Hi there!
Tom Branch Falls is 60 feet tall, according to the National Park Service.
It’s a pretty easy walk on the Deep Creek Trail to get to Tom Branch Falls.
You can even go tubing on Deep Creek past Tom Branch Falls!
Deep Creek is on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and this also makes it a less visited area of the national park compared to other areas.
And for Deep Creek waterfalls, Tom Branch Falls is one of the great waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains!
I did the hike to Tom Branch 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!
This Smoky Mountains hike to waterfalls in Deep Creek includes walking right alongside water!
Tube your way to Tom Branch Falls
Deep Creek tubing is a thing, and you can float right on by Tom Branch Falls too!
Side note! Check the reviews at partner websites included below!
How to save money on your trip to the Smoky Mountains
I use hotels.com to look for the cheapest hotels. You can also try the expedia hotels site (good for car rentals too) or see if you like any of the vrbo vacation rentals or cabins.
/end side note
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Basics about the trail to Tom Branch Falls
This is among the easy waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains. If you were to go directly to Tom Branch Falls and back, it’s a leisurely stroll right alongside a river (creek!) on flat ground.
You’ll take the Deep Creek Trail to get to Tom Branch Falls.
The distance of this hiking trail to Tom Branch Falls is around 0.4 miles round trip.
You can complete this walk in 10-20 minutes, but you might want to spend some time sitting at one of the benches located right in front of the waterfalls!
You can keep walking the same Deep Creek Trail and a little further along you will find Indian Creek Falls. Deep Creek Trail is also connected to another trail that will take you to Juney Whank Falls. The trail to Indian Creek Falls remains flat, while the trail to Juney Whank Falls can be a little hilly in parts.
The trailhead is located in the Deep Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
If you’re coming from Gatlinburg, the drive to the Deep Creek trailhead is around a 1.5 hour drive.
Your destination for google maps can be the Deep Creek Trail trailhead or the Deep Creek trailhead parking.
You can very well just hike to Tom Branch Falls and it will make for a nice nature walk. Many people also visit 2 more waterfalls alongside a visit to Tom Branch Falls.
No dogs on the trail to Tom Branch 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 Deep Creek Trail that takes you to Tom Branch Falls.
Toilet near the trail to Tom Branch Falls
The Deep Creek campground is located right near the Deep Creek parking lot, and that’s the bathroom I used. It has modern bathroom facilities.
Parking near the trail to Tom Branch Falls
There is a good size parking lot right next to the Deep Creek trailhead.
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And now…
PHOTOS for a little bit of what to expect when hiking in the Deep Creek area on the trail to Tom Branch Falls!
I hiked to Tom Branch Falls in late September 2020. Pictures are from that time.
And that’s a bit of what it’s like on the hike to Tom Branch Falls!
I went to Tom Branch Falls 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 WALKING TO SEE DEEP 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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