Hiking the Baskins Creek Falls Trail in Great Smoky Mountains
We visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park in October this year, and as we look back trying to figure out what our favorite hike was, I always turn to the Baskins Creek Falls trail. We hiked to many waterfalls, and while they were all amazing, Baskins Creek seemed to have the most water flow for this time of year.
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Baskins Creek is a lesser-visited trail, but a must-see destination for those looking for the best waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains. The parking at the trailhead is tiny, it’s a little steep in sections, but the payoff is incredible. If I had to choose just one waterfall to visit in October agian, it would be Baskins Creek Falls.
Head to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail area of the park and make sure to have Baskins Creek Falls trail on your list! In just a couple hours, you can see one of the coolest waterfalls in the park.
How to Get to Baskins Creek Falls Trailhead: Directions & Parking
Directions to Baskins Creek Trail form Gatlinburg
To get to Baskins Creek Trailhead from the center or northern part of Gatlinburg, you can take 441 (the main road through Gatlinburg) to Cherokee Orchard road and head south. When the road forces a turn, turn left, which is a continuation of Cherokee Orchard Road (Airport Rd is if you turn right).
If you’re heading from the southern part of Gatlinburg, you can take Airport Road south, which will turn into Cherokee Orchard Rd.
Shortly, you’ll officially be in the national park.
Cherokee Orchard road will split onto the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail road. This is a one-way loop with pull-overs to different trailheads and historic sights.
Take the split from Cherokee Orchard onto Roaring Fork. About 3 miles down this road (which can take 15-20 minutes since you’re at slow speeds!) you’ll see a little pull over area on the left side of the road. This is the trailhead for Baskins Creek.
Parking Near Baskins Creek
This pullover is where to park for the Baskins Creek Trailhead. If you pass it, you’ll drive down and over a bridge and see the Alex Cole cabin. Since this is a one-way road and you can’t turn around, you can park at the Alex Cole cabins area since it’s just a short walk to the trailhead.
Both parking pull-overs are pretty limited in space.
Tip: Make sure you have a parking tag! Parking tags are required in the park for anywhere you stay longer than 15 minutes. You can purchase them at any visitor center or purchase ahead of time and PRINT IT OUT and put it on your dash.
Note: The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is seasonal. It’s typically open from mid-April to the end of November, but this varies depending on weather. Check ahead to see if this road is open when you visit!
Baskins Creek Trail Details
Baskins Creek Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains is a pretty cool trail.
The Trail
First off, you’ll begin by seeing the Baskins Creek Cemetery after just a short start on the trail. The headstones are small, some unreadable, and the plot of land is smaller as well. The cemetery was used by early settlers and goes back to the 1920’s. We actually saw a few cemeteries on our various hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which we found pretty unique.
The trail continues through the densely forested area, with a great variety of beautiful deciduous trees. Since we visited Smoky Mountains in October, we even got a bit of color change on the trail. You’ll also be along the creek for a little bit at the beginning and later at the end.
After about 1-1/4 miles, the trail will split. There is a well-marked sign pointing you to the falls, which is another one-third mile away. You’ll hit a little bit of a rocky area towards the end.
The Falls
The Baskins Creek Falls is a beautiful waterfall that splits into two layers. The upper drops into a still area which then drops into another lowers falls right below.
You can climb up the right side of the falls to get really close, but I’d do it with caution. The rocks can be slippery, and it requires a bit of actual climbing. Of course if conditions aren’t great, then don’t attempt this.
The trail does continue past the waterfall, but the waterfall was our main destination, so we turned around there.
Overview of Baskins Creek Falls Trail
The beginning is pretty steep and the Baskins Creek Falls trail elevation gains 787 feet. This makes the trail moderately difficult, especially since there are patches of trail that are pretty rocky. It’s 3.2 miles roundtrip from the parking pullover to the waterfall.
The Baskins Creek Trail has an overall difficulty of moderate, mainly due to the steepness and a little rocky area. But overall, my kids did great on it and really enjoyed the waterfall at the end. It took us about 2 hours to complete this trail with kids ages 8-15.
If your kids are younger or can’t quite make it 3.2 miles, I highly suggest using a backpack carrier for them to enjoy the ride.
Note: If you use the All Trails App, this hike is listed as Baskins Creek Falls via Graveyard Ridge Trail. This can be confusing because 1) the trail nearby is called Grapeyard (not Graveyard) Ridge, and 2) Grapeyard Ridge is the trail that starts on the opposite side of the road as this trailhead and does not lead to the falls. All Trails’ “Baskins Creek via Graveyard Ridge” will take you to the falls, it is just wrongly named.
Baskins Creek Trail at a Glance:
| Distance | 3.2 miles Roundtrip |
| Elevation Gain | 787 Feet |
| Estimated Time | About 2 hours |
| Pets Allowed? | No |
| Parking/Trailhead | “Baskins Creek Trail” pull off, just before Alex Cole Cabin |
| Family Friendly | Yes. Takes breaks (and snacks) |
Hiking Baskins Creek Falls Trail with Kids
If you’re looking for some great family hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I highly suggest the Baskins Creek Falls Trail. There are many awesome waterfalls in the park, but this one was my favorite.
