Welcome to the most pristine, well-stocked waters east of the Mississippi. You can reach Nellies Falls from the same trailhead as Flat Creek Falls. The good thing is that there are several signs that lead you to the site. The closest falls to Cherokee is the beautiful Mingo Falls, about 5 miles out Big Cove Road from Saunooke Village. The closest National Park trail to Cherokee is the Oconaluftee River Trail, a short 1.5 mile trail connecting the GSMNP Visitor Center with Cherokee, near the Saunooke Village area.It is not a loop, so you can begin your walk from . If you are up for a short walk down to the base of the waterfall, there is a trail to follow thats marked with blue-painted spots on trees for about 0.2 miles. Will it be the water bears or the storm spirits? The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. Though its not quite as grandiose as Flat Creek Falls, its perfectly picturesque with its moss-covered boulders and lush forest backdrop. Bryson City and Cherokee NC Mountains Waterfalls - Great Smokies Take highway 19 from Bryson City or Cherokee past the casino about 10 miles you will see signs for Soco falls on the right. Of all the Great Smoky Mountains attractions, chasing. Afterwards, its worth making the 6.5-mile drive to the historic Mingus Mill. Mingo Falls, Cherokee: Address, Phone Number, Mingo Falls Reviews: 4.5/5. Make a visit to these amazing waterfalls part of a fun filled vacation in Cherokee! Do not miss seeing Mingo Falls, one of the tallest and most impressive waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains. It's located just five miles from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Big Cove Road (past several big campgrounds) near the town of Cherokee.The beautiful 1/4-mile hike to the waterfall along the rushing stream is short, but you must climb 161 steps. National Park Hiking - Trails to Waterfalls Cherokee, NC - Cherokee The road is a 5.5-mile one-way loop road that follows along Roaring Fork Creek, one of the larger and faster flowing streams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is impressive, not too crowded and easy to access. " Jul 2022 Parking is limited at the trailhead, look for parking just east on the falls side of the road or a bit further down t. " BEAUTIFUL! READ MORE:The Tennessee Legend of the Bell Witch Haunting. Head to Whiteside Mountain for a wonderful hike to a 700-foot cliff and endless views. Soco Falls (Maggie Valley) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Book now with Choice Hotels in Cherokee, NC. If youre interested in guided (or self-guided) trips down the Nantahala River, we recommend the Nantahala Outdoor Center. North Carolina Waterfalls are some of the most beautiful we have seen in all of the country, Whitewater Falls being one of the tallest at drop of over 400 fe. The beautiful Blue Ridge Parkwaystretches 469 miles from Cherokee to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The sight and sound of water crashing on the mossy rocks and then running in the creek below is very soothing. Its got a good bit of elevation, so good hiking shoes are essential. Located near Panthertown Valley, Flat Creek Falls and Nellies Falls are two waterfalls you can visit in one trip. Exploring the Smokemont Campground in Cherokee NC NO joke. Born in Britain, writer/photographer Emma Gallagher lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC on a permaculture homestead with her husband, Jonathon. READ MORE:The 15 Best Cabin Rentals in Bryson City NC. She's also a volunteer for the Elkin Valley Trails Association, which maintains segment 6 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. " Aug 2020 One of the most beautiful waterfall areas we have ever visited! Mingo Falls ( Cherokee NC) Distance from Downtown Cherokee: 7 miles Level of Difficulty: Moderate Trail Length: 0.3 miles round-trip One of the tallest and most spectacular waterfalls in the Appalachian Mountains region, Mingo Falls is definitely worth adding to your "must-see" list. There is a parking lot here with picnic tables, but no obvious signposts for the trailhead. There are Cherokee waterfalls to suit every level of hiking ability, with some that are perfect for photo opportunities and others that offer funriver tubingoptions. Features: Soco Falls in Cherokee, NC, is a breathtaking double rainbow on the edge of the Cherokee Indian Reservation. For instance, our new Visage GPS tracks your score, provides precise yardage, and lets you order from the golf shop or grill. A nice set of falls that requires a little hike to get to but offers a nice unique view. The Cataract Falls trail is to the left of the Visitor Center, where a paved path soon turns into a gravel trail. In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP)both Newfound Gap and theClingmans Dome Observation Tower, with its 360-degree view of the mountains, are the best spots for long-range vistas. Its worth every step if you visit the 80-foot Rainbow Falls on a sunny afternoon, as youre likely to see the vivid colors of a rainbow appearing out of the copious mist. The steps were built with a handrail and there is a bench at the top for those who need to take a rest. (From Maggie Valley, its about 1.5 miles west of the Blue Ridge Parkway on your left.). Stay on marked trails, take only pictures, pack out your trash, and be considerate of others who share the trails and parks you explore. They were in really poor state of maintenance when we visited. