Currently closed about a mile before the trailhead. The 3000km route stretches from Cape Reinga in the north of New Zealand to Bluff in the south. To reach the trailhead from the junction of 441 and 321 in Gatlinburg (Light 3), turn to travel eastbound on 321. Porters Creek Trail is a 7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hidden gem that is frequented by locals and experienced area tourists alike. From Gatlinburg: At traffic light #3, take East Parkway (US 321-N) 6-miles to Greenbrier Road, just before the Little Pigeon River Bridge. The 60-foot Fern Branch Falls drop off towards the left of the Porters Creek trail as you reach the end of your hike. The Greenbrier area, which is at a lower elevation and remains open all year long, provides a great winter option when higher ele… On my post-rainy day hike, parts of the trail were a creek as well, as water trickled down Porter Mountain toward the river below. The waterfall at the end makes it all worth it, though. Great Smoky Mountain National Park - 865-436-1200. The first mile of the Porters Creek Trail is an old gravel road that runs through a forest along the banks of Porters Creek. The forest floor was literally carpeted with bloodroot, hepaticas, white fringed phacelia, violets, white trilliums and many other varieties during our late-March hike. Roughly one mile from the trailhead, after crossing over a footbridge, hikers will reach a fork in the road. It goes thru so many different areas of forest and is about a 4-1/2 mile hike one way. Porters Creek is a great trail for all ages and offers spectacular views of the park. before using any information on this site. The Creek. Beyond, the trail climbs alongside the creek through an Eden of old-growth forest. This is a nice wooded hike along Porters Creek with an old cemetery, historic farm site, and a waterfall. on the trail. Bridge is out as of 5/31/2020 at 2 miles. 2. Drive 6 miles and turn right into Greenbrier (look for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance sign on the right). The Porter’s Creek trail stays close to the named creek the entire hike, only leaving it briefly and never out of earshot of the roaring water. Setup a car shuttle and hike this mile one-way route from east to west. Nice moderate trail. About 1.7 miles into the hike you'll encounter Fern Branch Falls. Porter's Creek Trail. The trail was muddy and somewhat slippery. 5. During high water flows this can be a fairly spectacular waterfall. Porters Creek. Large portion of road damaged. Drive east on highway 321 from Gatlinburg. The Porters Creek Trail is a 3.7 mile trail to backcountry campsite 31. The spur trail on the right leads to an historic farm site. When the trail reaches Campsite #31, you'll be faced with either a quick hop over the water, or a mildly frustrating crossing, depending on recent rains. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At about the 0.6 mile point, there is a series of rock walls and old building foundations from an old settlement. This is where you will want to rest up for the hike back, and snap some photos. Good thing too. The wide pathway enables groups to stay together. There’s really no safe way to cross the water, so we were super disappointed. Went with my family including my 10 month old grandson. Lots of buds on Trilliums. It was past this bridge that we began seeing a profusion of wildflowers. The Porters Creek Trail is a 7-mile trail that is moderately hiked and fairly moderate when it comes to difficulty. You’ll also be able to see Porters Creek while you walk. Porters Creek Trail is a 3.7-mile out-and-back trail that ends at Backcountry Campsite 31 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Apparently they had crossed the creek before a rain storm and returned to find a raging river. Also on your right, just past the stone walls, is the Ownby Cemetery, which also dates back to the early part of the 20th century. If you want views of a little bit of everything, Porters Creek is the perfect hike for you. Porters Creek Trail. It will not accommodate large vehicl… From here, Porters Creek Trail continues to climb until mile 3.6, where you see the signpost for Campsite #31. IMPORTANT: Greenbrier Road is a narrow paved road that eventually turns into a gravel road. We’ve hiked it during the peak of spring wildflowers, as well as in the snow, and both of those hikes have been our favorites in the Smokies. In March and April, the first 1.5 miles of this hike offers stunning views of wildflowers. The mountain laurel that dominated at the lower elevations is now gone, and holes in the canopy allow sunlight to reach the floor, creating a grassy understory that features lots of … Andrews Bald Distance: 4 miles round trip. At 1.6 miles hikers will cross a second footbridge. The parking area for the trail will be almost another mile from this junction. These are remnants from the Elbert Cantrell farmstead, who settled in the Porters Creek community in the early 1900s. update as of August 27th, the trail is being worked on by park staff, they advised us along with others they would rather not have anyone on the trail at this time, so we chose a different trail. Wildflowers are just beginning