Yes, this trail has some steep areas. To be honest, we found many of the trails we did in the park to be surprisingly steep (even some of the “quiet walkways”). Compared to the other solid hikes we did (like Rainbow Falls, which gained over 1,600 feet) this has less of an elevation gain.
Great Smoky Mountains is one of the great National Parks to visit with kids. Baskins Creek Trail is especially great for kids because the terrain wasn’t too bad, and there were cool trail features and plant life.
👉🏼 You’ll also love Spruce Flats Falls in Great Smoky Mountains!
We even found a mushroom on the side of the trail that we called “Toad,” because it looked like the mushroom-head character from Mario.
The kids enjoyed creek crossings and rock hopping, and of course snacks as we relaxed at the waterfall.
Gear to Make it Family-Friendly
- Healthy, fueling snacks for the family
- Hiking shoes (or at least sturdy sneakers)
- Backpack Carrier for younger hikers
- Lots of water for each person (We love this reusable bottle with a high volume capacity)
- A hiking backpack to carry waters and snacks
Where to Stay Near the Trail- Gatlinburg
If you need the best places to stay near Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail, you should stay in Gatlinburg. It’s great for activities and attractions, as well as plenty of places to eat. It’s a great place to settle when you are visiting for a few days!
Plus, Gatlinburg is right at a couple entrances to Great Smoky Mountains.
The Roaring Fork road (where Baskins Creek Trailhead is located) is right outside of town, making Gatlinburg the closest place to stay. It’ll take just a few minutes (about 15, depending on where you stay in town) to access this great area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The SureStay had lots of space for our larger family!
We stayed at SureStay in Gatlinburg, which had a very spacious room for the 6 of us. We loved the free breakfast, and could have enjoyed the pool had we visited during the summer season.
While it’s closer to the Newfound Gap entrance (which will really come in handy other days for seeing things like the Kuwohi Observation tower), it was only about 15-20 minutes from the start of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
One of the closest hotels to Cherokee Orchard Rd is the Fairfield in Gatlinburg. This will cut off just a few minutes, but it’s a great place to stay regardless. It comes with free breakfast and a seasonal outdoor pool.
More great places to stay in Gatlinburg
| Margaritaville | Sleep up to 6 | Indoor and Outdoor Pool (with a slide!) | Nice Fitness Center | Restaurants on site (Breakfast NOT included) |
| Bearskin Lodge | Sleep up to 4 (connecting rooms available) | Season Pool (and Lazy River) | Mountain Feel | Breakfast included |
| Historic Gatlinburg Inn | Sleep up to 4 | Seasonal Pool | Central Location | Highly-rated Breakfast included |
| Courtyard – Marriott | Sleep up to 6 | Indoor Pool | Cafe and Coffee Shop on site | Breakfast not included |
Why do my links go to hotels.com?
This is what I always use (for almost 10 years now) to book our hotels. I can earn rewards on bookings through any hotel. PLUS, the rewards combine with rewards on VRBO and Expedia (I use this for car rentals), so they add up fast!
Tips for the Best Baskins Creek Hike
- Parking is a toss-up since it’s limited. If it’s full, drive on to the next great hike and try again later!
- Check the weather, and take extra caution on rocks if it has rained recently.
- Visit on weekdays to avoid crowds, though busy season will be busy everyday.
- Pack a lunch to eat after, then try another great hike nearby!
Final Thoughts: Why You Must Do Baskins Creek Falls Trail
This moderate hike in Smoky Mountains National Park is gorgeous, not too hard, and full of fun for the whole family. The beautiful Baskins Creek Falls trail is great for scenery, wildlife (we saw turkeys, squirrels, chipmunks), and fewer crowds than nearby competing trails.
Make sure to enjoy the trail, and also take care of it with Leave No Trace guidelines.
Add Baskins Creek trail to your Great Smoky Mountains National Park itinerary and let the whole family enjoy this beautiful waterfall on your next trip to Gatlinburg.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Baskins Creek Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
At just over 3 miles, it took our family about 2 hours to hike Baskins Creek Trail. This did not include stopping and enjoying the waterfall for a bit.
Is Baskins Creek Falls Open Year Round?
The trailhead to the Baskins Creek is on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which is seasonal. It is closed roughly November to April, but can also close at other times due to weather. Check the Great Smoky Mountains official webpage to check for closures.
Is Baskins Creek Trail good for kids?
Baskins Creek Falls Trail is a great hike for kids! There is some initial steep terrain and some incline here and there afterward, but overall it’s a great family hike. Plus, they kids will love enjoying the waterfall after just 1.6 miles.
👉🏼 Want a hike filled with flowing water and cascades? Check out the Chimney Tops Trail!
