Big Creek to Walnut Bottom, Smokies

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
8/27/2022	11.7	5 hours 48 minutes	1,297'	2.4 mph	617.1

Parking: 

• Big Creek Trailhead

Maps:

• National Geographic, Great Smoky Mountains National Park East (for navigation)
• 100 Favorite Trails of the Smokies and the Carolina Blue Ridge (for directions)

Directions:

• See 100 Favorite Trails map

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges

• 100 Favorite Trails Challenge #30
• Smoky Mountain 900 Miler Challenge - Big Creek Park Road to Low Gap (campsite 37)

We joined the CMC for a hike in the Smokies led by Henry. Carroll, came along, which was great, as we haven't hiked with him for a while. This trailhead had quite a few parking spots but was already filling up when we arrived. This is an easy hike! It climbs uphill, but the climb is so gradual, no one really noticed. The hike parallels Big Creek all the way. Too bad Krummholz isn't allowed here. He would have loved this hike! The creek makes for a very scenic hike. Krumm would have been in and out of the water all the time. We stopped at campsite 37, Low Gap, also called Walnut Bottom. We turned back and had lunch next to the creek. I soaked my feet to help me cool off. Then we returned downhill, which again, is so gradual that we didn't notice we were going downhill. This hike passes 2 waterfalls, though we didn't stop at them. We've heard this hike makes a good spring hike due to abundant wildflowers.