| The Great Smoky Mountains holds many wonders | | | | far side of Deep Creek. Turn right at the junction |
| for the 9 million plus tourists who flock to the | | | | with Indian Creek Trail and precede approximately |
| area each year but one of the most amazing | | | | 200' to Indian Creek Falls. The falls are 25 feet in |
| wonders are the streams and waterfalls found | | | | height. Follow the signs through downtown Bryson |
| within this most visited National Park. The streams | | | | City to Deep Creek Campground. Continue past |
| and waterfalls are inviting and at any time of the | | | | the campground to the trailhead at the end of |
| year you may find yourself drawn to the tranquil | | | | Deep Creek Road |
| beauty of it all. | | | | Indian Creek Falls Trail is on an old road paralleling |
| There are three waterfalls that can actually be | | | | Deep Creek. It provides an easy grade and a |
| seen from the road. These are The Sinks, located | | | | good walking surface. There are pines, oaks, |
| just 12 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitors | | | | rhododendron and hemlock, with wildflowers in the |
| Center on the Little River Road to Cades Cove. | | | | wetter places. The falls drop 60 feet over rocky |
| Just a mile further down, Meigs Creek joins the | | | | ledges to form a big pool at its base. The hike to |
| Little River and then plunges down into Meigs Falls. | | | | Indian falls is an easy 1.6 mile hike. |
| The third waterfall can be found at the end f the | | | | Juney Whank Falls trailed is located about |
| Roaring Forks Motor trail. This waterfall is | | | | one-fourth mile beyond the Deep Creek |
| sometimes no more than a bit of seeping water | | | | Campground Amphitheater. The trail leads uphill |
| that seems to come from every crevice of the | | | | through pine-oak forest to this lovely cascade. To |
| rocky cliff. At other times, when we are not in a | | | | access the trail, follow the signs through |
| dry period, water gushes forth forming many | | | | downtown Bryson City to Deep Creek |
| waterfalls for you to enjoy. | | | | Campground. Continue past the campground to |
| Another popular waterfall is Rainbow Falls. This | | | | the trailhead at the end of Deep Creek Road. |
| waterfall features an 80 foot drop. Although it is | | | | Backtrack on foot 0.1 mile along the road to the |
| formed from a very small creek, the steep | | | | trail. Juney Whank Falls is divided into an upper and |
| plunge causes water to come spraying down, | | | | lower section. Both can be viewed from the |
| splashing on nearby rocks and plants. The trail to | | | | footbridge which crosses Juney Whank Branch at |
| Rainbow Falls can be reached by driving south on | | | | the falls. Together they drop 90 feet from top to |
| Airport Road through Gatlinburg to the Cherokee | | | | bottom. The trail to the waterfall is 0.8 miles |
| Orchard. The trail passes through cool, shady, | | | | roundtrip and is considered moderate in difficulty. |
| hardwoods and features many delights such as | | | | The stream and falls are said to be named after |
| wildflowers and mushrooms. | | | | a Mr. Junaluska "Juney" Whank, who may be |
| The Grotto Falls Trail begins at stop number 5 on | | | | buried in the area. |
| the Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail. The trail is | | | | Abrams Falls is very popular among seniors and |
| quite popular for those wanting an easy trail to | | | | children. It has a large volume of water with a |
| follow. It goes through a hemlock forest, crosses | | | | deep pool at its base. The trail to the falls changes |
| three small streams and comes out behind the | | | | from pine-oak on the ridges to |
| falls. This trail will reward summer hikers with a | | | | hemlock-rhododendron forest along Abrams |
| very cool, moist environment. | | | | Creek. The trail is wide and climbs two ridges and |
| Featuring a 100 foot plunge down the rocks, | | | | follows Abrams Creek to Abrams Falls, a 20-foot |
| creating the most beautiful cascades in the entire | | | | fall into a large pool perfect for swimming and |
| Smoky Mountain National Park, is Ramsay | | | | wading. Due to the undertow, swimming in the |
| Cascades. It is the highest waterfall in the park. | | | | pool at the base of this falls is very dangerous. |
| The Trail to Ramsay Cascades is a strenuous hike | | | | Take U.S. Highway 321 from Maryville through |
