Hi there!
Big Creek is in a less visited part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
And for Big Creek waterfalls, the Midnight Hole waterfalls is one of the great waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains!
I did the hike to Midnight Hole in September. What the weather will be like from year to year can vary (which means the colors can vary!), but this is what it was like for me!
This Smoky Mountains hike to waterfalls in Big Creek is a hike through a forest, with a trail that also goes along a creek, and it’s a rocky trail in parts.
Shoes with thicker soles (like hiking shoes) can be helpful on rocky trails like this so the soles of your feet aren’t feeling it as much.
You can make it a hike to Midnight Hole and turn back around. You can also keep hiking further on the trail, and you will also come across another great waterfalls, Mouse Creek Falls.
Many people do go to Mouse Creek Falls as well after hiking to Midnight Hole. But if you want to make it a shorter waterfall hike, it can be a worthy hike just to go to Midnight Hole too.
Below will focus on hiking to Midnight Hole only.
Basics about the trail to Midnight Hole
You’ll take the Big Creek Trail to get to Midnight Hole.
The distance of this hiking trail to Midnight Hole is around 3 miles round trip.
You might give yourself 1.5-2 hours to complete the hike to Midnight Hole.
How much time you spend on the trail can depend on your fitness level, how many stops you make, and how long you spend at the waterfalls!
In warmer temperatures, this is known as a waterfalls swimming spot.
As a visitor to the area, it’s important to know the dangers of waterfall swimming and being around waterfalls in general.
There has been a death at Midnight Hole as recently as September 2020.
It’s being reported in the news that he slipped on a rock and fell in.
Your destination for google maps can be the Big Creek trailhead or the Big Creek campground loop road.
If you’re coming from Gatlinburg, the drive to the Big Creek Trail parking lot is 1 hour, maybe a little less.
No dogs on the trail to Midnight Hole
In general, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not a pet-friendly park when it comes to hiking trails. Pets are not allowed on the vast majority of hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains, and that includes the Big Creek Trail that takes you to Midnight Hole.
Big Creek picnic area
Right near the parking lot is a picnic area. Bring your own food and you can have a nice picnic after your waterfall hike! There’s a bridge across a creek right nearby the parking lot as well for more scenic views. This actually might be the group camping area, so if it’s in use there is also the Big Creek picnic area that’s down the road.
There are bears around Big Creek
You will see a “bear-proof” heavy duty trash container at the trailhead parking lot, and all over the national park.
If you utilize the picnic area by eating food, take extra care to pick up your food scraps and trash!
A note from another area of the national park, but the same applies at Big Creek! “A fed bear is a dead bear.” If bears start to recognize human food as bear food, they can become a serious threat to humans – to you! If that happens, a bear may have to be put to rest for good. This is why it’s said to be important that everyone does their part to pick up after themselves.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is bear country!
Toilets at near trailhead to Midnight Hole
There are bathroom facilities with flush toilets at the trailhead parking lot.
Driving to the start of the Midnight Hole trail
So again, your destination for google maps can be the Big Creek trailhead or the Big Creek campground loop road. This will take you to the Big Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
You’ll pass by a small parking area, and that’s parking for the Chester Branch Trail. This is also where you’ll find the Big Creek picnic area.
Chester Branch Trail to Appalachian Trail, 2 miles away.
Chester Branch Trail to Mount Cammerer, 5.9 miles away.
Lots of potholes.
Parking lot for trail to Midnight Hole.
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Here is a quick list of places to stay for your Tennessee North Carolina road trip, and you can read the reviews at partner website booking.com.
- Sevierville: Serenity, A Rustic Log Cabin Retreat
- Gatlinburg on a budget: Marshall's Creek Rest Motel or River Edge Inn or Gatlinburg Mountain Inn
- Gatlinburg resort: Embassy Suites By Hilton Gatlinburg Resort
- More in Gatlinburg: Greystone Lodge on the River
- Asheville: Princess Anne Boutique Hotel
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And now…
PHOTOS for a little bit of what to expect when hiking in Big Creek on the trail to Midnight Hole!
I hiked to the Midnight Hole waterfalls in late September 2020. Pictures are from that time. I did this waterfall hike on a somewhat rainy day, and I thought the water color at the waterfalls still looked amazing! I’m sure it looks even better if it’s sunny out!
Big Creek Trail to Midnight Hole, 1.5 miles away.
Big Creek Trail to Mouse Creek Falls, 2 miles away.
Big Creek Trail to Swallow Fork Trail, 5.1 miles away.
Big Creek Trail to Campsite 37, 5.2 miles away.
And then once you’re near, you’ll start to see the blue-green color of the waterfalls pool off to the left side of the trail. It’s kind of hiding behind the trees. There was no trail sign at the time I did this hike. From here, it’s a bunch of rocks you step down to get to the level of the river/creek.
The safest way to see these waterfalls is to enjoy the view from the side you arrived at.
If you walk on the rocks to get further out into the creek, or even to attempt to go to the other side, it’s important to be very careful! Water levels also may make it more dangerous.
If you’re climbing or stepping on any rocks, take care, as rocks can be slippery and/or unstable! It’s best to test out a rock or log to see if it moves before you put your full weight on it.
And that’s a bit of what it’s like on the hike to the Midnight Hole waterfalls!
I went to Midnight Hole in 2020. Your experience may vary!
Be sure to see the list of more great waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains!
Popular scenic areas of the Smoky Mountains with waterfalls:
HAPPY HIKING TO SEE BIG CREEK WATERFALLS!
Here are more ideas for a few days in the Smoky Mountains!
More of the best things that the Smoky Mountains is known for is hiking!If you're looking for just one solid day hike in the Smoky Mountains, there's the Mount LeConte hike. Most often this is done as a day hike, but you can also stay overnight near the Mount LeConte summit! There is the LeConte Lodge, which claims to be the highest guest lodge in the eastern part of the United States! (It does book up!)
There are also lots more hikes that come with mountain views. See more about some of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
There are also a lot of hikes to waterfalls. See more about the best waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
You can also go camping in the mountains. See more about the best campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. (No showers in the national park, though!)
Cost to go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There is no national park entry fee for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but as of 2023, there is a parking fee.You'll need a parking pass when you go to the Smoky Mountains.
You can wait until you arrive to buy the parking pass, or you can buy it online before you go at recreation.gov.
Depending on how many days you will be in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the cost of parking will be $5 or $15 per vehicle.
Plan out your time in the Smoky Mountains!
Some of the best known things in Great Smoky Mountains National Park include Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!For Clingmans Dome, you can get great views from the parking lot, or you can hike up to the highest point in the Smoky Mountains! (No matter what, you do need weather on your side, though! For me, 3rd time was the charm at Clingmans Dome!) See more about Clingmans Dome.
For Cades Cove, it's all about the slow-going Cades Cove Loop Road! You can drive it, bike it, or walk it! You can make stops to walk inside historic cabins, see a historic mill, and even do a waterfall hike! See more about Cades Cove.
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is also a slow-going road that you drive and make stops along the way, including quiet stops along a creek or waterfalls hikes. See more about the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
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