GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS – INDIAN CREEK FALLS

LOCATION: Western North Carolina
HIKE STARTS: Deep Gap Campground
HIKE ENDS: Deep Gap Campground
TOTAL DISTANCE: 1.5 Miles
HIKE TYPE: In and Out, Backtrack Hike
HIKE DIFFICULTY: Easy to Moderate
TRAILS USED: Deep Creek Horse Trail
TRAIL TRAFFIC: Moderate
TRIP TYPE: Day Hike
MANAGEMENT: Great Smoky Mountains NP

HIGHLIGHTS: The Great Smoky Mountains get more annual visitors than any other National Park in the U.S., but surprisingly most people never see the backcountry which has some of the most pristine wilderness in the Southeast. On this hike, we started at Deep Gap Campground and took the Deep Creek Horse Trail past the scenic Tom Branch Falls and on to Indian Creek Falls. The trail is wide and flat having obviously been an old road or railroad bed at one time, and the gradual incline on the Deep Creek Horse Trail makes this an easy hike for children of all ages. In addition to two waterfalls, Deep Creek offers some excellent views closer to Indian Creek as the trail climbs high above the mountain stream that bears its name.

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MORE DETAILS

bullet click to see trail photos from this hike in Great Smoky Mountain National Park: January 1, 2009
bullet click to view a detailed trip report for this climb to Indian Creek Falls: January 1, 2009 (password required)
bullet click to view maps of this day hike in the Smokies: area map, deep creek map, park map, trail map
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