| leading to the park's highest waterfall. It passes | | | | Townsend and fork left, just after the Townsend |
| through an old growth deciduous forest before | | | | Visitors Center, to enter GSMNP. Turn right onto |
| reaching the 100-foot high Ramsay Cascades. Do | | | | Laurel Creek Road to join the Cades Cove Loop |
| not attempt to climb to the top of the falls; many | | | | and continue almost half of the way around the |
| people have lost their lives in trying. To access | | | | loop. Turn right between signposts 10 and 11 at |
| the trailhead, Take Highway 321 east of Gatlinburg | | | | the sign for Abrams Falls, just before reaching the |
| to the Greenbrier entrance to the Park. Follow the | | | | Cades Cove Visitors Center. Take the dirt road |
| signs to the Ramsay Cascades trailhead. | | | | to the large parking lot for the trailhead. |
| Hen Wallow Creek, only two feet wide at the top | | | | Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations |
| of the falls, fans out to a width of twenty feet at | | | | in the park and parking at the trailhead is limited. |
| the base. The waterfall itself is 90 feet high. You | | | | The area is especially busy on weekends |
| can enjoy a pleasant walk through poplar, | | | | year-round and on weekdays during summer. |
| hemlock and rhododendron forest. The hike to | | | | Laurel Branch and the 80-foot high Laurel Falls are |
| the falls is 4.4 miles roundtrip and considered | | | | named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub |
| moderate in difficulty. A side trail leads to the | | | | which blooms along the trail and near the falls in |
| base of the falls in a series of switchbacks. To | | | | May. Laurel Falls Trail passes through a pine-oak |
| access the Hen Wallow Creek Trail Park in the | | | | forest. The mountain laurel which is abundant |
| designated hiker parking area at Cosby Picnic | | | | along this trail blooms in mid-May. The trail crosses |
| Area (near the entrance to Cosby Campground). | | | | through Laurel Branch at the base of the upper |
| Then backtrack on foot approximately 100 yards | | | | cascade of the falls. The trail is 2.6 miles roundtrip |
| along the road to the signed start of the Gabes | | | | and considered moderate in difficulty. The trail is |
| Mountain Trail. | | | | paved and is suitable for strollers. From Sugarlands |
| Mingo Falls can be reached by following the Pigeon | | | | Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little |
| Creek Trail out of Mingo Falls Campground (on the | | | | River Road and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead |
| Cherokee Reservation, south of the Park). A | | | | where there are parking areas on both sides of |
| longer side trail branching off at the halfway point | | | | the road. |
| will take you to the top of the falls. Mingo Falls | | | | Many vacationers plan their entire vacation around |
| has a spectacular drop of about 120 feet. Follow | | | | the Smoky Mountain National Park. The park is |
| these directions to get to the Mingo Falls | | | | free to the public. You will even find 10 |
| Campgrounds. From Oconaluftee Visitor Center, | | | | campgrounds within the National Park for very |
| drive south on US 441 and take second left onto | | | | cheap lodging, some as little as $12.00 per night |
| Big Cove Road. At first stop sign, turn left and | | | | per campsite. A vacation centered on visiting the |
| drive 4.5 miles to Mingo Falls Campground. The | | | | waterfalls of the park is quite an enjoyable |
| hike is a ½ mile round-trip hike. | | | | vacation for the active tourist who wants to see |
| Toms Branch Falls is about one-fourth mile | | | | nature up close and personal. Information on |
| beyond the campground on the Deep Creek | | | | these waterfalls and other waterfalls in the |
| Road. The falls can be viewed best in spring or fall | | | | national park as well as photos and a slide show |
| when the leaves are off the trees. An easy 1.6 | | | | can be found at [ |
| mile roundtrip hike will allow you to enjoy two | | | | Please be careful when hiking or swimming in and |
| beautiful waterfalls in the Deep Creek area. You | | | | around these waterfalls, the trails and rocks do |
| will need to walk Deep Creek Trail 0.7 mile to the | | | | become slippery. Wear comfortable hiking shoes |
| junction with Indian Creek Trail. On your way you | | | | and take bottled water with you. |
| can view elegant Tom Branch Falls located on the | | | | |
