Great hiking trail for all ages. About a mile and a half up to the historic barn attraction…read more Great views of the mountain stream that runs alongside the trail. This is one of my favorite easy, family friendly trails to hike on.

This was probably one of our favorite hikes during our vacation to GSMNP. The trail itself is…read morelocated in Greenbrier at the end of a long gravel road. What this means for you, is that this trail isn't as crowded as most others in the park! Porters Creek is about 4 miles roundtrip with Fern Branch Falls being the turn around point. You can continue on the trail another 1.5-2 miles after that but it just leads you to a campground. The trail is rated as moderate but we found the first mile to be fairly easy. The second mile was more uphill and rocky with a lot of tree roots to compete with. The first mile of the hike runs along Porters Creek and the gravel/dirt trail is wide. Along the way you will see several historic points of interest. First stop is The Owenby Cemetery which dates from the early 20th century. You will also pass the John Messer Barn built in 1875 and the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Cabin built around 1934. If you do this hike, take some time to explore these places. They were pretty cool! During the second mile, the trail narrows some as you start heading uphill. The forest becomes a little more dense and you really have to start watching your footing. At the turn around point, you'll see Fern Branch Falls. This waterfall is about 40-50 feet up from the trail and it was pretty cool watching it trickle down the side of the mountain. It's no where as big as say Abrams Falls but it is still impressive in its own right. Porters Creek trail was a nice change of pace. If you are looking to get away from the crowds, this might be the perfect trail for you. We saw maybe a total of 10 people during our 4 mile hike. Beautiful hike!

Beautiful short hike that is around 2 miles total roundtrip in Townsend near the Smoky Mountains…read more A lot of uphill climbing, but worth it for the waterfall. When we were here this trail was still quite crowded and parking was limited/hard to find so be mindful of that. Otherwise, it's a beautiful site to see.

Looking for short, less populated, but still fabulous waterfall hike while visiting Gatlinburg or…read morethe Great Smoky Mountains? This is it!!! SPRUCE FLATS FALLS is a very short hike that begins at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute @ Tremont. The waterfall trail begins at the exact same point as the Lumber Ridge Trailhead, but the Lumber Ridge Trail goes left while the Spruce Flats trail goes right. The trail is easy to follow for the most part due to the Institute providing additional signs along the way to help guide you. Various hiking websites have differing difficult ratings as well as differing distances to the falls. My personal hiking experience would rate this as mildly moderate and the distance, according to our tracking systems was around .8 miles to the falls for a grand total of about 1.6 miles round trip. ~ MILDLY MODERATE HIKE The distance is easy, and while there are some steep uphill and downhill sections, my heartrate was never elevated to the point of heavy breathing. Experienced hikers would likely rate this trail on the harder side of an easy scale, primarily because of the difficulty of the terrain. It is heavily laced with exposed tree roots and/or embedded with jagged stones making it important to watch your step and balance. ~ OUR EXPERIENCE Our primary reason for visiting the Smokies was to hike Mount LeConte, which we successfully did the day prior to hiking here to Spruce Flats Falls. LeConte is a beast of a hike with an elevation gain of just under 2,900 feet over 5.5 miles. Comparatively, Spruce Flats Falls trail was a delight, but our legs were still extremely sore from our LeConte hike! The pain made our this hike less joyful, but each painful step was well rewarded with a gorgeous waterfall. Our group included myself, an experienced hiker, a grandmother (64), two single moms (29 & 31), their two kids: Adorable 3 year old Jojo and 10 year old Zeke + my yelp daughter Jess (30). My wife was still sore from the LeConte hike and opted to stay back in Gatlinburg. *** LET ME JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY HOW INCREDIBLE MOTHERS ARE!!! Little 3-year-old Jojo's mom carried her probably more then 1/3rd of the hike, particularly over some of the tougher terrains and didn't break a friggin' sweat!!! I carried her tiny 30 pound body up one of the steeper parts of the trail for about 5 minutes and thought I was gonna die! Jojo's 64 year old grandmother who does not hike at all handled the trail like a champion, even leading the way on occasion. Truthfully I was worried by some of the hiking reports for this trail saying it may be difficult for children, seniors and inexperienced hikers, but our group had all of those and it was not a problem. PLUS it had been raining most of the morning (wetting the trail) and continued with a light dewy drizzle most of our hike. ~ FINAL THOUGHTS Yep, my group included three generations of women on a rainy, misty Saturday and we all had a great time! The falls are beautiful! One of the more beautiful ones I've seen in the area, but hard to see in full from the base. This is definitely a waterfall where the pictures are best if you have a drone that can capture it's full grandeur. My difficulty scale: 0 = no effort required 1-3 = easy 4-6 = moderate 7-9 = difficult 10 = extremely difficult WATERFALL ATTRACTIVENESS: 8 out of 10 OVERALL DIFFICULTY: 4 out of 10 (mostly because of terrain) OUR TRACKING DISTANCE: 1.6 miles round trip from parking area across from the Institute @ Tremont. 2020 / 68

