How long to get there from West Asheville: 45 mins
Trailhead at Big Creek
Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles to bridge; 5 miles to Walnut Bottoms
Trailhead at Big Creek
Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles to bridge; 5 miles to Walnut Bottoms
Description: 
This is one of my favorite trails. The trail is wide, relatively smooth, and has a gentle incline the entire way. It is also a frequently used horse trail, so expect to see riders along the way. Yet, despite that, the trail is in very good condition for hikers.
As the trail begins, the creek is far downhill to the left, yet fear not - soon enough the creek will be right beside the trail. It remains so the entire length of the trail all the way to Walnut Bottoms.
Big Creek is a good-sized creek with every section offering beautiful views of water pouring over the mossy rocks. In fact, it’s sizeable enough that in springtime’s high water, I have watched kayaks enjoy running a section. Currently, however, we're in a historic drought, so it's not so dramatic.
Feel free to stop only 1.5 miles in at Midnight Pool. This little beach offers a cool, deep pool which is perfect for relaxing, lunch, swimming or whatever. This small waterfall and pool are beautiful and a great destination in themselves, or only a pit stop along the way.
Two miles in is Mouse Creek Falls. This lovely waterfall originates on the opposite side as it falls into the main creek. Again, this can be a turnaround spot, lunch spot, or only a photo op. There is a hitching post here for horses.
At 2.5 miles, there is a very sturdy bridge across Big Creek. Yet another opportunity to turn around, have lunch, play in the pool, take photos, or take a nap by the lullaby of the creek.
The next 2.5 miles continue alongside the creek still offering beautiful photos of mossy rocks and small, but wide, cascades. In springtime, this area is alive with wildflowers.
Walnut Bottoms is a campsite reached across another sturdy bridge which crosses Big Creek. This is often my turnaround point, and I thoroughly love having lunch on the beach here. If I come at the right weekend in spring, the campsite area is blanketed with wildflowers making it stunningly beautiful.
This is one of my favorite trails. The trail is wide, relatively smooth, and has a gentle incline the entire way. It is also a frequently used horse trail, so expect to see riders along the way. Yet, despite that, the trail is in very good condition for hikers.
As the trail begins, the creek is far downhill to the left, yet fear not - soon enough the creek will be right beside the trail. It remains so the entire length of the trail all the way to Walnut Bottoms.
Big Creek is a good-sized creek with every section offering beautiful views of water pouring over the mossy rocks. In fact, it’s sizeable enough that in springtime’s high water, I have watched kayaks enjoy running a section. Currently, however, we're in a historic drought, so it's not so dramatic.
Feel free to stop only 1.5 miles in at Midnight Pool. This little beach offers a cool, deep pool which is perfect for relaxing, lunch, swimming or whatever. This small waterfall and pool are beautiful and a great destination in themselves, or only a pit stop along the way.
Two miles in is Mouse Creek Falls. This lovely waterfall originates on the opposite side as it falls into the main creek. Again, this can be a turnaround spot, lunch spot, or only a photo op. There is a hitching post here for horses.
At 2.5 miles, there is a very sturdy bridge across Big Creek. Yet another opportunity to turn around, have lunch, play in the pool, take photos, or take a nap by the lullaby of the creek.
The next 2.5 miles continue alongside the creek still offering beautiful photos of mossy rocks and small, but wide, cascades. In springtime, this area is alive with wildflowers.
Walnut Bottoms is a campsite reached across another sturdy bridge which crosses Big Creek. This is often my turnaround point, and I thoroughly love having lunch on the beach here. If I come at the right weekend in spring, the campsite area is blanketed with wildflowers making it stunningly beautiful.
Directions: From North Carolina take I-40 West across the Tennessee State Line. Take the first exit, Waterville exit. At the stop sign, go left to the bottom of the hill. Then turn left across the bridge and continue following the main road alongside the creek past the power plant and the small community until the road reaches a stop sign. Go straight at the 4-way intersection and enter the Great Smoky National Park. Follow the gravel road to its terminus (about 2 miles in) at a picnic area. Park and walk slightly back up the road to the signed trailhead on the left.
No comments:
Post a Comment