Deep Creek Trail Reviews

This is an easy trail following a lovely river. Go early as parking is tough. If the lot is full use the picnic area. The trail is wide and heavily traveled by others so you won't be alone. It is worth the visit for a short stroll on a very pretty trail.

Three waterfalls are the highlight on this well marked, well traveled trail in the south end of the park. Most of the trail is not steep, although there are inclines/declines.= in some sections. Most of the trial follows the picturesque river. In summer consider tubing the big activity in the area. There is a park with picnic tables and restrooms at the trailhead. Not nearly as crowded as the north end of the park. You do have to pay for parking anywhere in the national park.

Very busy park and hard to find a parking spot. We hiked to the three falls and enjoyed them all. If you have a little extra time, and it's hot, rent a tube and float down the river. It will cool you down and very relaxing!

Large parking area is the trailhead for these beautiful hikes by the stream and through magnificent forests to 3 different waterfalls. The beginning is pretty steep, but fight through the first part for a few minutes and it will definitely get easier. Nice & Cool deep in the woods. Worth every step. You don't want to miss.

Deep Creek is one of our favorite areas in the mountains. The waterfalls are lovely although we visited in a very dry period and water falling was a little weak. They were busy working on maintaining the trail so doing the loop trail for all 3 falls was not too doable. You could get to all three falls just a little back tracking from the first falls. The trail to Indian creek falls walks along the river, so tranquil and beautiful. It was such a beautiful day and everyone we encountered along the way seemed to be enjoying their experience as well. There is a great picnic area along the creek to enjoy also. Just a beautiful area to visit.

Peaceful hike along the river, the hill to Juney Whank was steep but doable. We had some ice on our hike which added an extra challenge but also added to the beauty.

Beautiful natural spot. Easy walk to see a waterfall. Very popular site for tubing, running and hiking.

Visited Bryson couple years ago and think I passed this park not too far from downtown for food and breweries and the train and the river. This park is neat because it has nice options depending on your level of fitness. Maybe within a half mile max from the parking you can hang out at a beautiful waterfall via a nice packed down wide trail. If you wish to climb, have other waterfall options, or extended distance that's available as well. Well marked trails for the maybe 4 or 5 miles I did for the day.

We got to see two falls, one is easy to see but the other is more difficult still a must see. The part is well attended.

We truly enjoyed the views all around. The river and bridge made for a wonderful photo opportunity. We decided to only try for one waterfall as we hadn't planned on hiking and I had recently been sick. Looking at reviews online we settled for Juney Whanks. It appeared to be the easiest to get too. It was a short trip and the only one who struggled was me, again I was still not 100% well. The rock stairs, bridge and bench were all really neat and the falls were beautiful. The kids really enjoyed seeing a waterfall so up close. My 8 and 12 year old both wanted to continue up to the three waterfalls but it was getting late so hopefully next time.

I wasn’t sure if we would be able to go tubing with our 4 year old but it was fine. For $6 a person, you get tubes, life jackets for littles and you can tube as long as you want. They even give you ropes to connect the adult tube to kid tube. After tubing, we hiked the 2.4 mile trail to see the 3 waterfalls. We enjoyed them all. If you collect National Park Passport cancellation stamps, good luck finding it. It was supposed to be at the camp check in kiosk but no one was ever there. Tried the ranger station too. I was disappointed that I couldn’t add the stamp to my collection.

We visited the Deep Creek Trails based on a Smokey Mountains Ranger's recommendation. So glad we listened! Beautiful- we saw Juney Wank, Tom Branch, and Indian Creek Falls. Easy walk with the exception of the Juney Wank Falls. Definitely go!

The three falls hike is outstanding. The trails are well maintained and clearly marked. Some of the best scenery you will find. Get there early since parking is limited and tubers descend upon the trails around 9:30 - 10:00.

My wife and I were staying at the casino in Cherokee and looking for a hike in the area. Extremely happy with our choice in the Deep Creek National Park. We chose the Deep Creek Loop trail that was supposed to take us by 3 waterfalls. Unfortunately the spur trail to Juney Whank Falls had a large tree down blocking the trail so we missed that one. Still our 4+ mile hike was awesome. Lots of time along the creek and we did see Tom Branch and Indian Creek Falls.
One thing I’ve noticed in the park; the trails aren’t marked with blazes to follow so having a trail map would be a great idea. That said, we did not and were able to stay on our chosen trail; there are multiple trails that intersect and cross through the park so pay attention.
Definitely recommend this hike.

It was a very relaxing hike. Mostly flat except in the middle you go up and down one mountain, but totally worth it. We almost missed the third waterfall, I think better signs would be good, but otherwise it was nice.

Safe Easy Gorgeous HIkes here at the Deep Creek entrance to GSMNP. We went in winter (February 2021) and unlike summer (which is a zoo!), it was quiet and peaceful. Start at the Juney Whank Falls Trailhead right there in the parking area; and after the bridge over the falls, go up the rock steps and find the "horse" trail that branches to the left for the "Three Waterfalls" hike which includes Juney Whank, Indian Creek and Tom Falls. Couple of lovely hours in the forest (if you take your time and enjoy). What I loved was the feeling of relative safety unlike some hikes in the middle of absolutely nowhere.

Stopped on the way in and grabbed 7 tubes for $42 for the day. Absolutely wore ourselves out making runs down the river. Best money we've ever spent on family entertainment, hands down. EVERYONE had a great time. This includes the 13 and 4 year olds we brought with us. Beautiful waterfalls. Clear (COLD) water. Very well kept park. Clean facilities. Plenty of parking. Recommend parking as close to entrance as possible (longest run possible) and then walking up to first waterfall to put in.

We were on a waterfall tour and this spot had 3 good ones within a 2 mile walk. Easy hiking trails. All along the river. Tubing in the summer looked like fun but we wanted a less crowded adventure.

How can you not be impressed with our National parks? This one is family oriented, many small business right before the entrance-worth the rental to go tubing on the creek. Camp and picnic grounds, hiking trails, paved acess for a few or wilder ones as you get more into the park, waterfalls, people watching. There will not be a dull moment. Summer can be very busy, it's great no matter when you go.

Based on TA reviews we set aside a half day to hike Deep Creek and see the three waterfalls. We were not disappointed. The trail to Juney Whank had the steepest incline. Take your time if you are our age and the view is worth the effort. There is crushed stone on most of the trails which helps with traction. We were wearing sneakers and never slipped. Tom Branch falls is probably the most picturesque. The hike finishes with Indian Creek falls. Go on line and print a trail guide ahead of time. We did and compared it to the map on the poster at the trailhead. No issues with navigation what so ever. Highly recommend.

Great place for anyone to visit. Beautiful water falls and scenery that can be enjoyed by all who visit.

An easy walk/hike and fabulous waterfalls to be seen. The hike takes you along the Deep Creek, which seems to me to be more like a river. We hiked here after a heavy rain the previous day and the falls and the “creek” were at their best. There are places to sit and relax along the creek to enjoy the beauty. Go early - there is parking, but not a ton.

The waterfalls were beautiful but a special treat of the hike was seeing all the butterflies and wildflowers along the trail.

We hiked with our 8-year-old granddaughter and she had no problem with the trail. We went early in the day and it was not crowded but by the time we left most of the parking was taken.

Pristine Deep Creek flows through this park...great for tubing! Easy day trails, or challenge yourself by exploring deeper into the GSMNP. Several waterfalls within easy access! Day picnic sites separate from the tent camping sites is a nice feature. Somewhat busy during the park summer months.

Follow the river and be sure to take the side trail to the falls. If you want to get wet, rent tubes to come back down the river. Three waterfalls, easy to see it all in about 2 - 3 hours.

Normal tubing down Deep Creek is fantastic, one of the best. But with low water expect to hit rocks.

This was a beautiful, easy loop that takes you to three waterfalls. Having seen some spectacular waterfalls, in the Smokies and other National Parks around the country, I would not say that these waterfalls are anything special in and of themselves. They are pretty, and together with the streams and the beautiful surroundings, they make for a lovely hike.
To get to the Deep Creek area, head to Bryson City, NC and follow the signs to Deep Creek Campground. Trails to the waterfalls start from the large parking area at the end of Deep Creek Road. We took the advise of other hikers and did the loop counter-clockwise. At the trailhead, we headed towards Toms Branch Falls. At about 0.3m we reached Tom Branch Falls, which can be seen across the stream. Continuing on the trail, we reached the Indian Creek Junction at about 0.8m. We headed right, and shortly after, we took the spur trail (and stairs) on the left that led down to the Indian Creek Falls. Continuing on the loop, we headed up (on the steep part of the loop; approximately 350ft). On our way back to the parking lot, we reached the spur trail to Juney Whank Falls. From there, we took the alternate route back to the trailhead.