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Participate in crafting, explore replicas of Cherokee homes, and meet the native people. It's one of the tallest waterfalls in North Carolina and the southern Appalachian Mountains. Thats rightif you like your trails with a nice flow of features, with fun berms and quick hits of elevation that are manageable and fun, Fire Mountain is made for you. Own or manage this property? Its true; there is nothing quite like the powerful drug of a waterfall to put everything in its place again. Mingo Falls is on the Cherokee Indian Reservation (Qualla Boundary), just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It's a short drive from the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 455.7. But were also the southern gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park. At the end, youll reach a wooden observation bridge at the base of the waterfall. Nearby, the 36-mileCherohala Skyway, connecting Robbinsville and Tellico Plains, Tennessee, provides views that rival the Blue Ridge Parkway. 199 Hemphill Knob Road In our experience, the 161 stairs will make the hike feel a lot longer f you arent up for it. This cookie is set by Facebook to deliver advertisement when they are on Facebook or a digital platform powered by Facebook advertising after visiting this website. Be on the lookout for a small sign that marks the waterfall, as you drive towards Maggie Valley from Cherokee on US 19. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. If youre up for a longer stroll, continue on the Deep Creek Trail past Tom Branch Falls for another 0.4 miles, where youll reach the junction for theIndian Creek Trail. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The 0.8-mile round-trip loop is considered moderate due to some uneven paths and inclines, but reasonably fit hikers should have no trouble. The walk from the parking lot is short (100 yards) but very steep. Waterfalls in Murphy Enter dates Filters 2 Attractions Traveler favorites 1 place sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. Through its thundering tumult, you can almost see the water bears bounding through the spray into an ancient dream. Were best-known for the North Carolina half of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The area is also popular for a number of water-based activities, and youll likely pass the white water rafting put-in on your way to the falls. Highly recommend stopping by if passing through. Its a perfect setting for a picnic, or quiet contemplation in the forest. From the highest waterfall east of the Rockies at 411 feet to smaller falls of 20 feet, youre sure to find your favorite! It is a bit of a trek due to the 164 stairs leading up to the falls, but, as you can see, the walk is . The stairway goes on and on and UP for as far as the eye can see. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Youll pass through gorgeous forest with rhododendron thickets, lush ferns, and wildflowers. This is another family-friendly hike and resting spot, with a shallow swimming hole at the base of the falls for cooling off on hot summer days. more. The trail is very accessible, wide, and flat, with benches in front of the falls that are perfect for sitting a spell. 6 MUST SEE WATERFALLS in NORTH CAROLINA | Whitewater Falls - YouTube But this hiking trail involves crossing a ford on foot, so be prepared to get wet! With a varied landscape of forest, sea, mountains, and more, there are plenty of scenic hikes to be found around North Carolina. Mingo falls is a very pretty, fairly tall (around 180 feet) waterfall on the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina near Smoky Mountains NP. Suggest only hiking uphill (falling up hurts less) and during drought conditions (no water sandals needed). Walk Deep Creek Trail 0.7 mile to the junction with Indian Creek Trail. Remember that waterfalls and rocky summits can be dangerous. Just 6.5 miles north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, right past Mingus Mill, Cliff Branch Falls is a little gem to add to your list of Cherokee NC waterfalls to visit. Sliding Rock, North Carolina 28768, USA. Benches and sitting rocks invite you to stop for a spell and take in this picturesque, 60-foot waterfall. I find Laurel Falls particularly stunning, with an upper and lower section that are dissected by a walkway at the base of the upper falls. About an hour west of Cherokee, in Graham County, are two natural gems . The Parkway was designed for a leisurely drive with plenty of pullovers to enjoy the incomparable views. Mingo Falls (Cherokee) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor When you're exploring the wilderness, it's better to be safe than to be a statistic! The trail is rather steep and full of lots of roots and rocks, but if you take your time, it's not too bad a hike. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. However if you have any type of mobility issues this is not for you. On Nantahala Mountain, above the Gorge, Other Area Waterfalls Wonderful NC Waterfall Byway (+ 15 Awesome Stops!) (A note of caution: if you decide to wander off the trail to get closer, these rocks are super slippery.). Theres a small unmarked pull-off, and a short walk leads you to a viewing platform for Soco Falls and another smaller falls. All can be seen in an hours walk in the Park. This cookies is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Mingo Falls This series of cascades begin about 1000 feet above the base of the Gorge, and there are great views available from Wayah Road or Old River Road. There's a small unmarked pullout and a short walk leads you to a viewing platform for Soco Falls and another smaller falls.