561 – Little Creek Falls

Accessibility – Moderate+

Height – 50+’

Distance – 2.8 miles (out and back)

Beauty – 6

Photo rating – 5

Solitude – 6

GPS Info: LAT 35.50625 LONG -83.37261

Last Updated – 01-21-2023

Last Visited – 06-21-2020

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Little Creek Falls is in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, but the easiest access is through the Cooper Creek Trout Farm. Since it involves entering through the trout frm, you need to time this one to arrivr far enough before closing that they will allow you access the falls. You can check their hours and other information on their website. On my last visit, I checked in at the office and one of the employees led us up to the where they wanted us to park.

http://www.cooperscreektroutpond.com/

The trailhead parking is inside the trout farm, upstream of the customer parking. We were escorted up to the parking area by an employee on an ATV. This is where he had us park: 35.49254, -83.37085.

The hike: From where parking area, the hike follows an extension of the road toward the GSMNP. You will enter park property in less than 0.2 of a mile. The old road isn’t in the best of shape and there were a few places that were being washed over by Cooper Creek, forcing some wading. The road will intersect the Deep Low Gap Trail 0.7 from the trailhead. Make a left and continue up the grade toward the falls. You are now following the crek Little Creek Falls, however on the topo map, the creek is unnamed. The hike is a constant uphill, but the grade isn’t too bad, and the Deep Low Gap Trail was in very good shape on my June 2020 visit. The intersection of the road and the Deep Low Gap Trail is the midpoint of the hike. At 1.4 miles into the hike, the Deep Low Gap Trail crosses the creek at the base of the falls. The total ascent is about 700 feet.