Came here to see three beautiful waterfalls on an easy loop trail. What we didn’t expect is to see people walking tented tubes up the hill and riding the tubes a half mile down creek! It was cold water and it was fun to sit in the water and watch the families.

Easy trail access to three picturesque falls. Definitely worth the trip! The walk along the river was contemplative and lovely.

The main attraction is the tubing. be sure yor tube has a bottom or you will be bumping. Walk to the Waterfall to put in(easy section ) or continue to the end if you want it wild.There are 3 waterfalls, 2 are eazy and one is a a bit of a uphill(Juney Whanky Falls)You can camp next to the river or the more private spots are the loups uphill. Tube rental is everywhere($5 day) and food is easy to find in Bryson city .(3miles) There are also restrooms, changing rooms and a large picnic area. Thanks for reading. Check out my photos and hit helpful

This hike is an excellent warm-up for a hiking week. You get 3 falls for only a mile and a half or so. The first 0.3 miles is rather steep, after Juney Whank Falls it gets considerably easier. The return is on a road sized trail used by people tubing on the creek.

This was a very nice hours plus hike if you like to move with pace. The trail markings aren't terrific but the locals are helpful.

Except in the busiest of seasons Deep Creek is a less visited site which makes it a gem. There is a waterfall only a few tenths of a mile away down a flat trail. The waterfall has a bench to sit on to enjoy the falls. We have been there several times and it's always a peaceful experience. There are also other small falls to enjoy in the area. Deep Creek has bathrooms and picnic tables.

It was a wonderful hike. We saw to water falls and they were beautiful. The. weather was beautiful and warm. I had my hiking poles with me since my surgery. There was very few people hiking so it was peaceful and there are benches to sit and enjoy the sounds and nature and it's beauty

A great way to spend a lazy afternoon on a hike to the waterfalls. The falls weren't spectacular; but the walk was very enjoyable.

This is a great park for families. Easy place access for tubers of all ages, many places to have a picnic and great hiking all in one location.

Beautiful waterfalls along with the scenery makes this falls worth the walk. Lots of beauty for photo hounds.

We visited to see the 3 waterfalls. We did not walk the entire trail. We enjoyed seeing all the beautiful water. There were many people tubing and it was funny to watch some of them almost tipping over! There is plenty of shade, so we did not get overheated on our visit.

Absolutely our favorite place to tube! We have been many times. We have 4 kids (13, 11, 9 and 2) so husband and I took turns taking the 3 older ones down. They have a great spot in front of tom’s creek falls (right along main trail) where 2 year old could play in the water and watch the tubers float by.

We rented tubes and tubed down Deep Creek. Hands down it was our favorite day. The water is cold but it was so fun. The higher part of the creek has bigger rapids and you definitely may fall out at the "washing machine" or some other areas. If you fall out the water isn't deep but the current is fast and you may lose your tube. But we definitely recommend starting at the top if you want to biggest thrills. Some areas have big rocks and we definitely got stuck in places. The lower part of the creek is slower which is better for smaller children. This is an absolute must do. Could spend the whole day here. There are multiple places outside the park to rent tubes. Rentals range from $4-$6 a tube for ALL DAY.

This was a great place to go. It was busy but not too bad. Easy hike for young children and just beautiful. It looks like a great place to go tubing as well. But we ran out of time before we could go tubing.

Great place to picnic and hike. It was a very warm January day and we took a small walk. This part of the Smoky Mnt Park is only 5 miles to Bryson City, N.C.

Stayed at Deep Creek Campground over the weekend and fell in love with Bryson City - a charming small town, with plenty of shops and restaurants. We hiked the Deep Creek Trails and even rented tubes to go down the creek in. Such a fun time. Beautiful scenery and great for all ages! I would recommend these trails!

The walk thru the woods in the fall to the waterfalls was really spectacular! It really isn’t that bad of a walk from the parking lot to the first falls on the trail to the right. It’s really not bad to the next falls on that trail which is up hill but not that bad of walk.

I think that these are the most accessible waterfalls in Smoky Mountain Park. They are reached from Bryson City rather than through the main park road. Deep Creek is lovely on its own and gentle enough for floating downstream on tubes.

We hiked to all three waterfalls on a beautiful fall day. Parking was limited but we were able to find a spot. It was about a half mile uphill climb to get to the Juney Whank Falls. We are retired adults and managed the hike with a few short stops along the way. We found the use of our walking sticks very helpful. It was worth the climb as the falls were very pretty. Anyone with mobility issues would have a difficult time with this part of the trail. The other trails to Tom’s Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls were an easy walk. All the falls were beautiful and the trail was very peaceful. There were other people along the trail but it was not too crowded. Parking was limited but we were able to find a spot. Be careful using GPS, especially if you set it to go to Cherokee when you leave, as it took us across a small bridge down a narrow dirt road for several miles. I would not recommend this road if you can avoid it. I would, however, highly recommend the trails! We had a great day.

This is an easy hike for families with kiddos and older folks. Easily marked, easy to see the waterfalls from the trail. Take some towels and dry clothes and snacks. There are plenty of places to get in the water and play. There are also tons of places to rent tubes in the area if you wants to tube.

The trail itself has very little side-to-side pitch, but the same can't be said for the vertical. Some of the sections let your body know that you are ascending a ~2,000 foot vertical. We hit the trail fairly early morning with a 35 degree temperature and it was taxing. For this 71 year old, the months of diminished activity (Covid restrictions) made this, technically speaking, "walk in the park" a bit of a challenge. Well worth the effort though.

This was probably one of the highlights of our trip to this area. We happened to take this hike on a rainy day, but it didn't slow us down much! Our five kids were ages 9-16, but there were other families on the trails with smaller children as well. Anyone can do this! We definitely recommend it.

The trail starts out pretty flat and easy but then gets a bit rough and then somewhat steep. Good shoes needed. Trail construction not a problem. Very pretty waterfall overlooks but lots of people on the trail. Nice shady place to spend an hour or so.

This was awesome. We did the 3 trails. Saw other people and horses too. The trails weren’t too difficult. The area is breathtakingly beautiful. I would do this again when in the area.

We were looking for a moderate hike and this was perfect. We started at the trail head to Juney Whank Falls, which was mostly uphill but good trail, then veered off onto the Deep Creek Horse Trail, continuing to climb, but then started down hill to intersect with the Deep Creek Trail which was very busy with "tubers" heading up the mountain to put in and float down the creek. This was a very entertaining way to end our hike as we stopped several times to watch tubers! Lots of water in the creek due to recent rains! Deep Creek Trail gets wide and flattens out alongside the creek back to the nice parking areas.

Great place to visit 3 different beautiful waterfalls. Easy to get to and we had nice weather, even in December!

Loved this experience. Very relaxing and beautiful to see God's handy work anytime of the year! Would highly recommend for all ages!

Beautiful follows the river with rapids one of the nicest trails in smoky mountains near Bryson city east hike about 2 miles in and out

I have a 3yr old son who absolutely loved being outdoors. My family found a spot in front of the falls that he could play and even got him a small tube to float down a 50 yard section of the creek. The water is perfect temperature and the scenery is superb! We will be back for sure! Pro tip: pack a lunch and put it in a rolling cooler to take with you on the trail to your spot by the creek!

After hiking the waterfall trails and the loop trail, we decided to try our hand at tubing the creek ( had not tubed in over 20 years!). We had a BLAST! The hike up carrying the tubes was well worth the effort! Definitely need some type of shoes on and be prepared- the water is COLD!!

We visited with our 3 kids, 11, 9 & 6. We started heading to Indian Creek first. It was a nice wide trail that was easy to walk. It took us forever to get there because our kids had to stop every 5 minutes to go down to the water or pick up rocks & sticks. I'm not sure how we were supposed to go across to Juney Whank falls after that but the trail we started following was getting a little too long & narrow for us so we went back the way we came. I believe it was a horse trail, but we couldn't figure out a different way and everyone else seemed to be going that way too.

The two falls we saw were beautiful and we enjoyed the hike with our kids.

Start via the Juney Whank trailhead, just off the upper parking lot and enjoy! Bring your essentials, a camera and some water. Nice moderate hike to see three waterfalls in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Loved it goes along the creek and you can watch the tubers going down while hiking it. there are 3 waterfalls to see- lovely.

