Directions: Take Highway 321 east of Gatlinburg, TN to the Greenbrier entrance to the park. We hiked Rocky Top/Thunderhead the day before, so this was perfect. 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 . For the first mile, Porters Creek Trail is a gravel road. There are several old buildings along the trail you can explore. Good thing too. We had a great time hiking to the waterfall today! Te Araroa is NZ's walk of a lifetime. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s quite rocky but smaller rocks and pretty easy for my three year old to travel. The Creek. 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. The Greenbrier area, which is at a lower elevation and remains open all year long, provides a great winter option when higher ele… The spur trail on the right leads to an historic farm site. IMPORTANT: Greenbrier Road is a narrow paved road that eventually turns into a gravel road. This trail is very good for beginners. From here, Porters Creek Trail continues to climb until mile 3.6, where you see the signpost for Campsite #31. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, horses, and backpacking and is accessible year-round. I can verify the bridge is out. You'll also begin to notice some much larger old-growth trees as you proceed further upstream. Members of the club were permitted to use the cabin as an overnight facility until 1981. About 1.7 miles into the hike you'll encounter Fern Branch Falls. Trail Features: Waterfall, History, Wildflowers, Stream: Trail Location: Greenbrier: Roundtrip Length: 4.0 Miles: Total Elevation Gain: 699 Feet: Avg. The Porters Creek Trail is a 3.7 mile trail to backcountry campsite 31. The hike is well worth it though – Laurel Falls is very photogenic, and is widely considered to be one of the best waterfall hikes in the Smokies. Maybe someday.... Baskins Creek Falls Trail to Greenbrier Cove, Mount LeConte via Trillium Gap Loop Trail, Mount LeConte and Rainbow Falls via The Bullhead Trail, Trillium Gap, Grotto Falls, Brushy Mountain, Bull Head Trail Loop, Grapeyard Ridge Trail to Campsite 32 Via Roaring Fork. Bridge is out as of 5/31/2020 at 2 miles. It is full of history and beautiful scenery. You can also do out-and-back hikes of any length. 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. 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. Porters Creek Trail. Porters Creek Trail is the perfect trail for a simple hike through fall foliage. Turn right onto Greenbrier Road, until the road makes a "Y" at the bridge. 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. All rights reserved. Take the time to pay your respects to these early settlers. This old road follows Porters Creek with a gentle upward grade, and for the first half mile the stream is easily accessible. The first mile of the trail … A small side trail leads up to the falls, where a large fallen tree makes a good place to sit, relax, and possibly have some lunch. What is the length of the Porters Creek Trail? The wide pathway enables groups to stay together. DA BREEEDGE IS OUUUTTT (said in Arnold voice). Hike through the serene woodland to this magnificent waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail is in a heavily wooded area, with Porters Creek on your left. 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. Currently closed about a mile before the trailhead. Porters Creek Trail. While this a great option for a hike at any time of the year, the Porters Creek Trail is also an excellent choice when snow makes foot travel difficult in the higher elevations, or when it forces the closure of roads throughout other parts of the park. Was gonna take my 7 yo on first overnight hiking trip but came up a little short. Nice moderate trail. If you want views of a little bit of everything, Porters Creek is the perfect hike for you. The parking area for the trail will be almost another mile from this junction. During busy season, this less traveled section of the park offers a serene escape located a mere six miles away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Gatlinburg. What I got was part trail, part stream mile mark, the....: take Highway 321 porters creek trail length of Gatlinburg, Tennessee large vehicl… Porters Creek hikers. 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