The Deep Creek section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Bryson City, is a popular and beautiful location. The area offers hiking trails, waterfalls, camping, a picnic area, and tubing.
The area has three primary waterfalls that are connected by a multiple loops of hiking trails, allowing hikers to visit all three waterfalls, and adjust the hike the length and difficulty they prefer.
We've hiked the deep creek loop trail many times over the years, and always enjoy the trails and waterfalls, especially in the fall.
What you need to know |
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Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Bryson City |
Handicap Accessible: No - although, someone with some mobility could walk to the first waterfall, Tom Branch Falls. |
Dog Friendly: No - Dogs are not allowed on trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Features: Creeks, small waterfalls, bridges, forest |
Directions: From the intersection of highway 441 and 19 in Cherokee, take 19 south to Bryson City, NC. Turn left onto Everett Street, right onto Depot Street (at The Great Smoky Mountain Railway), and then left onto Deep Creek Rd. Follow the road right into the Park, and follow the signs to the trail. You'll know you're there when you see a loop and a parking lot on the left. Park in the parking lot, the trail starts at the paved loop/drop off point. |
Roundtrip Distance: 4.6 miles - Moderate |
Deep Creek Loop Trail
If you hike the deep creek loop trail during summer, one thing you'll immediately notice as you walk towards the trailhead are people carrying "tubes".
Deep Creek is a very popular tubing area, and tubing is the main summer attraction. You can walk a 1/2 mile or so up the trail and then tube down Deep Creek. Many people stay at Deep Creek Campground, and tube to there, walk back up, and tube again.
But Deep Creek is more than just tubing, and is an excellent location for hiking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, especially if you like waterfalls like we do.
The various loop trails take you along Deep Creek itself and up through the woods to Sunkota Ridge and then back. Along the way, you'll pass by Tom Creek Falls, Indian Creek Falls, and Juney Whank Falls. Three beautiful waterfalls, each with their own character.
The trailhead begins at the far parking area on the entrance road. This small parking area often fills up quickly, and you may need to park in the larger picnic area and walk up to the trailhead.
Trailhead to Tom Branch Falls
One of the great things about this hiking trail is that it offers some immediate rewards. From the trailhead, you walk alongside the rushing crisp and clear waters of Deep Creek. In the summer, you can watch families tubing down and having a blast.
Just 3/10s of a mile into the trail, you'll come to Tom Branch Falls, an 80 foot gently cascading waterfall. Tom Branch Falls Guide cascades down into Deep Creek itself, on the opposite bank from the trail.
Heading on up the trail past Tom Branch Falls, the trail will continue on the left side of the creek for a while, then cross over on a bridge. This is a great spot to watch people tubing and get some great photos.
After crossing the bridge, you'll begin a gradual uphill climb to the right of Deep Creek until you reach another bridge, and a trail junction just in front. Deepcreek continues straight, and the Indian Creek Trail goes to the right.
To follow the loop trail, and to see Indian Creek Falls, go right and follow Indian Creek Trail.
Indian Creek Trail to the Loop Trail
Turning off onto Indian Creek Trail gets you out of the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Most will continue up Deep Creek.
Shortly after turning onto Indian Creek Trail (1/10th of a mile), you'll see a sign to the left and a small trail heading down to the base of Indian Creek Falls, our favorite waterfall, on this hike.
Indian Creek Falls is a 45-foot waterfall that's just gorgeous.
Heading back up on the trial, Indian Creek Trail will continue into a really pretty forest area, with a nice, flat and wide trail. You'll cross a bridge over Indian Creek just after the falls and continue to head through the forest.
You'll soon come to a trail junction. Thomas Divide Trail goes to the right. You should continue straight on the Indian Creek Trail.
Loop Trail
After hiking another 1/3rd mile along Indian Creek Trail, you'll come to the junction of Indian Creek and Loop Trail. Go left here and follow the loop trail. The trail gets steep here as you begin the climb up the mountain.
At the top of the climb, you'll come to the junction of Loop Trail and Sunkota Ridge Trail. Just keep going straight (and down) to stay on the loop trail.
The trail begins a pretty steep decline, so watch your step, especially with the roots.
At the bottom, you'll encounter Deep Creek again, and Deep Creek trail. You'll turn left here and follow alongside Deep Creek. The trail along here is very flat and wide and makes for a nice relaxing walk with the wonderful sounds of Deep Creek.
Juney Whank Falls
Heading on down Deep Creek Trail, you'll run into a spur that takes you to Juney Whank Falls.
You'll see signs directing you to Juney Whank Falls. The trail does get a bit confusing, and you can either go right or left. You'll want to go left. You'll know you're heading in the right direction by the steep incline.
This is a pretty steep climb for a bit, and then the rest is downhill. The spur trail to the falls is about 1.2 miles, but it's really worth it and from the falls, you are very close to the parking area where you started.
The fastest route back to the parking lot is to go back up the trail down to Juney Whank, and follow the trail that directs you to the parking lot.