This park has an easy hike that gives you a three-for-one deal on your waterfalls and a great opportunity for those going on a Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) ride. Why wait in long parking lines to see an overcrowded waterfall (e.g., Laurel Falls), when you can drive down to this remote part of the park and see three gorgeous waterfalls within one walk? To see all three waterfalls it’ll be about 2 miles round trip and takes about an hour. Highly recommend walking to the JW Falls first. It’s the closest, but also the hardest to get to as the entire hike (0.2 miles) is up hill. The hike is nice and shady and although it’s a rather long, narrow waterfall I would rate it number three of the three waterfalls. After viewing the falls, head down the trail to the main path (Deep Creek Trail) and follow the creek upstream. When you get to the benches along the creek you’ll find Tom Branch Falls. This is easiest waterfall to reach and I would rate it number two of the three. Continue up the trail (upstream) and once you cross the creek you’ll begin a slight climb up the mountain. When you get to the fork in the road, veer to the right to follow Indian Creek Trail where you’ll find Indian Creek Falls. The falls are just down a stairway to your left and this is best the waterfall (in my opinion). You can then continue along Indian Creek Falls trail or head back to the fork in the road to continue down the Deep Creek Trail. If you’re just passing time before your GSMR ride, then I’d recommend heading back. This is a great hike to see multiple and varying waterfalls in a short distance and short amount of time. Anyone booking an afternoon GSMR ride should definitely do these hikes before boarding your train. You will not be disappointed.

The only downside to this park is that dogs are only permitted in the campgrounds and the parking lot, not on the trails. Restrooms are available just across the creek from the parking lot in the campgrounds and are fairly well maintained. A must-do for anyone in the Bryson City area.

Flew in from Los Angeles and it was nice tubing down the river. We came on 4th of July and I didn’t mind being it a little busy, it was worth it.

We casually walked the trail on a Tuesday morning. Parking is available at the trailhead. The walk to Juney Wank is steep, while the remains trail to to Tom Branch and Indian Creek is relatively flat. The running stream was calming with a few wading anglers trying their luck. Highly recommend if you're in the Bryson City area.

I thought it wouldn't be so crowded for the parking lot. Boy, was I wrong. Luckily, there were two vehicles leaving soon. Glad we didn't come in the summer months. We took the trail where the two waterfalls are quite near to each other first. I was glad we did. When we were on our way down from the last, big waterfall, Juney Whank Falls, several people that started that trail (Juney Whank Falls) first were pretty exhausted and still had a ways to go to get to the Juney Whank Falls. Don't get me wrong, both trails are, or eventually are, inclined one way or the other; but I am glad we didn't start with the Juney Whank Falls path. Anyway, all the waterfalls were beautiful. I definitely had to take many pictures. I also am looking all around and up and down on trails. You never know what you might see. If you get on the horse trail to a waterfall, watch for the droppings. I'm so glad we decided to find waterfalls to see that we hadn't seen before on our trip.

My husband and I hiked this during a chiilly November weekend. Leaves were spectacular!!! We went to all three falls and the walk to each was not too difficult. The third fall is of course, the best. There are a few places, not many, to stop and rest. In some places, I made my own place to sit such as a rock or a big fallen tree. A camera is definitely a must. Would love to do it again when it's not too cold, but definitely not during the summer!! I can't remember if we paid to enter or not. Sorry!

What a great walk! The trails are wide which make it easier with children. Make sure to use restroom at beginning of walk.

A well-maintained trail that is not difficult. We started at the parking lot and went to the Juney Whank Falls. It was uphill on the way to the Falls and then downhill on the way to the Tom Brach Falls. We only saw a few people on this portion of the trail. The Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls are nice. The trail is wide and graveled. There are nice seating areas. You can watch people tubing in the creek. This portion of the trail is used by tubers to go upstream, but it didn't seem crowded. These aren't the most spectacular falls but worth the time and a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Waterfalls withing walking distance, tubing in the fast moving, rocky waters, great hiking! What else is needed? Oh, picnic areas and camping; all within Great Smoky Mountain Park!

Waterfall hike. One member of family is mobility challenged and their scooter had wheels too small to navigate the minor roughness of the trail to the nearest waterfall but they thoroughly enjoyed the walkway over Deep Creek while others walked. Enjoyed by all.

We traveled to the park the 1st of April '19 and it was great! There are several trails that you can take that lead you right by several waterfalls, there are lots of places to picnic and lots of places to hike. I would definitely recommend checking this place out.

We didn't not hike to Juney Whank this time because of weather conditions but we did hike to the other two. Fantastic! Don't miss seeing them! Juney Whank is a bit of a climb but the other two are an easy hike.

The scenery was beautiful and it was such a peaceful hike. The sound of the water flowing in the creek to the waterfalls was such an enjoyable experience. Lots of photo opportunities and even some benches to relax and take in the beauty at the waterfalls. The trail signage was a little confusing at times. We had intended to do the 3 waterfalls loop, which there was not on trail signage for, but ended up doing the Deep Creek loop which was significantly longer.

this trail is nice and smooth, really it’s a road, in case someone lets hurt. did see anybody acting stupid, just a lot of good quality people enjoying time with their families, no beer coolers either. where i’m from the river(guadalupe)is filled with the biggest idiots you’ve ever seen, and showing it off proudly. None of that here, peaceful and beautiful, the way it should be

Great hike. Most areas easily accessible. Nice wide trail along Deep River Creek. Beautiful flora and shady trail even on a fairly warm day. Fun to see all the families tubing down the creek. Get there early as parking is limited.

The area is great for families,couples young or old. Take a picnic hire a ring and raft down the river or just stroll around this beautiful park taking in the tranquil waterfalls. It can be very hot so make sure you take plenty of water and wear comfy shoes.

Great trails for a family outing. Beautiful sites along the way. Great for any age group. Several trails to choose from for any level hiker.

Great way to get out and stretch your legs. A warning, however, much of the trail is very steep, may not be conducive for anyone with medical issues. The waterfalls seem to cool you off even though you can't get near them. We would highly recommend this trip. The park is free to enter, and is easily accessible from the downtown area. many adults and children were tubing down the river. Looked like they were having a ball.

What a great park! The waterfalls are gorgeous! Nice wide trails, good foot holds.

Sadly, several people were in areas that they weren’t supposed to be like in the falls. Dogs were in the park when it is posted in numerous places that they are NOT ALLOWED PERIOD. I detest dog crap on walking trails due to inconsiderate pet owners.

I felt the hike was easy but if you are not in shape then consider it a moderate. Three different waterfalls. Take your time and sit and listen to the waterfalls. Magical! We watched a deer bound up the mountain across our path and sail up the side of a mountain like I would walk across a parking lot. Nature at its best.

Easy hike but the trails need to be better labeled. We did the loop trail and somehow ended up on a 5 mile hike. Which doesn’t bother us but we were looking to do the 2 mile loop trail. Other than that the falls are beautiful and worth the hike.

We hiked to all three waterfalls, which is a bit over two miles roundtrip from the parking lot. We visited Juney Whank falls first while we were fresh and energetic since the 0.2 miles to that falls is very steep. There is a bridge in front of the falls which offers great photo opportunities. We then hiked back down and joined the Deep Creek Trail towards Tom Branch Falls. This is the easiest falls to reach on a wide, level, paved trail, so if you are looking to enjoy an easy hike, just go straight here. Indian Creek falls is about a half-mile past Tom Branch falls and is the most spectacular. Highly recommend Indian Creek if you have the time and energy.

If you are into camping, hiking, water water rafting, and nature at its best then you must visit. Important Notice. There are no showers or hot water in the National Park. There are several easy to difficult hikes to waterfalls. But our favorite activity was renting a tube at the entrance of park and setting up a rest area at bottom of tubing river. It is about a mile hike with your tube to the top of the river. The higher you go the more rapid the water. You will float past one of the waterfalls. You and kids will enjoy the walk with a reward of the float down. Once down and tired sit along the river and have sandwiches and take a nap. There are a lot of people but worthy a stay if you can.

Beautiful hike. Didn't take long. One of the waterfalls is steeper to hike to so if you are a smoker you might need to rest to catch your breath. Watch your GPS when driving out. It took us on a one lane steep road and when we got there found there was a nice paved road that could have gotten us there which we definitely took out.

