Juney Whank Falls Loop

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches across 800 square miles, with nearly 95 percent of its land covered in forest. These ancient mountains, which are among the oldest on Earth, are built from rocks more than 200 million years old with their jagged peaks worn down into the soft, rounded ridges that are present today. These ridgelines are traversed by the Appalachian Trail which climbs to its highest point at Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet) and straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee in the park. From the ridges you will often see a distinctive blue haze that lingers over the valleys.  It is a natural mist that is created when plants release water vapor and organic compounds into the air which gives the area its trademark “Smoky” Mountains name.  Unfortunately, the majority of the people that visit the park never visit the backcountry and see some of the best wilderness in the Southeastern U.S.

Juney Whank Falls is a beautiful 80-to-90-foot cascade located in the Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Bryson City, North Carolina. It is accessible via a short but steep hike and is a popular destination for families and casual hikers. This is an easy loop hike that starts at Deep Creek, goes past Juney Whank Falls then loops back to the starting point. The trail is well-maintained and forested and at the falls there is a wooden footbridge crossing the water which allows visitors to get an up-close view of both the upper and lower sections of the cascade.  Juney Whank is a Cherokee phrase which means “place where the bear passes.” We didn’t see any bear, but saw plenty of day hikers. Still there are great views of the falls from a footbridge on the trail.