to show. The trail conditions are excellent and you will traverse through a variety of Northwest scenery. It looks like there was a huge flood that really tore things up. Porters Creek Trail On our second day, the forecast was for light rain all day, so rather than seek out some mountain views, we elected to do a family-friendly hike in the forest. For the first mile, Porters Creek Trail is a gravel road. As you can see here, the Porter's Creek Trail follows what used to be an old roadway. The trail makes a great hike any time of … This old road follows Porters Creek with a gentle upward grade, and for the first half mile the stream is easily accessible. Thus, I back tracked about a half mile and visited an old settlers barn and home, which was great. After a mile, and a short detour to Messer's barn, the trail continues (to the left, or you'll end up on Brushy Mountain), gets a bit rockier and heavily rooted, but continues along and across the creek (on what used to called the "Scary Bridge," but is not so bad really), past Fern Branch Falls, up to campsite 31. That's what keeps it nice! It reaches a stretch of the Appalachian Trail and leads to a tower with major views. At 2.5 miles, the trail curves left as you pass a confluence of Porters Creek with a major tributary. Cemetery is not being maintained. The first mile of the trail … one of the best hiking trails in the park. Bridge is still out as of 6/18 over Porter's creek it is crossable if you don't kind getting wet, I would recommend entering the water behind the first large boulder on the far right. The old gravel road finally turns into a dirt footpath at this point. Be warned, the road to the trailhead is poorly maintained and may give your small cars some trouble. Round Trip Length: 4 miles Location: Parking along Greenbriar Road, near Greenbriar Picnic Area and Cosby. Here’s a photo from our visit during the weekend of April 13th, 2014: Copyright Elev Gain / Mile: 350 Feet: Highest Elevation: 2642 Feet: Trail Difficulty Rating: 5.4 (moderate) Parking Lot Latitude: 35.69696: Parking Lot Longitude-83.38773 We had a great time hiking to the waterfall today! This well marked trail continues its gradual ascent for an additional 1 mile to the base of the waterfall. If you cross, be prepared to wait out the weather for possibly days. This hike provides a cool respite on even the hottest of days. Turn right at the sign and drive 4-miles to the trailhead at the end of Greenbrier Road. In the spring, there are hundreds of wildflowers along the trail. How long does it take to hike the Porters Creek Trail? The Porters Creek Trail offers a little bit of everything. A short hike of roughly 250 yards will take you to the John Messer farm site, which includes a cantilevered barn that was built by John Whaley around 1875. There are several old buildings along the trail you can explore. We passed quite a few people who only hiked the 1 mile round trip Brushy Mountain Trail, but I’d recommend carrying on to complete Porters Creek Trail. Roundtrip, the hike to Laurel Falls and back is 2.3 miles in total length. also the road is closed about a mile short of where the trail head is located. Starting in late March more and more photos start popping up on my social media feeds and inevitably I catch the wildflower bug as I do every year. A photographer's paradise today. Porter's Creek Trail (4-1-17) As the month of April dawns, spring once again slowly begins to spread its green blanket over the Southern Appalachians. It's usually not very crowded from the length of the trail. Visitors should also note that you’ll be traveling in bear country on this hike. snaky but beautiful in the spring. We hiked Rocky Top/Thunderhead the day before, so this was perfect. The trailhead (200 ft) is ~4.5 miles from Porter and is across the road from Porter Creek Campground. Almost always within sight and sound of the singing Porters Creek, the trail gently ascends toward the Smokies divide until it terminates at Campsite #31. Members of the club were permitted to use the cabin as an overnight facility until 1981. Sad to see such a beautiful area being ignored. At the 1.0 mile mark, the trail splits twice in short succession. Porters Creek Trail is a 7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The river roars constantly along the remaining 2 miles. Trail Description: The first mile of this hike to Brushy Mountain follows the Porters Creek Trail, which is actually an old gravel road along this stretch of trail. To continue towards Fern Branch Falls you should veer left at this junction. We carried him over the bridge. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, horses, and backpacking and is accessible year-round. Porters Creek Trail. Follow the creek as you enjoy spectacular views of the forest. Great trail - a perfect mix of historical sights, tumultuous & clear mountain creeks, and a unique waterfall. All along this first section, numerous short side trails take you closer to the beautiful Porter’s Creek. Follow the signs to the Porters Creek trailhead. Roughly two-thirds of a mile from the trailhead several old stone walls will appear on your right. The trail is famous for an abundance of wild flowers that literally blanket the forest floor all around the trail in early April. 