This easy hike gives you a three-for-one deal on your waterfalls and a great opportunity for those going on a Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) ride. Why wait in long parking lines to see an overcrowded waterfall (e.g., Laurel Falls), when you can drive down to this remote part of the park and see three gorgeous waterfalls within one walk? To see all three waterfalls it’ll be about 2 miles round trip and takes about an hour. Highly recommend walking to the JW Falls first. It’s the closest, but also the hardest to get to as the entire hike (0.2 miles) is up hill. The hike is nice and shady and although it’s a rather long, narrow waterfall I would rate it number three of the three waterfalls. After viewing the falls, head down the trail to the main path (Deep Creek Trail) and follow the creek upstream. When you get to the benches along the creek you’ll find Tom Branch Falls. This is easiest waterfall to reach and I would rate it number two of the three. Continue up the trail (upstream) and once you cross the creek you’ll begin a slight climb up the mountain. When you get to the fork in the road, veer to the right to follow Indian Creek Trail where you’ll find Indian Creek Falls. The falls are just down a stairway to your left and this is best the waterfall (in my opinion). You can then continue along Indian Creek Falls trail or head back to the fork in the road to continue down the Deep Creek Trail. If you’re just passing time before your GSMR ride, then I’d recommend heading back. This is a great hike to see multiple and varying waterfalls in a short distance and short amount of time. Anyone booking an afternoon GSMR ride should definitely do these hikes before boarding your train. You will not be disappointed.

If you have time, head to the “Road to Nowhere”, just 8 miles from Deep Creek and do the tunnel walk. Bring your flashlight and tell your scary story as you walk through the dark tunnel.

Very boring part of park - wide overused gravel trail and too many people per usual. The waterfall was for kindergartners. Disappointing but rated #1 thing to do in Bryson city . Set tone for entire family vacation set for week king cabin stay on Bryson city side to avoid crowds of gaitlinburg. Never again. One day is enough in Cherokee Bryson city slums. It’s dirty- run down- overpriced and not a good restaurant to even spend your money at. We booked in 5 of 6 nights. It’s markets itself well but was not a cool place to hang out at all.

I love going here it’s one of my favorite things to do in the summer it’s so pretty and nice waterfalls some nice walking trails as well I’ve never walked the whole thing but it’s a pretty good trail

Here you may use trail horses that you bring yourself also places to hike are nice! You can tube if you want. great for the kids to play in the water!

The loop hike to see three waterfalls was 2.5 miles. It was raining cats and dogs, but the hike was still fun. Trail was mostly wide and well maintained. One caution - we drove from Cherokee taking google maps advice and we ended up on a dirt road with one car width at the end. Our 4runner did ok, but it was scary experience. On the way back we drove via Bryson city.

The waterfalls were amazing. Trails were not too difficult even though Juney Whank was uphill most of the way. The fall colors of the trees were breathtaking.

Easy hiking trails and beautiful scenery. Lots of photo opportunities. Take the afternoon and go explore this beautiful trail.

We only hiked to see the three water falls and walk along the river. Some of the trails are easy, some moderate. Getting to the water falls is fairly easy, and a definite attraction to see. Don't miss.

Trails were well maintained. Beautiful scenery. Lovely place for an easy hike. Signage could have been a little better but it’s impossible to get lost.

My husband and I hiked up to the Juney Whank Falls waterfall. I am 65 and he is 73 and we took our time on the walk up. But we were able to do it and had a nice time when we arrived. The walk down was much easier!! then we walked along the creek and watched all of the people that were tubing down the stream. It was filled with rocks but they were able to navigate around them. I liked that they had benches along the way to sit and relax.

The Deep Creek Waterfall trail is really very pretty. The only difficult part is the Juney Wank Falls trail. It is steep but only about half a mile and the waterfall is very pretty. There is bridge that passes in front of the falls for great pictures. Go across the bridge and then follow the signs back down the other side. After leaving the Juney Wank Falls trail, the path to Tom Branch Fall is wide and flat. This is the path all the tubers are taking. Continue on this same trail following the tubers to the Indian Creek Falls. there are benches along the way. The tubing looked like a lot of fun but we were not sure of the weather and so did not stop to rent a tube on our way into the park, wish we had. If you have small children you should put your tube in just past Tom Branch Falls for older children and adults you can put in further down the trail for more excitement. We did see several tubers come out of the their tubes further down the trail, just past the bridge where the creek makes a turn.

We didn't have time to see all three but we did see the first two and they were beautiful! Definitely worth the hike!

I took the shorter trail that visited Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls. It was a little bit of a drive from the Oconaluftee visitor center but worth the drive and I'm glad I chose to explore this part of the park. It was recommended by one of the rangers at the visitor center. The hike was a little bit uphill in spots but very manageable and I struggled with many of the so-called "easy" hikes on my trip. The waterfalls are beautiful and this portion of the park was also beautiful to just explore and spend some time in. Very peaceful. Not very crowded but I certainly wasn't alone on the trail which felt good. Worth a visit if you have some time to explore Bryson City and the NC side of the national park.

This hike is a great hike that you wont tire easy! Also there are other trails that you can hike in deep creek! Have fun

Really enjoyed seeing the waterfalls. One of them maybe somewhat difficult for some to experience but I made it with heart conditions so I was excited!

All the steep climbing is at the first of the trail to Juney Whank Falls, after that mostly level walking to each of the other two waterfalls, Especially if you take right fork after leaving Juney Whank. Or you can take left fork and see more forest and trail. But if you take this way be sure to take correct trail back to see Tom Branch Falls after you leave Indian Creek Falls. If you are unable to walk steep inclines just walk to Tom Branch and Indian Creek Falls (The nicer of the three any how). Second time we have made this hike.

I decided to take my sisters to the Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
We are all getting up in years so my older sister did not hike to Juney Whank Falls. My other sister and I hiked the steep incline to the falls. It is only .3 miles from the parking area. There has been some work done at the falls. The stairs/steps down to the viewing area were easier to walk than the last time I was there a few years ago. BUT...they need to install a handrail. It would make going up and down to the falls much easier!!!!
We returned to the parking area and entered the wide path to Tom Branch Falls. This is only .2 miles. The walk was very easy on this well maintained trail. Across from Tom Branch Falls are benches to sit on and enjoy the falls. We then hiked another .6 miles to Indian Creek Falls. After you cross the river, the trail starts to have an incline which is a fairly steady incline all the way to Indian Creek Falls and beyond. The incline is not as bad as the one to Juney Whank. My older sister had no issues.
They had also done some work on the steps down to the Indian Creek Falls viewing area but still no handrails. The wildflowers along the trail were very nice.
A BIG tip....we arrived around 9 AM and the parking lot still had lots of parking but by 10 AM it was full. Get early starts. This was the end of April which is not as busy as the summer months. Deep Creek is also a big tubing destination which brings in even more people once summer starts.

The hike to the 3 waterfalls is not very difficult and does not take very long either. There are many other trails to choose if you want to go for many mile, though.

Got 7 miles in trails that I could choose. Flora and fauna refreshing. Some signs need repair. Couldn’t find cemetery that was marked but no luck. This is a must do! Many people around. Take a lot of water.

We've hiked to many a waterfall and loved Tom Branch Falls. It is so accessible - .6 mile round-trip easy walk. When you arrive, there are 3 benches, so you can actually sit and enjoy the ambiance. Also, easy access to hop in the water and play in the falls. Yeah, there were lots of tubers walking by and some floating by, so just get to the falls earlier in the morning.

The park is close to Bryson City and easy to get to. It's beaufiful, but it takes more than moderate physical effort to see the falls.

I was pressed for time so I only made it to 2. The 1st one was uphill all the way so I did it first. The water with all the colors of the fall leaves was beautiful. Maybe I can go back and do the 3rd next year.

This is by far, one of my favorite hikes in the area consisting of 3 waterfalls. There are some shortcuts you can take to make it a shorter hike. We did the long, Deep Creek loop trail which was about 6 miles long. BEAUTIFUL scenery. Not easy, but not difficult. Lots of elevation gain/loss. Bring water, snacks and enjoy the scenery!

Fairly easy trail to the waterfalls. Not too far from the parking lot. The loop was more strenuous but not hard. Great warm up trail. Trails are marked well.

We came here almost every day while staying in Bryson City. Tubing was not rated or mentioned much but it is huge business/tourist attraction!! $4/day to rent a tube and go back and forth up and down the amazing Deep Creek!!! Cheap, clean, family fun was better than white water rafting the Nantahala river in my opinion. $30 vs $200!! All day gorgeous scenery and fun

This is an extremely accessible hike for a family with young children. We were delighted by all three waterfalls!

