The Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains
Your guide from the Hemlock Inn, Bryson City B&B & Cabins

Great Smokies: Intro | Deep Creek (Waterfalls) | Cataloochee | Great Hikes | Oconaluftee | Newfound Gap/Clingmans Dome | Gatlinburg | Great Drives Blue Ridge: Bryson City | Dillsboro | Cherokee | Franklin | Maggie Valley | Asheville | Waynesville | Joyce Kilmer Forest | Blue Ridge Parkway | Fontana Lake/Dam | Fishing | Whitewater Rafting | Biking | Biltmore Estate | Great Smoky Mtn. Railroad | Polar Express

Deep Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Just three miles from the Hemlock Inn B&B and cabins is the Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There you will find great hiking (including easy trails to some great waterfalls), tubing on the creek, picnic pavilion, rest rooms, and parking areas.

To reach Deep Creek, turn left at the bottom of the Hemlock Inn driveway onto Galbraith Creek Road. Go 3 miles (Note: the last 1½ miles is gravel), cross the bridge, and turn into the parking area on your right. On your way to Deep Creek, just after the gravel road begins, you will see a gate on your right. This road leads to Wiggins Cemetery. You may stop and walk up to it if you wish, before continuing on to Deep Creek.

Tubing on Deep Creek
There are several places to rent tubes that are located just past the deep creek parking area. It's fun for all ages.

Described as Nature’s Best Water Ride, the Deep Creek course consists of two sections: (1) The upper “whitewater” section, which flows from Indian Creek through the narrow Deep Creek gorge. This is a wild, bouncy ride that often separates the rider from the tube, especially when the water is swift from spring rains. At the end of the rapids section, there’s a wide, deep swimming hole that provides a relaxing break before getting back on the tube. (2) The lower section, which is wider, easier going and more appropriate for smaller kids, ends at the parking lot. Put-in for this section is at the swimming hole just above the first bridge on the Deep Creek trail.

There are several outfitters offering tube rentals near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance on West Deep Creek Road. Some have changing rooms and showers. You can choose from different types of tubes — with seats and without — which can be rented for less than $5 a day. It’s advisable to wear a bathing suit or shorts and tee shirt and secure shoes.

Hiking at Deep Creek

Deep Creek Trail
The Deep Creek Trail starts from the parking lot and goes up the side of the creek for 15 miles, nearly to Newfound Gap on Hwy. 441, but go as far as you wish and return. Tom's Branch Falls is about 100 yards up the trail from the starting point, a beautiful, small but high falls. As you begin, start looking for wildflowers. In the spring this trail is loaded with Lady's Slipper, Dwarf Iris, Foam Plant, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Ferns, Hearts-a-Busting (the seed pods in September are prettier than the blooms), and many more. In the summer look for Purple Flowering Raspberries, ferns, and fungi like Indian Pipes. Always look under bridges for big fish. In the fall you will see beautiful seed heads.

Indian Creek Trail
About one mile up the Deep Creek Trail, Indian Creek Trail branches off to the right. Turn up this trail and go as far as you like and return. About 100 yards up the trail you will come to Indian Creek Falls. This is a very large fall; very beautiful. Look for Vasey's Trillium in this area. They have very large leaves and can be maroon, pink and white. Across the trail from the waterfall is a large planting of Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

Junywhank Falls Trail
Go to Deep Creek via Galbraith Creek Road as described earlier in this section. When you cross the bridge, turn left along side the creek. In about ½ mile you will see the sign for Junywhank Falls on your right. The trail starts from the road. There is no place to park at the sign, so go on to the pavilion and park and walk back to the trail. This is a short ½ mile walk to a beautiful waterfall. The trail is good, but a little steep. The trail is full of Showy Orchids, some Doll's-Eyes, and a great planting of Vasey's Trillium by the beautiful waterfall. Remember, these blooms can be maroon, pink, or white, and are under the leaf. It is a shy Trillium, but twice the size in leaf, stalk, and flower. It is rare, and this is a large group. You can go across the foot log or up the hill, but don't go up stream, the trail just keeps going and is of no great interest. Just return the way you came.

Stone Pile Gap Trail
From Deep Creek parking area, take Deep Creek Trail, turning right onto Indian Creek Trail. A short distance past Indian Creek Falls, you will see a trail sign on the right directing you to Stone Pile Gap Trail. It is about one mile up to the Gap. At Stone Pile Gap there is a grade for a scenic driving road the Park was going to build, but didn't. You may return the way you came, or should you be with a group and have two cars, you might like to try this variation.

Variation on Stone Pile Gap Trail
On your way to Deep Creek, you can leave one car shortly after you enter the Park, about ¼ mile after you start the gravel road, on your right. Everyone go in the second car to Deep Creek parking area and follow directions above for the Stone Pile Gap Trail. Instead of returning the way you came, turn to the right and go down the hill to Galbraith Creek Road. This part of the trail is 1.1 miles. As you are coming down the hill, and almost to the road, watch on your right for a trail to Wiggins Cemetery. This makes an interesting side trip. Go on down the hill to your car, and drive back to Deep Creek to pick up the second car.

Loop Trail
Follow the directions above to Deep Creek Trail, then right onto Indian Creek Trail. About a half a mile past Indian Creek Falls you will see a sign on your left for the Loop Trail and a bench. (You might be interested to know that a long time Hemlock Inn guest, Dr. Stevern Rose from Palm Beach , gave this bench.) The Loop Trail will take you up to Sunkata Ridge, separating Deep Creek and Indian Creek. Go to the top, then down to Deep Creek. You will hit Deep Creek Trail at a bridge on your left over Deep Creek. Turn left and go back to the Deep Creek parking area. The complete loop is about 4 miles. (WARNING! At the top of Sunkata Ridge there is a trail going north. If you take this trail, it would be a full days hike to the next place it crosses Indian Creek Trail and back. Be sure to go down from the top to Deep Creek. )

Noland Divide Trail
This is a ridge trail which starts climbing from Deep Creek and goes 12 miles to the road to Clingmans Dome. It is a beautiful trail, and it is nice to go up half of your time and then come back to Deep Creek.

Coming from the Inn, follow the Galbraith Creek Road into the Park, but on crossing Deep Creek on the bridge, turn left instead of right, and go to the next bridge on your right into the parking area. This area is used for horse trailers for riders who are taking the horse trail. At the back of the parking area you will see a trail going north. At a log crossing over a small stream you will go over the log and you are on the trail. The horse trail goes to the right. Just go up as far as you wish and return.

 

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Hemlock Inn
Adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
P.O. Box 2350, Galbraith Creek Rd, Bryson City, NC 28713
phone: 828-488-2885 / fax: 828-488-8985
Reservations taken from 7:30 AM until 11:00 PM EST
e-mail: hemlock@dnet.net

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