![]() Park near the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, then start the hike from there. Baskins Creek Falls is one of those rare places!ĭuring a long weekend in the Smoky Mountains, a hike to this refreshing waterfall is a must. While Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the US, there are a few waterfalls you may be able to have all to yourself. One of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains has to be Baskins Creek Falls. In fact, Backpacker Magazine has named Abrams Falls one of the 10 most dangerous hikes in America - more than once. Over 30 people have died here since 1971, a combination of drowning and slipping on the surrounding rocks. While it looks pristine and inviting, DO NOT swim in this particular pool. This enormous pool is another distinguishing factor that makes Abrams Falls one of the most popular Smoky Mountain waterfalls. You’ll cross a footbridge and then arrive at a rocky beach area on the far side of the waterfall’s pool. Right after reaching 2.5 miles in, look to your left for the short side trail leading to the falls. We hiked this trail the first week of November and the fall colors were absolutely spectacular! In the late spring, I imagine it’s covered by a lush green canopy and full of blooming wildflowers.īecause the Abrams Falls trail is so scenic, it feels shorter than five miles. Indeed, the 5.2-mile roundtrip trail along a ridge closely follows Abrams Creek and passes through a dense forest of pine, oak, and hemlock trees. It’s not even close to the tallest waterfalls in the Smokies, but its huge volume of rushing water sets it apart.Ībrams Falls flows year-round and many people consider the trail one of the most scenic hikes in the park. Nestled into the popular Cades Cove area of the park, Abrams Falls is one of the best-known Great Smoky Mountain waterfalls. Whether you prefer easy hikes in the Smokies or you’re game for a gnarly backcountry trek, there are plenty of options for chasing waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains. Luckily, there are over 800 miles of hiking trails, including 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail, in GSMNP. In fact, there are well over 100 cascades and waterfalls in the Smokies, many of them unnamed. The Great Smokies are also a giant temperate rainforest, with some areas receiving 90-plus inches of rain annually ( the only place in the US that gets more than the PNW!).Īdd in high elevation, endless rolling valleys, and significant humidity and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a myriad of Smoky Mountain waterfalls. ![]() The park’s 522,427 acres are divided between Tennessee and North Carolina and it’s among the largest protected areas in the eastern US. GSMNP welcomes at least 12 million visitors a year, whereas runner-up Zion in Utah draws “just” five million. Perhaps that’s why it’s consistently the most visited national park in the country…by a LOT. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is one of those parks you can visit over and over again and never have the same experience twice.
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