Note: Bathrooms are cleanish, but don’t have soap (Purell only? Why why why don’t they have soap?!)

We recently visited and had a great time. One of the trails to one of the waterfalls is very steep but beautiful falls. The other two are right on the main trail. The trees were just turning and was great weather. Worth the trip!

We started with Juney whank which was the hardest of the three but still not too bad . We were able to get up to the falls but the trail for the loop was closed so you had to come back down the same way. We did see some horses headed to the horse trail which was a nice surprise. The other two were easier & some benches along the way just to chill out or watch the tubers.

We have been here several times in our 2 visits to the Bryson City area. First last July, when it was crowded, but manageable, then again this May, when it was almost all ours! Fabulous waterfalls in short hikes. Fun watching tubers in July. So close to town. Bathrooms and parking easy to get to.

This is an easy hike for just about anyone. The path is steep in a few places but mostly a very easy walk especially if you stay on the "logging road". Some of the trails are a little more adventuresome. People were pushing strollers and riding bikes on the large "logging road". You can access all 3 falls in one hike. great!

Tubing down the river is available too, just get your tube prior to entering the park. Google Maps took us there via the back way and we entered via a dirt road through the woods, so we didnt see any of the tube rental places at the paved front entrance to the park. Large picnic areas, restrooms, etc all available. Bring your own food and drinks tho. Will go back and this time enter thru the front paved entrance and rent tubes.

Plenty of walks available but the signage for the trails is poor and confusing. Best to take detailed map with you if not familiar. Very attractive waterfalls and woodland scenery.

This was a brief visit, spurred by my daughter's desire (3 years old) to see a waterfall. The trip to the park, just outside of Bryson City, was very quick, and there was plenty of parking. Upon arrival, we found that there was something for everyone, depending on your level of hiking experience and comfort. There are multiple loops through the forest, each with their own level of difficulty, but also with their own enticements of what you could expect to see along the way. We took the easiest course, making it to the first 2 waterfalls before turning back. The trails are very well done; they are wide and clearly marked, and the falls have benches and other means to rest and take photos. It's a well-used area, as we had many "professional" hikers pass us in both directions. Had we not had children that became easily bored, I would have loved to have spent more time completing the trails.

Really enjoyed the tubing! The national park is spectacular! Will definitely return! Be prepared for cold water, which was so invigorating.

I don't know how anyone would rate this under a 5. It is so beautiful here and the hike is awesome. We saw all three waterfalls and did the loop trail. We took our time, taking in all of the beauty and taking pictures. It was about 2.5 hours. It was moderately difficult in parts of the loop trail but not for long just the way up had some places that really got your heart going. But the trail was plenty wide and plenty of spots to catch your breath and take a swig of water. I am not in anyway in great shape so I would say just about anyone could do this so long as they can walk 4-5 miles. I am 46 with 9 knee operations and could afford to lose 30 pounds and I did just fine. We tubed here years ago in the summer and it was a lot of fun but in October it was a little too cold for anyone it appears nobody was doing it. Looking forward to coming back in better shape and doing the more difficult trails. Also note: it says no pets allowed on the trails but I saw people with dogs. I like to take my dog on hikes with me but left him at the camper because of we knew it said no pets. It does no appear that the rule in enforced at least not when we were there. Also, we had to wait to get out of the park as the park rangers had to come and clear the road of a very big tree that had fallen and blocked the road. Thank goodness it did not fall on top of a car traveling down the road. It would have been really bad!

Beautiful hike and two gorgeous waterfalls! Too rough after recent rains to go tubing though. Easy hike with two boys, ages 9 and 11.

We did the three waterfall walk. It was an easy walk - but of uphill for the first fall and thereafter very easy. Saw some deer on the walk too.

We love hiking Deep Creek Loop.
Technically this name is wrong as Deep Creek is a part of the Smoky Mountain National Park.
We have been many times.
It is an awesome chance to see 3 waterfalls at once.
Deep Creek is a great place in the Smokies to visit!

We had a trip on GSMR and heard talk about not missing the chance to go to Deep Creek. Very convenient and great park. We visited the Juney Whank Falls first. Pretty good hike up a steep hill, but nice falls. We then decided to see Tom Branch Falls which was a much easier walk and incredible falls. We sat there for s long time just enjoying the amazing scenery. We visited the bathrooms and they were extremely clean. Great park and don’t miss it if you are in the area.

This a truly a breathtaking, serene, quiet location if you are lucky enough to find it :) The elevation is steep so pace yourself but SO well worth the trek!!!

We had hiked trails in the park for a couple of days so this trail seemed unchallenging. However, the falls were lovely!

Deep Creek Park is an excellent park for family camping and walking (not hiking). Don’t know if they have cabins or not. They have three waterfalls, creeks and several miles of walking paths. You may also tube one of the creeks that run through the property. Very nice place for a get-away weekend or afternoon picnic.

Nice loop trail that takes you by three pretty waterfalls and through the woods. Well marked, and easy to follow.

The 3 falls were beautiful and the hike was not too strenuous. There were benches that you could relax to the sounds of the water and take in the view. There were
plenty of photo opportunities. The signage for the “3 falls loop” was not present on the trail though and we ended up hiking much further than planned, so beware and don’t get on the “Deep Creek Loop” unless you want a long hike. Take a picture of the map at the parking area or find a printed map so you won’t get confused on the trail. However, we thoroughly enjoyed our hike and the beautiful scenery.

The scenary is beautiful! We had an impromtu visit, so did not tube but still enjoyed hiking and wading in the river (water shoes a must!) Not very crowded at all, definately worth a visit.

Deep Creek Trailhead starts right at the campground. Parking can be a bit of a bear, pun intended, but it moves quickly. Don’t be afraid to park a bit further away and walk across the bridge that offers its own views.

The trail itself is relatively flat and within a very short walk you can see three beautiful waterfalls. You will also be surrounded by people - so I would recommend coming on the weekdays or, better, go a bit further.

We went camping - 4$ per person per night. Yes, you read that correctly. Our first campsite sat on the river around 5 miles in. We saw no one. Mandatory bear cables (to hang your bags) reminded you where you were. Perhaps we forgot, because within a hour of sitting up camp a doe and two fawns roamed out of the woods within 40’ of where we were sitting - which was in a sea of autumn colored leaves with the roar of a absolutely crystal clear river behind us with the smell of fall and clear mountain air on the breeze. Later that night we were treated to a chorus of coyotes while we enjoyed a fire on a crisp October night. Yeah. You can enjoy your waterfall with the tourists or you can walk in a bit further and be amazed.

Beautiful falls, nice wide trails, tons of plants to see! The parking lot was large enough to accommodate lots of people, clean bathrooms, picnic tables, and bear-proof trash containers!

We did 2 of the 3 falls. A little up and down, but doable. Worth the trip, plenty of places to rest. Take your poles.

We come to the Smokies every year, and this year we decided to drive an hour to Bryson City, NC to do some hiking instead of hiking the congested trails on the TN side. So glad we did! This was BY FAR the highlight of our trip, and it was free! We drove to Bryson City, stopped at Anthony’s restaurant for lunch (so good!) and then headed for the Deep Creek trailhead. There were only a few cars in the parking area. We set out on the 4.5 mile loop along Deep Creek and quickly spotted the stunning Tom’s Branch Falls at about .2 miles. A few minutes later we came to Indian Creek Falls, which are gorgeous and a great place to snap a family photo. We ended up taking a different path and hiked 6 miles with our 3 kids (ages 16, 13, and 6). Some of the hike is steep, which gave us all a good workout and we hopped over a stream a couple times. The kids had an absolute blast. We were tired when we were done, but we had fun and made memories for sure. I highly recommend making the drive.

This is a wonderful hike viewing three beautiful waterfalls just about 2 miles outside of Bryson City. You enter the Smokey Mountain National Park in the Deep Creek Community, lots of parking. People rent tubes and drive there to tube down the beautiful Deep Creek. Trailhead very clearly marked in parking lot. Begin with the Juney Whank Trail and continue about 2-1/2 miles up to Indian Creek Falls then back down to Tom Branch Falls. Kids will do fine, trail wide and relatively easy. There are definitely inclines and declines on the trail, but nothing difficult.

Fun hiking trails... some are short but there are options for one, two or several miles. Four waterfalls and good, various walking choices. Nice facilities and lots of parking. Picnic areas and more😀.

