our lives in Asheville: filled with love and adventures.
HIKING TO THE TOP WITH STACEY + ABBY – In 2015, my bestie and her friend (now our friend too) came to visit us and we spent one day up on The Parkway. It was a really beautiful day and just so much fun. It was super bright out and I remember that my phone took this picture that made the mountains look turquoise and purple, unfiltered. It blew my mind.
TAKING CHARLEIGH TO THE TOP – May 2021, Matt and I were trying to do as much as we could even though we still had a little one. So we loaded Charleigh up, along with Matt’s brother and sister-in-law and we took off for Devil’s Courthouse! Getting to the summit with our sweet little girl was such an amazing experience. Even though she was only 3.5 months old, I’ll always remember carrying her sweet little self up the mountain and squeezing her tight as I looked out on all the magic that is the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Devil’s Courthouse is clearly a hike that will leave you with beautiful memories no matter how many times you do it! When I learn that someone is driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, this is always a hike a recommend because no matter how much or how little time people have this hike is easy to squeeze in and will leave you in awe that you get this amazing of a view after just half a mile each way.
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