GSMNP Porter Creek

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Revision as of 05:55, 25 March 2014 by Vhasler (talk | contribs) (→‎How to get there: Added link to Ramsey Cascades)
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GSMNP Porter Creek.JPG
Trail Name GSMNP Porter Creek
Nearest City Gatlinburg
State Tennessee
Trail Marking None
Trail Use/Features Dnr hiking.png Dnr waterfall.png
Difficulty Rating Easy
Hiking Time 2.52.5 Hours <br />0.156 Days <br />150 Min <br />
Distance, round-trip 4-5"-5" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
Climb/Descent Elevation 735735 Feet <br />224.028 Meters <br /> / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.
High Point *"*" is not a number.
Nearest Medical Sevierville
Trip Reports Click Here
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Trail Overview

An easy hike along a cascading stream to see wildflowers, settler's life, and small waterfall.

How to get there

From Gatlinburg, TN:

  1. Take US321 North (actually heading east) out of town.
  2. Turn right into Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Greenbrier entrance.
  3. Travel just over five miles on road which changes from paved to gravel - passing the road bridge to left to GSMNP Ramsey Cascades.

Trailhead starts at locked gate with brown information sign.

Route Description

The trail follows a gravel logging road at first, then continues uphill to follow the stream to the waterfall. At the farm site, make sure to take the far left "Porter Creek" trail along the stream versus the "Brushy Mtn." trail which leads towards GSMNP Grotto Falls in seven miles.

Distance (mi) Elevation (ft) Description
0.0 XXXX Trailhead
0.75 XXXX Ownby Cemetery
1.0 XXXX John Messer farm site
2.0 XXXX Fern Branch Falls

Typical Conditions

National Park Service does trail maintenance primarily between May thru Nov, thus some blowdowns possible during the off-season. Gravel roadbed for first mile, changing to rocky footpath. The latter section can be muddy after a significant rain.

Fees, Permits, etc.

No fee. Per NPS policy, no mountain bikes or dogs (if their owners cannot read the clearly posted signs).

After the Hike

Misc. Information

Be aware that black bears are in the area.

Maps

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="35.687" lon="-83.39" type="terrain" zoom="14" width="750" scale="yes" controls="medium" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/GSMNP_Porter_Creek_Trail.kml (A) 35.69675,-83.38822 Parking at trailhead gate (L) 35.,-83. First trail bridge (G) 35.,-83. End of gravel road (L) 35.,-83. Trail bridge (C) 35.,-83. Fern Branch Falls Fern Branch Falls </googlemap>

Photos