Deep Creek

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.

On this hike, we started at US 441 (just south of Clingmans Dome Road) and followed the Deep Creek Trail to the parking area near Deep Creek Campground and Ranger Station. The trail drops roughly 3000′ over fourteen miles as it follows a spring at the ridgeline which trickles down to the southern trailhead near Bryson City, North Carolina where it becomes a deep, wide and fast-moving stream.  For an overnight hike along Deep Creek Trail, there are numerous backcountry campsites including two reservation-only horse sites at #55 and #57 and six additional backpacker sites available on a first-come first-serve basis. We recommend campsites #56 and #60 which are well-suited for backpackers and have easy access to some nice trout waters with camping along the stream. The trail between campsites #54 and #60 have a surprising number of climbs along Deep Creek, so make sure you get an early start or save some energy if you plan to do more than seven miles on your first day.