Explore the Waterfalls Of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for an Inexpensive Vacation
By: L Wilson | Posted: 30th May 2007
The Great Smoky Mountains holds many wonders for the 9 million plus tourists who flock to the area each year but one of the most amazing wonders are the streams and waterfalls found within this most visited National Park. The streams and waterfalls are inviting and at any time of the year you may find yourself drawn to the tranquil beauty of it all.
There are three waterfalls that can actually be seen from the road. These are The Sinks, located just 12 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitors Center on the Little River Road to Cades Cove. Just a mile further down, Meigs Creek joins the Little River and then plunges down into Meigs Falls. The third waterfall can be found at the end f the Roaring Forks Motor trail. This waterfall is sometimes no more than a bit of seeping water that seems to come from every crevice of the rocky cliff. At other times, when we are not in a dry period, water gushes forth forming many waterfalls for you to enjoy.
Another popular waterfall is Rainbow Falls. This waterfall features an 80 foot drop. Although it is formed from a very small creek, the steep plunge causes water to come spraying down, splashing on nearby rocks and plants. The trail to Rainbow Falls can be reached by driving south on Airport Road through Gatlinburg to the Cherokee Orchard. The trail passes through cool, shady, hardwoods and features many delights such as wildflowers and mushrooms.
The Grotto Falls Trail begins at stop number 5 on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail. The trail is quite popular for those wanting an easy trail to follow. It goes through a hemlock forest, crosses three small streams and comes out behind the falls. This trail will reward summer hikers with a very cool, moist environment.
Featuring a 100 foot plunge down the rocks, creating the most beautiful cascades in the entire Smoky Mountain National Park, is Ramsay Cascades. It is the highest waterfall in the park. The Trail to Ramsay Cascades is a strenuous hike leading to the park's highest waterfall. It passes through an old growth deciduous forest before reaching the 100-foot high Ramsay Cascades. Do not attempt to climb to the top of the falls; many people have lost their lives in trying. To access the trailhead, Take Highway 321 east of Gatlinburg to the Greenbrier entrance to the Park. Follow the signs to the Ramsay Cascades trailhead.
Hen Wallow Creek, only two feet wide at the top of the falls, fans out to a width of twenty feet at the base. The waterfall itself is 90 feet high. You can enjoy a pleasant walk through poplar, hemlock and rhododendron forest. The hike to the falls is 4.4 miles roundtrip and considered moderate in difficulty. A side trail leads to the base of the falls in a series of switchbacks. To access the Hen Wallow Creek Trail Park in the designated hiker parking area at Cosby Picnic Area (near the entrance to Cosby Campground). Then backtrack on foot approximately 100 yards along the road to the signed start of the Gabes Mountain Trail.
Mingo Falls can be reached by following the Pigeon Creek Trail out of Mingo Falls Campground (on the Cherokee Reservation, south of the Park). A longer side trail branching off at the halfway point will take you to the top of the falls. Mingo Falls has a spectacular drop of about 120 feet. Follow these directions to get to the Mingo Falls Campgrounds. From Oconaluftee Visitor Center, drive south on US 441 and take second left onto Big Cove Road. At first stop sign, turn left and drive 4.5 miles to Mingo Falls Campground. The hike is a ½ mile round-trip hike.
Toms Branch Falls is about one-fourth mile beyond the campground on the Deep Creek Road. The falls can be viewed best in spring or fall when the leaves are off the trees. An easy 1.6 mile roundtrip hike will allow you to enjoy two beautiful waterfalls in the Deep Creek area. You will need to walk Deep Creek Trail 0.7 mile to the junction with Indian Creek Trail. On your way you can view elegant Tom Branch Falls located on the far side of Deep Creek. Turn right at the junction with Indian Creek Trail and precede approximately 200' to Indian Creek Falls. The falls are 25 feet in height. Follow the signs through downtown Bryson City to Deep Creek Campground. Continue past the campground to the trailhead at the end of Deep Creek Road
Indian Creek Falls Trail is on an old road paralleling Deep Creek. It provides an easy grade and a good walking surface. There are pines, oaks, rhododendron and hemlock, with wildflowers in the wetter places. The falls drop 60 feet over rocky ledges to form a big pool at its base. The hike to Indian falls is an easy 1.6 mile hike.
Juney Whank Falls trailed is located about one-fourth mile beyond the Deep Creek Campground Amphitheater. The trail leads uphill through pine-oak forest to this lovely cascade. To access the trail, follow the signs through downtown Bryson City to Deep Creek Campground. Continue past the campground to the trailhead at the end of Deep Creek Road. Backtrack on foot 0.1 mile along the road to the trail. Juney Whank Falls is divided into an upper and lower section. Both can be viewed from the footbridge which crosses Juney Whank Branch at the falls. Together they drop 90 feet from top to bottom. The trail to the waterfall is 0.8 miles roundtrip and is considered moderate in difficulty. The stream and falls are said to be named after a Mr. Junaluska “Juney” Whank, who may be buried in the area.
Abrams Falls is very popular among seniors and children. It has a large volume of water with a deep pool at its base. The trail to the falls changes from pine-oak on the ridges to hemlock-rhododendron forest along Abrams Creek. The trail is wide and climbs two ridges and follows Abrams Creek to Abrams Falls, a 20-foot fall into a large pool perfect for swimming and wading. Due to the undertow, swimming in the pool at the base of this falls is very dangerous. Take U.S. Highway 321 from Maryville through Townsend and fork left, just after the Townsend Visitors Center, to enter GSMNP. Turn right onto Laurel Creek Road to join the Cades Cove Loop and continue almost half of the way around the loop. Turn right between signposts 10 and 11 at the sign for Abrams Falls, just before reaching the Cades Cove Visitors Center. Take the dirt road to the large parking lot for the trailhead.
Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the park and parking at the trailhead is limited. The area is especially busy on weekends year-round and on weekdays during summer. Laurel Branch and the 80-foot high Laurel Falls are named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub which blooms along the trail and near the falls in May. Laurel Falls Trail passes through a pine-oak forest. The mountain laurel which is abundant along this trail blooms in mid-May. The trail crosses through Laurel Branch at the base of the upper cascade of the falls. The trail is 2.6 miles roundtrip and considered moderate in difficulty. The trail is paved and is suitable for strollers. From Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead where there are parking areas on both sides of the road.
Many vacationers plan their entire vacation around the Smoky Mountain National Park. The park is free to the public. You will even find 10 campgrounds within the National Park for very cheap lodging, some as little as $12.00 per night per campsite. A vacation centered on visiting the waterfalls of the park is quite an enjoyable vacation for the active tourist who wants to see nature up close and personal. Information on these waterfalls and other waterfalls in the national park as well as photos and a slide show can be found at http://greatsmokymountainvacationguide.com/smoky-mountain-national-park-waterfalls/index.htm.
Please be careful when hiking or swimming in and around these waterfalls, the trails and rocks do become slippery. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and take bottled water with you.
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Tags: great smoky mountains, hardwoods, waterfalls, moist environment, grotto, crevice