Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
12/1/2021	5.4 miles	2 hours 58 minutes	823'	2.2 mph	509.6

Parking: Deep Creek Trail Trailhead

Maps:

• 100 Favorite Trails of the Smokies and the Carolina Blue Ridge (for directions)
• National Geographic Great Smoky Mountains National Park (not detailed enough)
• Gaia Gps downloaded map (recommended)

Directions:

• See 100 Favorite Trails map

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges:

• 100 Favorite Trails #18

I had an appointment in the morning, so we couldn't do a full day's hike. After my appointment we headed to the Smokies to do another hike on the 100 Favorite Trails map. This hike was in an easily accessible part of the Smokies. The roads to the trailhead were all paved. This was an easy hike, on often very wide trails. We sort of did it in the reverse direction than what is described. I found the hike description versus the map a little confusing. For some reason when looking at the hike description and comparing it to the map, I couldn't quite make sense of it. I figured out the correct route, but figured it out as going in the opposite direction than what was described. We were okay until Juney Whank Falls, and then we must have started reversing the route. I highly recommend printing out a map from Gai for this hike. The National Geographic map just isn't detailed enough, and I felt like I'd need a magnifying glass to read it. There are several trail intersections on this hike, and its so much easier to use a print out from Gaia, where you can zoom in.

This hike passes by 3 waterfalls - Juney Whank Falls, Indian Creek Falls, Tom Branch Falls, and often walks along rivers. It was a relaxing day.

We saw a sign about tubing, but the rivers didn't look deep enough...