Was only able to visit the Tom Branch Falls due to the limited ability of someone in the party. Was told that Tom Branch Falls was the prettiest of them. The walk was fairly easy despite the rocks and roots.

This is an easy hike if you just want to go to Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls. They are fairly close together with a short walk in between. Our favorite was Tom Branch Falls because you have a bench and a couple places you can just sit and enjoy the falls. The Indian Creek Falls is a little further up the trail with a slight incline to walk up. The path is made up of dirt and gravel but it is very easy to walk on. The Indian River Falls has steps you have to walk down to get to them and you have to stand on a small flat ledge that could possibly hold perhaps 7 to 8 people at a time. This water fall was our second favorite. The Juney Whank Falls are a much steeper and harder path to hike to get to them and it is mostly uphill. My husband has bad knees and he struggled to make it up the steep incline. In our opinion these falls were not worth the climb but we were able to say we made it to all three falls!

We took a family vacation to Bryson City and visited the Deep Creek National Park while there. What a beautiful place! We hiked a short distance and saw natural waterfalls! Deep Creek also has the river running through it, so that is also very scenic! The next day, we went back and did tubing down the river! We had so much fun! There is also another waterfall right on the river that you tube by! Just be careful on how high you go to start your tubing experience. The higher you go, the rougher the ride! We had small children with us, so we put in a little lower and we were fine. The only bad part was the parking. We had a little bit of a walk/hike from the car to where we started our tube ride. We tubed down and got out right near our car where there are picnic areas with open green spaces for kids to run and play. All in all, it was a great experience and I would highly recommend this!

Great way to cool off. Low cost tube rentals just outside the park. Can be a bit dangerous because the rocks are hard.😊

Easy to follow trail and challenging for all levels. Stunning scenery and easy to access. Lots of options.

Located close to Bryson City this area offers some beautiful hiking, several exertion levels and beautiful creekside views.

This area of the Smokys is easy to walk and has 3 beautiful waterfalls. Great for famlies or anyone.

Just awesome, large easy parking area with restrooms, the loop trails is 5 miles and takes about 3 hours. it is excellent and you will see 3 water falls, we went counter clock wise around, the 1st part is very easy graded open trail, after 2 water falls, trail becomes rough and uphill, a little challenging. be sure explore some of the side trail to see everything. wear comfortable, bring bottle water.

This hike is in Deep Creek area of GSMP. Nice wide path, but not a place to "get away from it all". A very popular hike. Fun to watch the tubers go by.

Perfect. Short hike to first falls. Can make longer, to take in the others. Fun watching the Fly Fisherman.

Beautiful, peaceful.

Nice, fairly easy hike with really pretty waterfalls. We only made it to the first two falls before we had to turn around but beautiful hike!

We did this hike one morning because we didn’t have time for a day hike. 3 grandparents and 2 teens. We really enjoyed it! Some of it was uphill, which we liked. The path was clearly marked. Lots to see.

My husband and I visited Bryson City, NC over the Labor Day weekend. Although many others had the same idea, the Deep Creek National Park was not crowded. This is a spacious park with several nice hiking trails. There is also a creek where many went tubing down the creek. Very scenic with several waterfalls. If you love to hike, you shouldn't miss this one.

From parking lot, easy walk to one waterfall, the other waterfall was slightly uphill and slightly hard [...but I'm 73, and I made it ok ] Waterfalls were worth the effort...and the "walk in the woods" was very enjoyable.

This is a great hike with beautiful scenery. It was not strenuous at all. They do have a sign posted of No Pets, just FYI, which we thought was crazy considering you’re out in nature. Nevertheless, it was a nice trail. There are off shoot trails if you want more of a challenge. Definitely a must do!

The creek, the waterfalls, the scenery were all so beautiful. Much of the hike was relatively easy, although there were some difficult areas if you wanted to take those routes. Perfect for everyone!

This is a beautiful place with a waterfall loop trail that is well worth it. There are lots of people here tubing that looked like so much fun, wish we knew about it and we would have tubed as well. Next time you better believe we will be on the water. All the waterfalls are easy hiking and there are lots of benches, picnic areas, and places to enjoy the beautiful Deep Creek area.

You will see three waterfalls on a short hike. The trail is steep in the beginning, but levels out eventually. Allow about an hour for the hiking. We brought a picnic lunch and there were restrooms nearby. Lots of picnic tables. It was fun to watch the people tubing down the river in colorful rafts.

Deep creek tubing was so incredible. You would never know there is tubing there unless you went there. There are wonderful hiking trails to walk as well that end up at water falls. Great reward for finishing your short hike. The water is cold but feels great on a hit summers day. Be really careful after rain storms as the water can get very rough for little ones. If you walk all the way up the trail to the start of the tubing, be extra careful. That area up there could be a little scary for little ones. I do NOT recommend you take little ones to the start of the tubing section. I would enter in where most people enter which is about 2/3 of the way up. Over all, Bryson City has my families hearts. This is our home away from home!

This was a great hike along a meandering creek with the option to see 3 waterfalls. We did the whole loop plus up to the top past Indian Falls which was ~5 miles. Very tranquil setting and while the falls are not the most impressive in the area, they’re pretty easy to get to. This is also a drop off point for tubing so the paved parking lot is large but fills up fast. The hike to Juney Whank was very muddy and it was raining so wear sturdy shoes - unfortunately we did see someone take a tumble coming back down.

Had a great time on the trails at the Deep Creek hike. It was little cold and raining but beautiful.

there are three waterfalls that are easily accessible from the main parking lot, tom branch falls is .02 miles , then indian creek falls is another .05 miles down an easy path. at this point you can continue on around the "loop" witch is the longest waterfall hike, or take the horse trail to Juney falls which is 1.2 miles but beware it is all uphill, the easiest thing to do it after Indian falls go back down to the parking lot and walk across the lot to Juney trail access, a short uphill walk will get ya there. Juney was the most scenic falls to me. Nice place !

Easy hike to 3 beautiful waterfalls. A little steep in a few places but overall safe, well-maintained trails with such beautiful scenery.

This hike is a MUST if you’re visiting Bryson City. Three beautiful waterfalls, and gorgeous scenery. The hike is not strenuous.

My husband and I rented tubes from Deep Creek Campground (also 5 stars) and took them up the river to tube down. We went one day and tubed. We loved it so much we came back the next afternoon after white water rafting to tube more. This time we floated all the way back to our campsite. Tubing in the national forest is a fun expensive good time for anyone. Just beware it’s VERY cold.

We went to hike the trails and see the waterfalls. The hike was well worth it and the activity on the river was cool. Lots of families tubing down the river and swimming. Beautiful place!

Beautiful trails and waterfalls. Not too difficult. It was a little crowded, a cross country team was using the trail for practice so had to dodge a lot of runners.

All the beauty of the outdoors with plenty of privacy. Great for a quiet walk or a more lengthy hike!

We wondered across this looking for water falls. We ended up extending our trip by a day just so we could stay here. Bryson City offer a lot to see. We will return!

The fresh air was amazing,the waterfalls gorgeous.We're in our 60's so it was a bit of a hike but We all had a wonderful time.

We've now been to Deep Creek twice to walk the trails. We're senior citizens with all the normal aches and pains that go along with age, but this is a nice easy walk and a good place to just sit and enjoy the sound of Deep Creek as it rushes over the rocks or the water rushing down Toms Branch Falls.

It is not that far to get to Toms Branch Falls. There is parking close to the trail. Once you get on the trail, there are benches along the way for you to sit and enjoy. Listen to the creek. Listen to the Falls. Watch the tubers. Visit with family. Enjoy the beauty.

You can walk further along to another Falls, but we've not yet made it that far...maybe next time!

What a great company with excellent customer service! Our guide Kenzie was articulate, professional, friendly and very well educated. Her passion definitely showed thru. We learned about local plants and history. Her knowledge of everything from snails to bears was highly enjoyable. She is great!! If you are looking for a new kind of adventure- please consider this hike! Well worth it! Beautiful waterfalls too!

This short hike, less than 2 miles, provides a way to see three different and enjoyable waterfalls. Each of these waterfalls are different to see and offer a variety not normally seen so easily. Juney Whank Falls is the closest but does have a steeper hike, about 0.2 miles from the trailhead. This trail to the falls go over a bridge which offers a wonderful view and photo opportunity. We visited in August and there was a reasonable flow that showed off the falls wonderfully. The next falls along the trail, about another 1/4 mile, is Toms Branch Falls. This falls is across the creek and offers a multiple step down falls of about 80 feet. Toms Branch Falls flows much better after a rain but was very beautiful during our summer visit. Further up the wide gravel trail is the Indian Creek Falls. Again this hike offers another variation in a waterfall as this falls ends in a pool that provided a fishing opportunity for a reasonably large Blue Heron during our visit.

