Tom Branch Falls in Deep Creek

Written By Larry Deane, local expert for 20+ years.

Tom Branch Falls, located in the Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a simple, but gorgeous waterfall, that gently falls into the famous Deep Creek. The fall is very short walk from the parking lot, and is easy to access for everyone.

Location: Deep Creek, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Roundtrip Distance: 0.6 mile roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Features: Waterfall, creekside hiking, benches
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, an 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.
Recommended Gear: Good hiking boots or shoesDaypackDayhiker First Aid KitSunscreen, some snacks, water, [easyazon_link keywords=”Water shoes” locale=”US” tag=”blueridgemountainlife-20″]Water shoes[/easyazon_link] and a bathing suit if you think you might want to swim.
Map:

Tom Branch Falls

Tom Branch Falls is located along Deep Creek Trail, in the Deep Creek Area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Bryson City, NC.

The nearly 80 foot waterfall is formed as Tom Branch gentle cascades down a rock face into Deep Creek, as it flows towards Bryson City.  The fall is exceptionally beautiful in the fall, as it is covered with leaves.  This is one of our personal favorite waterfalls, and simply gorgeous.

Access to the Fall is an easy 0.3 mile flat walk along Deep Creek Trail from the trailhead located at the parking lot.  There is even a circular access points for cars, where you can be dropped off directly at the trailhead.

Tom Branch Fall is just up the trail on the right.  There are three wooden benches to sit on at the fall, that provide the perfect opportunity to sit a while, and enjoy the sites and sounds of the waterfall, and surrounding woods.

Below the benches is an almost “beach like” area, that provides safe and easy access to the water for young children to play.  

Tubing

During the summer, Deep Creek is a very popular location for tubing, and while visiting and viewing the falls, you’ll see lots of tubers floating by the waterfalls, with many slowing down the put their hands through the the crystal clear waters.

This area is of course a lot more active during the summer, and the Falls is a common place to exit the creek to walk back up to the top to tube again.   If you want to get photos, get their early.

You can learn more about tubing at Deep Creek using our full guide: Tubing in Deep Creek.

Other Waterfalls in the Area:

Deep Creek is home to three different waterfalls, that are easily accessed using the Deep Creek Loop Trail:

  • Tom Branch Falls – The waterfall you are viewing now.
  • Indian Creek Falls – A beautiful wide waterfall located on up Deep Creek Trail.
  • Juneywank Falls – A slow falling waterfall, that features a nice observation deck, surrounded by woods.

Photo Gallery:

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About the author

Larry Deane is the co-owner and voice behind Blue Ridge Mountain Life, a travel resource built from more than two decades of exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains firsthand. A Western North Carolina local, Larry has spent 20+ years hiking the trails, visiting small towns, chasing waterfalls, and documenting life in the mountains he calls home.

Alongside his wife Jenn, he created Blue Ridge Mountain Life to share their real-world experiences with others who love — or are just discovering — the Blue Ridge. Larry is a seasoned travel writer, photographer, and videographer with a background in journalism, and his work reaches more than 500,000 mountain lovers each month. Whether he's deep in Pisgah National Forest or strolling Main Street in a mountain town, you can count on Larry to give you the inside scoop from someone who’s truly been there.


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