Come along as I explore follow some gurgling creeks and see some wonderful waterfalls in the Northeastern part of the Smokies.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park may be known for Cades Cove and the wonderful mountain views at Newfound Gap, but it’s also famous for its bountiful waterfalls. You can basically find waterfalls anywhere in the park it seems. I spent a day and a half exploring the Northeastern part of the park, following trails along creeks to lovely cascades and waterfalls. In that time, my journey brought me to the Big Creek, Roaring Fork and Greenbrier areas of the park.
After visiting Cataloochee, I headed north to the Big Creek area. The most efficient way to reach it is by interstate and not the gravel road that winds its way there from Cataloochee. You can find Big Creek on the far eastern side of the Smokies. It has a campground and three trailheads, one being the Big Creek Trail.
Big Creek Trail is probably an old road. It’s fairly straight and level. Here it crosses a little water.
You almost immediately hear the rushing Big Creek next to the trail, but it takes a bit before the trail gets close enough for you to see the creek.
This is a bit taller than it looks.
So many pretty cascades on this creek.
Such a pretty creek.
Mouse Creek Falls, which flows into Big Creek.
The following day I visited the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a scenic drive that can be reached by going through the over-touristed hell hole known as Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It’s a very popular section of the park, due to its proximity to Gatlinburg. Several trail heads can be found on the loop, two of them super popular, Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls. To beat the crowds, I got up super early and hit the trails at 7 am. Not only was there plenty of parking, but there was also barely anyone on the trail until I was hiking back. By the time I got back to the parking lot, it was full. No surprise there.
I chose to take the Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls. It’s a fairly normal trail with some flowing water along it.
A small fall seen from the trail.
Another small waterfall, just a short distance from Grotto Falls.
Almost there.
Grotto Falls. Also, much taller than it looks.
Following the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail again to some historic cabins.
The Alex Cole Cabin.
The Ephraim Bales Cabin. It has a similar central passage to the Palmer House in Cataloochee.
The Alfred Reagan Tub Mill.
The Alfred Reagan House.
A very scenic Roaring Fork.
The Place of a Thousand Drips. Perfect name for this waterfall.
I left the Roaring Fork area and headed down to the Greenbrier area of the park. My goal was the Fern Branch Falls on the Porters Creek Trail. It started out great. The trail follows the creek, similar to Big Creek, and there are many ways to access the water. I almost made it to the falls but got stormed out. I was sooooo close. Alas, I got soaked, had to hide out in a barn and ruined a pair of shorts. I was annoyed about the entire situation because I watched the weather closely and checked the forecast before I left Gatlinburg. Of course, I got rained out by a torrential storm two hours earlier than it was forecasted for. Sigh. Well, here’s the bit of the trail I saw before the storm.
Much of the trail follows a old fire road.
It is a very pretty trail.
I probably would have made it to the waterfalls had I not kept getting distracted.
I was very distracted.
A mysterious set of stairs.
Scenic bridge.
I took a short detour to see the Messer Barn (about 1875). It was built by one of the John Messer, one of the Messers from the Cataloochee Valley. This is where I sheltered from the storm.
This old hiker cabin (1934-1936) probably been a better place to shelter. It looked less leaky.
The Porters Creek Trail narrows after a trail split.
The last picture I took before it started to downpour. I don’t think my shoes completely dried out until I got home the next week.
I basically ran back to the Messer Barn and waited there with another hiker.
It rained off and on for the next few days. Luckily there were no leaks in my tent, and I was still able to get some good hiking in. I highly recommend the Big Creek Trail. Grotto Falls is a good trail and Porters Creek is perfect if you want to avoid most people. Gravel roads are scary. (The gravel roads in the park are smoother than most paved roads in Michigan.)
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Start at the beginning of my adventure through the Appalachian Mountains!
