Hi there!
Big Creek is in a less visited area of the Smoky Mountains.
Mouse Creek Falls is in the Big Creek area of Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina.
The Mouse Creek Falls hike is around 2 to 3 hours long, round trip.
I did the hike to Mouse Creek Falls 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!
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This Smoky Mountains hike to Mouse Creek Falls is a hike through a forest, and in parts it’s also a creekside waterfall hike!
Basics about the trail to Mouse Creek Falls
You’ll take the Big Creek Trail to get to Mouse Creek Falls.
The distance of this hiking trail to Mouse Creek Falls is around 4 miles round trip.
It’s officially recommended to give yourself 2-3 hours to complete the Mouse Creek Falls hike. 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!
As you are hiking to Mouse Creek Falls, you will also pass Midnight Hole.
This is a popular spot, so you’ll probably want to make a stop here, especially if you’re chasing waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains!
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 Mouse Creek Falls
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 Mouse Creek Falls.
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! 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 Mouse Creek Falls
There are bathroom facilities with flush toilets at the trailhead parking lot. It was open when I went.
Driving to the start of the Mouse Creek Falls hiking 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 Mouse Creek Falls.
Also near this parking lot is the Baxter Creek Trail. You can go here for more scenic views across the bridge, too!
Baxter Creek Trail to Mount Sterling, 6.2 miles away.
Baxter Creek Trail to Mount Sterling Ridge Trail, 6.7 miles away.
If you are interested in Mouse Creek Falls, then you may also like these things to do around the Smoky Mountains:
- Hen Wallow Falls
- Juney Whank Falls
- Laurel Falls Trail
- Abrams Falls Trail
- Mingo Falls (a bit outside the park)
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (more waterfalls)
- More waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains
- Andrews Bald
- Alum Cave Bluffs Trail
- Mount Le Conte
- Mingus Mill
- Clingmans Dome
- The big list of things to do in the Smoky Mountains
More below about the trail to Mouse Creek Falls!
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And now…
PHOTOS for a little bit of what to expect when hiking in Big Creek on the trail to Mouse Creek Falls!
I hiked to Mouse Creek Falls in late September 2020. Pictures are from that time.
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 Midnight Hole waterfalls pool off to the left side of the trail. It’s kind of hiding behind the trees. From here, it’s a bunch of rocks you step down to get to the level of the river/creek if you want to make a stop here.
Then once you’ve finished up taking in the views at Midnight Hole, then you can continue onwards to get to Mouse Creek Falls!
It’s from here that you’ll have more opportunities to see much more of the creek you’re hiking alongside.
Now, as you continue hiking, you might wonder when you will come across Mouse Creek Falls… or even if you’ve already past it?! You may consider downloading the free offline google maps before you go so you can consult with google maps to see when you’re approaching it. GPS generally works in the Smoky Mountains even if data does not.
There is a short side trail that will take you to Mouse Creek Falls. When I went there was no sign directing you to the waterfalls.
But I guess it’s pretty obvious… if you know what you’re looking for and when! And now you do. 👇 😉
And you’ll then see the waterfalls! You can enjoy the view from the spot you arrive at, or you can take a bit of a steep trail down to see the waterfalls closer to the creek.
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 then once you’ve taken in the views of these waterfalls, you can head back the way you came!
And that’s a bit of what it’s like on the hike to the Mouse Creek Falls!
I went to Mouse Creek Falls in 2020. Your experience may vary!
HAPPY HIKING TO SEE THE MOUSE CREEK WATERFALLS!
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