At 6643 feet, Clingmans Dome, now known by its Cherokee name, Kuwohi, is the highest point in the…read moreGreat Smoky Mountains National Park. My visit to Kuwohi was a highlight of my visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive up to the summit is breathtaking. There are several overlooks along the way to stop and enjoy the views. When we arrived, it was about 20 degrees colder than in Gatlinburg and it was very windy. Fortunately, we had dressed warm for the hike. The half mile trail is paved and accessible, however, the climb is straight up and was very difficult for some people. At the top of the trail we passed the Appalachian Trail. Then we found a fantastic Mid Century concrete spiral structure to climb. At the top, is an observation deck with placards describing the magnificent views of Tennessee and North Carolina. The modern observation deck was completed in 1960, replacing a wooden structure. Thomas Lanier Clingman was one of the early explorers that mapped the region in the 1850's. Kuwohi was (and still is) a sacred mountain of the Cherokee people. The mountain held Magic Lake that is believed to have healing powers for those who value the earth and its people. Parking permits are required to park in the large lot. Permits can be purchased on site for $5/day. Restroom facilities are available, but no running water. A nearby Visitors Center sells maps, shirts and other hiking gear. Kuwohi is a must visit on a trip to SMNP. Bring warm clothes (gloves, hat, etc). Cell tower reception is poor, so maps are helpful.

This is a pretty easy and quick hike up a paved walkway to the observation tower. We came in the…read moremorning and were unable to see anything because of the thick fog so just keep that in mind.

The Low Gap trail is perfect for families and out of the tourist area so lower traffic overall. It…read moreis located inside of the campground but a hiking area in its own right. There are multiple options for this trail you can hike the 2.1 mile path or the easy 1 mile Nature Trail. We came out for the nature trail as we wanted a lazier day with great scenery. The nature trail was very cool and easy to walk. All levels can walk this trail or if you are more advanced you can get adventurous and go down by the river itself (there are paths). This trail is also a connector on the Applachain Moutnain trail and to the Mount Cammerer Fire tower.

My family and I hiked this trail! It was a great experience, being from Florida and hiking up and…read moredown the mountain. All the streams and the bridges were beautiful!

The Chimney Tops trail is located 6.9 miles south of the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Great Smokey…read moreMountains National Park. It is listed as a moderately difficult trail and it is one of the most popular trails in the park. I saw cars stretch from the parking lot to a mile down the mountain during peak hiking times. On November 23, 2016, two juvenile males started a fire by throwing lit matches along the trail. A hiker on the trail caught them on camera. The park service decided not to put out the fire, instead containing it, and on November 28th, aided by a drought and wind, the fire exploded resulting in the death of fourteen people and injuries to one hundred and seventy six people. Eighteen thousand acres were burned including eleven thousand acres in the National Park. Two thousand four hundred and sixty structures were destroyed. The fire ended up costing more than 500 million dollars. Before the fire was put out it threatened to engulf Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The trail was closed for a year and the pinnacle of the mountain is still closed. The park service constructed a new observation platform a quarter mile from the summit. The trail is 3.3 miles round trip which does not seem like very long but it was all up the mountain. At the parking lot I met a man told me he considered the trail a 9 out of 10. Another woman coming down told me it was the hardest thing she had ever done. I started the trail thinking I would give up if I needed to but with sheer determination and a fair bit of pain I made it to the top. The first part of the trail follows the waters of Road Prong Creek. You cross over several bridges where people swim in the cascading waters. Once you cross the last bridge is where the real challenge begins as you ascend straight up the mountain. As bad as it was, it would have been even worse if the Trails Forever crew had not installed the 367 rock steps weighing 300 pounds each! They redesigned unsafe parts of the trail and improved the drainage. Without their work the trail would have been extremely eroded and dangerous. The trail to the top is a combination of dirt trail and steps. What is cool about the hike is that everyone on the trail encourages each other to keep going. I don't care how fit people looked going up the mountain, everyone was huffing and puffing. Unfortunately for me the sky opened up about 1/3 mile from the top. Lightning struck the ground not far from me and cold rain poured down. I was about to give up and go back down when a woman went past me on the way to the top and I said screw it, I came too far to give up now. I continued up in the pouring rain to arrive to a hazy view of the chimney formation and Mount LeConte and Mount Kephart. The view was nothing like it would have been on a clear day. The Cherokee name for Chimney Tops is Duniskwalgunyi, or "forked antler", because of its resemblance to the deer antlers. There is a Cherokee legend about a medicine man who found monstrous reptiles at the top of the mountain. Unfortunately the mountain Gods were against me that day. I was so wet that I couldn't even dry off the camera lens on my iPhone. I thought my phone would be ruined. Three days later and I can still feel it in my legs. The hike took me two hours and 22 minutes over 3.57 miles. I did an elevation gain of 1.035 feet. Even though the view wan't all that I hoped it would be I am proud of myself for making it up there. On the way down the mountain I ran into a group of three guys going back for a second time because they lost their car keys. When it started raining they got separated from their keys and were combing the mountain for them. I hope they found them because I still feel awful for them.