Overall I believe our hike was about 2 miles overall. Only a short section was slightly challenging and overall this was a very pleasant afternoon.

We did not take advantage of another popular activity along the creek, tubing. There are many rental agencies along the approach to the trailhead parking area and many folks were enjoying the creek. Families, couples, grandparents, people of all ages were on the creek.

I recommend this area as a very entertaining hike offering a pleasant afternoon in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We decided to revisit the Deep Creek Section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park since it had been several years. Upon arrival, the parking lot was VERY full. In my opinion, the lot is too small for all of the people who visit here to hike the waterfall trails AND tube the Deep Creek. However, we were lucky to secure a spot after only waiting a few minutes.

Here we were able to hike the short trails to Tom Branch Falls, Indian Creek Falls and Juney Whank Falls. Tom Branch Falls is only like 0.3 miles from the parking lot on a fairly flat and wide trail. IF you keep going up the same path you will come to a turn off for Indian Creek Falls (0.8 miles from parking lot). Where you turn onto Indian Creek Trail you will see a sign that prohibits tubers from tubing beyond this point. The remainder of the path up to Indian Creek Falls (another 0.1 miles) is somewhat steeper. Juney Whank Falls has 2 points of access. You can take the loop trail from the Deep Creek Trail (0.1 miles on Deep Creek Trail + 0.2 miles on the loop) OR you can go straight to Juney Whank from the parking lot (0.3 miles on the loop trail). I do NOT think that either one is easy. Last time we did the Deep Creek Trail to the Loop Trail. This time we decided to just go straight to the loop trail from the parking lot. It was a steep trail. I saw a few people stop to catch their breath before continuing one to the falls.

Overall, this is a nice section of the GSMNP. We saw people tubing here. Although we did NOT bring tubes or rent them from any of the local outfitters. We did hike to ALL 3 waterfalls & we did go into the creek to cool off. We decided to "swim" next to Tom Branch Falls although the entry and exit is NOT very flat here. Those needing an easier entry/exit may want to swim closer to the parking lot areas. We enjoyed our time here. We only spent about 2 hours, which was sufficent to hike to the falls and spend a little time in the creek. However, IF we were not racing the sun, we could have spent more time here enjoying the serenity of nature. I would recommend it to others & I am sure we will visit again. Bring water shoes, bug spray, sunscreen, bottled water, towels and tubes IF you want to tube the creek.

Note: PETS are not permitted in the Deep Creek section of the GSMNP. I did NOT see any restrooms or port-a-potties near the creek, so that was a downside.

Loved this entire area...was in Bryson City to whitewater at the Nantahala & found this area after a bit of exploring. Such a nice way to end an already full trip!

Deep Creek Trail located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a short 10-15 minute drive from the center of Bryson City. There are lots of amenities in this part of the park, including many picnic tables, multiple restroom building, and multiple parking lots. We were lucky to get a spot in the parking lot at the trailhead, so we could hike to all three waterfalls in just over 2 miles round trip. Deep Creek Trail is wide, paved, and level from the parking lot to Tom Branch Falls. Trail to Juney Whank Falls is very steep, but trail is well maintained. Trail to Indian Creek Falls is wide and paved, but moderately steep near the falls. Whether you do only the easy walk to Tom Branch Falls or visit all three falls, this is a must-see area of the National Park.

Short hike to see three beautiful falls. So quiet and perfect for a hike. There are separate trails you can take to add distance and more strenuous so it’s awesome to have that option.

We tell everyone who visits that they must go walk Deep Creek.We LOVE Deep Creek and no matter how many times we have been--I have been coming for over 30 years, I always go back to Deep Creek. It is beautiful and is available to all levels of walkers or hikers.

This place was really busy. It was a hot July day and the creek was full. We went on one of the mile hikes to the top of the mountain and back to the creek. Not strenuous but a good workout. A few steep sections but we saw 3 waterfalls.The creek was full of people. They have a parking lot where you unload your float or tube then walk up a road that follows the creek.Gentle climb and it is wide for easy travel. Lots of different places to get in water.A couple of swim holes and some nice places for smaller kids. If you walk the the whole length its probably close to a mile but easy. The kids dont seem to mind, the reward is worth it. They have a picnic area and campground and there more camp locations on way there plus tube rentals. Ten minutes from Bryson City. WE have had alot of rain this summer so creek was up.With a dry summer you would have places to shallow to float. Definitely a fun place in the mountains.

The waterfalls are gorgeous. We took the waterfalls loop with a 2, 6, and 10 year old. They loved everything about it. Slow and peaceful!

You do not have to be an avid hiker. With a very leisurely walk you can see 3 waterfalls and this is a welcoming are.

My husband and I did this hike with our 1 and 3 year old. It was absolutely gorgeous. The kids LOVED the waterfalls. It was a little rainy so the trail was very quiet - we only saw one other runner. It wasn't too strenuous and our 3 year old walked many parts easily. The trail is very well maintained.

This hike will not disappoint. The hike is short with 3 great rewards! The waterfalls are beautiful and the trails well maintained.

Loved this hike and the trail was wide and unobstructed. We enjoyed watching the tubers go do Deep Creek. We ended up renting our own tubes later on in the day- it was so fun

"Three Falls Hike" is a great hike for anyone. Tubing down Deep Creek is such fun and a must do. Rent tubes just down the street from the entrance. You have to transport them so be prepared. Pack a picnic. Come early, this place fills up fast. Respect the park. Read and follow the signage.

No animals are allowed on any of the trails within this area of the park. So leave them at home.

Remember, to always practice Leave No Trace Principals while in the park. Limit group size to no more than 11. Take only pictures and Leave only Footprints...Enjoy!!

This ended up being our best day of our trip. Peaceful and beautiful. The walk is an easy walk and very much worth your while. We could easily have spent all day here.

We hiked the trio of waterfalls, and also did some tubing. We spent two days of our trip here. All was super fun!

If you are in Smoky Mountain National Park and just trying to hike and see waterfalls, I would skip this area. It takes a long time to get to, the trail itself is packed with people tubing on the river, and the 3 waterfalls are not as good as other popular waterfalls in the park. If you go, Bryson City does have some shops and ice cream. If you were staying on the south side of the park or if you were tubing, then this seems like a better place to go.

Trails well marked and well maintained. I used up much of the time available enjoying the forest. Still won!

This is an excellent area to bring your family. The trail is popular, so it’s well traversed and can be a bit crowded in the summer months. We rented a tube to float the river for only $8, and while you have to carry the tube to the drop in point, it’s a daily rental, so you can float the creek multiple times. There are a couple of little falls that the tube has to go over, so this can be a bit frightening for smaller children, but the hike is easy and graveled, and the trail is well shaded. I’d recommend this for a fun activity for families with children though floating the river I’d say that the kiddos should be at least 8 unless you have some little ones with an adventurous outlook.

My family had a beautiful hike looking at water falls and scenery. You must get here early to find parking. I would not recommend doing the tubing because it was very crowded and difficult to safe distance. You have to rent the tubes from a company and put them on top of your car and return them after use. Instead we headed to Cherokee Smokey Mountain tubing for our intertubing.

Go for a hike and enjoy the cool and refreshing water of Deep Creek. Nature at its best! Would recommend staying in Bryson City to avoid the crowds.

We took the advice of our guided fishing expert and drove to Deep Creek trail and walked the trail to Tom Branch Falls. It was an easy walk. I didn't try Juneywhank Falls because it was uphill trek and I can't do uphill with a bad knee, but the deep creek area was beautiful!

We went for a hike in Deep Creek NP. It has a beautiful nature and a variety of hiking trails of different length. The experience was partly disturbed by the high tubing activity in the beginning of the trails (tubing seems to be great there but there are just too many people) but once you leave it behind the trails are good. They are comfortable so anyone can walk them. We would like to have some more difficult trails to walk but we understood at the end of the day that for that you have to go little bit further from the Deep Creek center. Great experience anyway.

Went for a long hike and saw 3 waterfalls along the way.There is a park for picnicing at the entrance but a lot of people go to hike and tube down the river.

The entrance to the Deep Creek area of Smoky Mountain National Park is about 3 miles from Bryson City. There is a large parking area at the trailhead, and well marked signs for the various trails.

