Indian Creek Falls

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 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.