GSMNP Porter Creek

Trail Name GSMNP Porter Creek Park Great Smoky Mountains National Park Nearest City Gatlinburg State Tennessee Trail Marking None Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Easy Hiking Time 2.5 Hours0.156 Days <br />150 Min <br /> Distance: round-trip/trail only 3.74 Mi6.019 km <br /> / 1.87 Mi3.009 km <br /> Trail Type In-and-Out Climb/Descent Elevation 1,021 Ft311.201 Meters <br /> / -296 Ft-90.221 Meters <br /> High Point 6,635 Ft2,211.667 Yards <br />2,022.348 Meters <br /> Parking 35° 41' 48.30" N, 83° 23' 17.59" W Trailhead 35° 41' 48.30" N, 83° 23' 17.59" W Nearest Medical Sevierville Trip Reports Click Here Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"270px","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":["zoom"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":35.69675000000000153477230924181640148162841796875,"lon":-83.3882200000000040063241613097488880157470703125,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

Located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 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

Continuing up the trail will reach backcountry Campsite #31 at 3.4 miles.

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 (even if their owners cannot read the clearly posted signs).

Misc. Information

Be aware that black bears are in the area.

Maps

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Photos

• 

  Trailhead sign

• 

  Fern Branch Falls

• 

  John Messer Barn ~1875

• 

  Trail bridge