With a 4-5 mile loop, one can visit 3 waterfalls and hike through easy to moderate trails alongside Deep Creek and the heavily wooded area. We saw plenty of birds, including wild turkey. The main section of the Deep Creek loop trail was wide and packed with gravel. The remainder of the trails we were on in this area were also wide and in great condition considering that it rained over 3" the day before we hiked.

Given the rainfall we encountered, the waterfalls were gushing with water. Comfortable hiking rewarded with excellent views and close encounters to the falls.

One word of advice - have a trail map of the area. GPS on a cell phone can be hit or miss in this area.

The 3 falls hike is really beautiful, but you have to get there before 10:00 in the morning. Otherwise there are no parking places and your peaceful hike in the forest is interrupted by hundreds of people carrying tubes. The 3 falls are definitely worth the early arrival time.

The park has clean bathrooms up front before the parking lot to the trails. We decided to try the first waterfall; Juney Whank because it is a short distance. This was the only part of the trail that was strenuous for someone with small children. The rest of the trails are paved. It takes you on a beautiful hike to two more waterfalls and some bridges next to the river. A beautiful day.

This was an easy hike with 3 waterfalls. You can also watch people ride a raft down the creek. The temperature tends to be a little cooler. I recommend bug repellant.

We returned to Juney Wank Falls and strolled along the creek around 5pm. Plenty of parking. No people at the Falls, but a few tubers on the creek. Very enjoyable and easy to walk for the little ones.

Great trails to hike, well maintained and a pretty easy hike. There are some more challenging areas with incline. Waterfalls are beautiful and good spots to take pictures

Beautiful hike
Great views
Easy access
Lots of people tubing
Plenty of places to stop and enjoy the scenery
Don’t miss it!

This area of the National Park is absolutely beautiful. There is a nice large parking lot for hikers across from the campground entrance. Really nice bathrooms in the parking area. Several hike options, take Deep Creek trail to Tom Branch and Indian Creek falls, very wide trails, more like gravel road, you can ride a bike if you choose. If you want more of a hike, go left at the sign for Indian Creek and go around and you'll hit the falls on the way back. Want a shorter hike, go right before the bridge and the falls are right there. River runs along the trail below, so pretty. A must do.

We took the 5 miler with our two kids. They cried and complained up the hilly parts, but ever since we did it, they've had a glow :)

They won't say it, but I know they feel like they accomplished something special. Sacred times.

Located near the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, it is an inexpensive way to view waterfall, or go swimming or walk the trails.

We have been traveling for the last 2 weeks with our kids (5,3, and 10 months) and this spot was our favorite of the trip so far. 🤩There are several trail options, ranging from 0.3 to 5(?) miles, but we selected a 2-mile trail that was perfect for our ability levels. The trail was plenty wide and follows along a gorgeous river with 3 exquisite waterfalls. Honestly, I can’t believe these waterfalls are real and not just putt putt props!! Plenty of safe places for kids to explore the riverbank. I can’t wait to come back in the summer and try out tubing.

What a difference a day makes. We visited Deep Creek on a Sunday and found gently flowing waterfalls and a sun soaked stream full of families tubing. Returned on Tuesday after a heavy rain and found the falls gushing and the stream raging with the water level two-feet higher than our previous visit. Even in the high water some were still tubing. Trails handled the heavy rain well.

We hiked a short 2-1/2-mile loop trail that took us to three nice waterfalls. If you are in a hurry you can visit two of the falls on a hard packed path of just 0.07-miles (one-way). The third fall would be a 0.02-mile detour off the main trail.

The second day we took a slightly longer 4-1/2-mile hike past the falls and up a spur. There are several longer hikes of 10 to 15-miles. Trails we hiked were easy-moderate, with a little patience young children to seniors should be able to navigate the trails. We are in our sixties and our grandson is four and we all were able to hike with no problems.

We met many people who were camping at the park or just visiting for a family picnic.

There are many reviews for various aspects of tubing at Deep Creek.
I am writing about visiting Deep Creek as a park, not as a tubing destination.
Deep Creek is an amazing park.
Juney Whank Falls, Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls are all within the Deep Creek National Park.
The trails are very well kept and the main trail (allowing you to see two of the above mentioned falls) is very wide and very accommodating. We have visited this park twice, and both times, I saw people with a wide range of abilities that were able to enjoy this main path.

Our favorite Bryson City trip activity. The three waterfalls were all very different so seeing all three is worth the effort. We walked the 1.2 mile trail (easy and flat) to see Indian Creek falls, along the way passing Tom Branch Falls. We went early (around 9 am) so there was plenty of parking and not a lot of people on the trail (and no tubers). On the way back (another 1.2. mIles), we took a side trail up to Juney Whank Falls. This was a steep trail (moderate) and was our least favorite waterfall of the three.

Parking was available and easy to find even in mid-afternoon. This is an easy hike on a mostly dry trail under spectacular mountain forest canopy. Despite its accessibility, you will not feel you are on a human freeway to probably jam-packed destination. Good walking shoes, rather than flip-flops, are a good choice. A late-day downpour limited our hike to the first falls and back, but we will return to see all three falls and tubers descending through the rapids.

Juney Whank Falls and Tom Branch Falls were lovely and the walks to each were fairly easy. By Tom Branch and a little further on the trail. It was fun to watch the tubers going down the river.

On a hot summer day there is no better place to cool off. Rent a tube from a nearby place outside the park, then enjoy tubing down the river. We also took a great hike into the park.

This park was near our B&B so we decided to go on a Sunday morning. There are several trails and we did the one that takes you by three waterfalls, two of which were nice and one of which was okay. Park at the far parking lots to access the trails. It definitely filled up by the time we left. This also appears to be a popular tubing place but we weren't quite sure where you start and end. I guess the regulars know because so many of them were hauling tubes on the trails. All in all, a nice hike. PS, watch out for horse you-know-what since you can take horses on some of the trails.

Absolutely beautiful location…take the time and check this out! We totally enjoyed the views! Easy to get to and gorgeous!

This was the best walk we did in this area. It was very easy, lots of places to sit and along a lovely river with beautiful views of several waterfalls. We had over 70s and a 6 year old with us so the easy walk was just right for us and the length was appropriate too. Good parking and facilities.

Don’t forget to buy your parking ticket on the way in however as there are not ticket machines at the car park.

Even in February without leaves on the trees, this is a magnificent hike. Although there is a significant incline fairly early in the 2.5 mile hike, the rest is either down hill or pretty level. Each waterfall has its own beauty; all are well worth seeing and hearing. Recommend this hike for almost anyone. Lovely!

This is a great linear park with the ability to stroll at your own pace, enjoy the scenery and beauty of nature and be lulled by the sounds of the water over the rocks. Morning seems to be best time to go, before it gets so crowded both on the trails and on the water.

The entrance to the Deep Creek area of Smoky Mountain National Park is about 3 miles from Bryson City. There is a large parking area at the trailhead, and well marked signs for the various trails.

With a 4-5 mile loop, one can visit 3 waterfalls and hike through easy to moderate trails alongside Deep Creek and the heavily wooded area. We saw plenty of birds, including wild turkey. The main section of the Deep Creek loop trail was wide and packed with gravel. The remainder of the trails we were on in this area were also wide and in great condition considering that it rained over 3" the day before we hiked.

Given the rainfall that fell a couple of days before our visit, the waterfalls were gushing with water. Comfortable hiking rewarded with excellent views and close encounters to the falls.

One word of advice - have a trail map of the area. GPS on a cell phone can be hit or miss in this area.

The walk to one of them is flat and easy, the other two are uphill, but so worth it, the park is breathtakingly spectacular!!! We also rented tubes and tubed past one of the waterfalls which was pretty cool and a lot of fun.

We stopped in Bryson City and the greeter at the Visitor Center gave us a map and excellent directions to the park and the trail that would take us past three waterfalls. The walk was moderate (actually easy except for the trail to the first falls), and there was plenty of room even though there were hundreds of people carrying their tubes upstream.

Lovely walk to see three very different falls. Go to Indian Creek first and walk back towards parking lot. Unfortunately ranger suggest we go to Junney Whanck falls first and I ended up on the horse trail walking much steeper route that was not very scenic until I came to Indian Creek.

This is truly one of the best spots in the Smokies. The views are beautiful, the creek is relaxing, and the trails are accessible and do-able.

Tubing, hiking, picnics this is the place. Difficult haul to get tubes to put in place, but fun place. Hikes to 3 waterfalls, very easy.