4. For the first mile, you’ll walk along a gravel trail where yellow trillium line the sides. Getting in to parking lot could be challenge to some drivers just like other trails. The trail is in a heavily wooded area, with Porters Creek on your left. A rather gradual, peaceful hike tucked between Porters Mountain and Brushy Mountain, the trail is a picturesque uphill stroll along a river valley. What is the length of the Porters Creek Trail? At roughly 2 miles hikers will arrive at the 60-foot Fern Branch Falls, which drops off the ridge on the left side of the trail. The length of the trail is 3.7 miles (5.9 km) or 8,148 steps. Length: 4.5 mile, round trip Time: 3 hours, including time to see the many historical points of interest Difficulty: Easy with a few moderate hills to climb. Porters Creek Trail is a 4 mile round trip hike out to Fern Branch Falls and back. The trailhead is located at the end of Greenbrier Road on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The roundtrip length is 4 miles, and it is considered easy to moderate. Porters Creek Trail to Fern Branch Falls . Porters Creek Trail ist ein 7 Meilen langer, stark besuchter Hin- und Rückweg in der Nähe von Gatlinburg, Tennessee. You'll also begin to notice some much larger old-growth trees as you proceed further upstream. Continue straight ahead at this junction to reach the Porters Creek Trailhead. Several blowdowns obstructed the paht, but those will likely be cleared by the end of April 2020 when the NPS performs annual trail maintenance. Although this particular hike ends at this point, the trail continues on for another 1.7 miles to reach Backcountry Campsite 31. 6. There's also a cabin on this site that was built by the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club in the mid-1930s. This is the only way In or out, to my knowledge. The gravel path ends here. This beautiful trail is great at any time of year and located just 6 miles east of Gatlinburg. Horses are also able to use this trail. We have not bitten single mosquito bite and water was so clean. Was gonna take my 7 yo on first overnight hiking trip but came up a little short. Located just beyond the footbridgrabout 1.5 miles and before Fern Falls. Follow Porters Creek Road (gravel) to the trailhead. Porters creek trail. The Little Greenbriar access road is closed as well because there’s a huge hole in it. Porters Creek Trail. The Porters Creek Trail features beautiful scenery, so be sure to bring your camera along and capture some of the most spectacular photos of your vacation! Very easy fun hike. Directions: Take Highway 321 east of Gatlinburg, TN to the Greenbrier entrance to the park. Length: 2.0 miles Rating: Easy/Moderate. Te Araroa is NZ's walk of a lifetime. The Porters Creek trailhead is located in Greenbrier Cove. The path meanders through a lush forest of moss covered trees and rocks as it follows along the banks of Porters Creek. Porters Creek Trail. Er führt entlang eines Flusses, durch schönen Wald und es … Porters Creek Trail Quick Guide. While the wildflowers are only in full bloom seasonally, we strongly recommend this hike anytime during the year, so enjoy! It should look amazing soon! Looks like no work is being done to restore the damage caused by high water wash outs. On the bright side, saw almost no other hikers which is always delightful! DA BREEEDGE IS OUUUTTT (said in Arnold voice). This road led up into the Porter's Creek community which existed here before the National Park was formed. But on the day I hiked, it was a roaring faucet that spilled down the gully over the trail. There are also a few historical buildings located along the trail. The roundtrip length is 5 miles, and the hiking trail in the Smoky Mountains is considered moderate. Reviewed August 3, 2015 . Roundtrip length: 8 miles. Porters Creek Trail is the perfect trail for a simple hike through fall foliage. The Porters Creek Trail begins with the an easy hike on the Brushy Mountain Trail, until you reach a new trail sign to complete the hike to Porters Creek. You will find John Messer's cantilevered barn built in 1875. Once at the trailhead you will begin up a gradual incline along a wide gravel path. Review of Greenbrier Picnic Area. Porters Creek Trail. main road to trailhead is washed out. Lots of Fringed Phacelia and a few Dutchman’s Breeches. Porters Creek. Porters Creek Trail. So it’s an extra mile to the trailhead which is no bigs. Plan to use up the whole day for this hike! Please read this Disclaimer / Privacy Policy The Ramsey Cascades is a difficult, 8-mile hike that can be popular with fly fishers, but the length and difficulty of the hike make it a good spot for some isolated hiking. We have an entire post full of all our best tips for hiking with kids and this one with all the best hiking gear for kids . If you happen to have the opportunity to hike this trail during the spring you'll likely be treated to an absolutely awesome display of yellow trillium near the trailhead. Enjoy a lunch at and looked like a fairy land cross a second footbridge the Greenbrier to! 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