Accessibility – Easy
Height – 15′-16′
Distance – 4.2 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 4
Photo rating – 4
Solitude – 3
GPS Info: LAT 35.63862 LONG -83.55148
Last Updated – 12-23-2024
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Note: The Little River Trail is in Elkmont and normally access isn’t an issue. Check at the visitor center before heading to the trailhead or visit the park website for a current list of closed trails and roads at: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
My experience with Huskey Branch Falls: Like most things in TN, I had no idea this waterfall existed until I saw it late one evening. After a 20-mile hike earlier in the day that included the Little River Trail from the Huskey Gap Trail to backcountry campsite CS30-Three Forks, Meaning I still had the 2.8 mile piece from Elkmont to the Huskey Gap Trail to do. Since traffic in Gatlinburg was a nightmare when I was trying to get to my hotel, I decided to drive over to Elkmont while traffic cleared and avoiding having to drive back up to do this orphaned piece. At the trailhead I ran into a woman who had just finished her run, and she told me about the Little River Trail. I changed out my hiking shoes for my running shoes and jogged the trail out and back, passing Huskey Branch Falls near the midpoint of my evening run.
Where to park: The parking area is at 35.65371, -83.58022. From Fighting Creek Gap Road, turn onto Elkmont Road toward the campground. At the campground entrance, Little River Road goes to the left. Turn here and follow the road to the parking area. You do need a parking pass.
The hike: The hike starts at the gate on the Little River Trail, which is a graded gravel road with very little elevation. The hike to Huskey Branch Falls is 2.1 miles one way, and the waterfall is right next to the Little River Trail. Not much to this one.
If you want to make this into a longer hike, you can do what a lot of people do and make it into a loop of around 5.5 miles. This will add about 700 feet of elevation to the hike. If you want to make it into a loop, continue past the falls for 0.3 of a mile to where the Cucumber Gap Trail comes in. The trail is on the right and meets the Little River Trail at an odd angle. It’s doubtful you’ll miss it, but if you get to the bridge over Little River, you went to far. The Cucumber Gap trail is 2.3 miles long, connecting the Little River Trail to the Jakes Creek Trail. To complete the loop, hike the Cucumber Gap Trail and make a right on the Jakes Creek Trail. Follow the Jakes Creek trail downhill for a mile to the parking area. I’ve hiked Jakes Creek, which is a logging road, and Cucumber Gap, which has some elevation gain as it reaches Cucumber Gap at an elevation of 2887 ft. The parking lot is at 2200 ft.
