Fern Branch Fire Tower Day Hike - Smoky Mountain Hiking
Length: 3.8 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Wonderful spring wildflowers, lesser-known waterfall
Note: Trail is used heavily in the spring hike early in the morning to avoid crowds
Fern Branch Falls Dayhike
Looking for a short,
easy wildflower walk in the Smokies? No wildflower pilgrimage would
be complete without a walk to Fern Branch Falls. Located on the
Porters Creek Trail in the Greenbrier section of the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, this two-mile excursion leads you
along a shady creek, past dozens of species of spring and summer
wildflowers, and through a bit of history as well.
The Greenbrier section of the park is located
about six miles east of Gatlinburg on Highway 321. Turn into Greenbrier
and drive to the very end of the road (about four miles from the
entrance). Youll find a large parking area and a sign for
the Porters Creek Trail.
Youll begin your walk on a gravel road
with a gentle uphill grade. Begin to watch for traces of history.
After a half-mile or so, old foundations and stone walls will be
visible to the careful observer. Greenbrier was once one of the
most heavily populated areas of what is now the National Park,
supporting several hundred people. Residents built homes, churches,
schools, gristmills and blacksmith shops, and called this valley
home.
Before long, youll cross a bridge over
the creek. Watch the right hand side of the trail for a set of
stone steps leading up the embankment. This short diversion takes
you to the Ownby Cemetery.
The gravel road ends after a mile in Porters
Flat. Youll see a junction for the Brushy Mountain Trail,
as well as the old Hiking Club Cabin.
Continue to the left up the Porters Creek
Trail. The trail narrows significantly after leaving the flat,
but the walking remains relatively easy if you take it at a leisurely
pace. Although wildflowers abound throughout the hike, this second
half of the walk will take you through fields of trillium and phacelia,
which bloom in the month of April.
Youll cross the creek yet again, this time
on a long foot log. Soon youll enter a beautiful cove, carpeted
with flowers. Ive walked through this section of the woods
in early spring on many an occasion, and the gentle scent of wildflowers
finds you wherever you go
theres no need to stop and
smell the flowers, unless you simply want a larger dose of their
sweet aroma.
Fern Branch Falls will appear on your left at
just under two miles into your walk. The falls are actually a series
of small cascades, about forty feet tall, lined with plants and
wildflowers. This is an excellent place to take a break and enjoy
the spectacular scenery.
Continuing on up the trail will take you out
of the wildflowers and eventually to campsite #31 after two more
miles (7.4 miles total roundtrip). The walk back to the parking
area is a pleasant downhill stroll.
The walk to Fern Branch Falls is famous for its
wildflower displays, so it is best enjoyed in the early hours of
the day for solitude. Happy hiking!
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Other Park Hikes
Abrams Falls Trail
Alum Cave Bluff Trail
The Boogerman Trail Loop
Ramsay Cascades Trail
Rainbow Falls Trail
Hike to Shuckstack Tower
Chimney Tops
Old Settlers Trail
Hike to LeConte Lodge
Day Hike to Mt. Cammerer Firetower
Cove Mountain Fire Tower Day Hike
Fern Branch Falls Dayhike
Mt. Sterling Fire Tower
Big Creek Trail