Waterfall Hero Hikes: Gunter Fork Falls (GSMNP)

Gunter Fork Falls is a tall waterfall on Gunter Fork in the Big Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Along the way, you'll pass a lower waterfall on Gunter Fork as well as Mouse Creek Falls and Midnight Hole.

Hike Length: 16 miles
Estimated Time: 6 to 8 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Location: Big Creek Area (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Trail Users: Hikers and Equestrians
Dogs: No dogs
Features: Waterfalls (4)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: Hikers must ford Big Creek, which is deep in normal water levels and impossible in high water.
Trailhead GPS: 35.75159,-83.10977
Waterfall GPS: 35.69641,-83.19599(Gunter Fork Falls); 35.69666,-83.19349 (Lower Gunter Fork Waterfall); 35.73507,-83.13356 (Mouse Creek Falls); 35.73810,-83.12720 (Midnight Hole)

Directions:

Head west from Asheville on I-40 for around 50 miles and cross into Tennessee. Take the first exit, 451 and turn left at the end of the off-ramp to go under the interstate. Turn right and then left on Tobes Creek Road to cross Pigeon River. Immediately after the bridge, turn left on Waterville Road to head back into North Carolina. In about 2 miles, the road will enter the park and turn to gravel. Go about another mile to the Big Creek day-use parking area.

Map:

Hike Description:

The Big Creek trailhead is right before the parking lot. The trail follows Big Creek upstream along an old gravel road. There are some scenic cascades along the creek.

At 1.5 miles, the trail passes Midnight Hole and at 2 miles, it passes Mouse Creek Falls. See Mouse Creek Falls and Midnight Hole for more description.

Right after Mouse Creek Falls, the trail crosses Big Creek on a bridge.

At 5.1 miles, Swallow Fork Trail splits to the left and there is another bridge over Big Creek.

On the other side of the creek, Low Gap splits to the right and the Lower Walnut Bottom Campsite is just off the trail. At 5.8 miles, Big Creek Trail ends at Upper Walnut Bottom Campsite. Continue straight on Camel Gap Trail for half-mile to Gunter Fork Trail and turn left. The trail almost immediately fords Big Creek. The crossing is deep and challenging in normal water levels; in high water, it would be impossible.

After crossing Big Creek, Gunter Fork follows its namesake upstream, crossing the creek a total of five times. Between the third and fourth crossing of Gunter Fork, Lower Gunter Fork Waterfall can be seen from the trail.

An obvious path leads from the trail down to the base of the lower waterfall. It's not a big waterfall but worth a stop if making the long trek of Gunter Fork Falls.