Accessibility – Easy
Height – 40′
Distance – 0.8 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 6
Photo rating – 5
Solitude – 4
GPS Info: LAT 35.61553 LONG -83.66511
Last Updated – 12-23-2024
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Where to park: The parking is at the trailhead for the Middle Prong Trail, which is at the end of Upper Tremont Road in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The parking area is 5 miles from Laurel Fork Road at 35.6183, -83.66974. Google knows Middle Prong Trailhead. You do need a parking pass, and it is a good idea to check the park website to make sure the roads are open. You can visit the park website at this address.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
The hike: The Middle Prong Trail starts out by crossing Lynn Camp Prong on a metal footbridge. Once across the trail splits, with the Thunderhead Quiet Walkway splitting to the right. Stay left onto the Middle Prong Trail, which is an old road. Four tenths of a mile from the trailhead, you will see the waterfall off to the left. There is a steep scramble path that leads down to the base. You can see the waterfall just fine from the trail, but the view from river level is better.
Once you get back to the trail, you can continue up the Middle Prong Trail to get to the Lynn Camp Falls, which is a series of waterfalls on a short stretch of the river. Over the next 0.3, you will pass a number of side paths heading down to the river. I explored four of these trails and came to a vastly different group of waterfalls. None of the scrambles are difficult, but one of them is very steep.