Will make it brief: this is a lovely hike, slippery when wet (which is often, it rains a lot) -…read moretake your time so you don't slip (I did, and it HURT). There are a LOT of stairs, and when it's humid you will need to stop for breaks along the way. The final view is closed from fires but they have a reconstructed viewpoint near the end that is gorgeous - the views of the mountainside are stunning. Overall - would do again, but it's a relatively difficult hike because of the uphill climb so come prepared!

Soco Falls is absolutely worth the stop if you're driving through the area. The waterfall is…read morebeautiful, and the photos honestly don't do it justice. That said... don't let the short hike fool you! The walk down isn't bad--it's the climb back up that will definitely remind you whether you've been keeping up with your cardio. Thankfully, there are handrails and benches along the trail because I absolutely took advantage of them on the way back. I thought I was in decent shape... the mountain quickly humbled me! My advice: wear good hiking shoes, bring water, and if you have a walking stick, use it. A neck fan isn't a bad idea either during the warmer months. Just because you see people tackling the trail in Crocs or flip-flops doesn't mean it's a good idea. If you're adventurous, there is a way to get down to the base of the falls, where people were swimming, but we admired it from the overlook instead. The surrounding mountain views are beautiful as well, making it an easy stop even if you're just passing through. If you're in the Bryson City/Cherokee area, don't skip Soco Falls. Just come prepared, take your time, and enjoy one of the prettiest waterfalls in Western North Carolina.

I was seeking a waterfall and didn't quite have time to make it to Cherokee and the Great Smoky…read moreMountains, and so located this turn-off a couple of miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The parking area is by the road, and the hike down to the falls is short, but of considerable grade. At the end, a platform allows viewing. You can't get anywhere near the falls or take a swim, and it seems like it would be a tough area even if there weren't a thousand signs telling you not to wander off the trail, which is shared with a driveway to some private property. It certainly isn't among the best Western NC waterfalls, but it's a nice site and it's free and open to the public, so not a bad place to stop depending on one's itinerary.

There are three waterfalls at deep Creek and you can access them all with a fairly easy hike. The…read moremost difficult part is in the beginning when you go from the parking lot towards Juney Whank Falls. It's steep, probably a five out of 10 in difficulty but once you get past that, it's mostly easy terrain. If you've ever gone tubing on deep creek, Tom Branch Falls are the one you pass by while in the water. There are a couple benches there where you can sit and relax and look at the falls.

Beautiful place to enjoy the views and get some exercise. We were amazed at all the butterflies…read moreflying around, gorgeous!

Cataract Falls is one of the easiest and most family-friendly waterfalls in the Smokies. The walk…read moreis short, mostly flat, and shaded. perfect for young kids, older adults, or anyone who doesn't want a strenuous hike. There's lots of places to walk or swim in the shallow stream with rocks the water was too cold for us Floridians but still refreshing to wash your hands in. One tip: we initially drove around trying to find the trailhead and couldn't figure out where the entrance was. We finally stopped at the Sugarlands Visitor Center gift shop and learned the trail starts directly behind the visitor center near the restrooms. You'll need a parking pass to park, but we opted for the all-day parking tag since we planned to visit multiple areas in the national park, and it was well worth it. The waterfall itself isn't huge, but it's peaceful, and a great spot for photos. If you're looking for a quick, relaxing waterfall without a long hike, Cataract Falls is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

Walk to the fall is nice - the fall is a bit average - it is not very large. We enjoyed the walk…read more There are some logs and puddles along the way for kids to enjoy.