Review & Frequenly Asked Questions:

Located in a remote part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fern Branch Falls is located in a steep ravine, a bit set off from the trail. It can be reached by an easy to moderate 4-mile round trip hike.

The trail follows Porters Creek and passes by Messer Farm, Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Cabin, Ownby Cemetery, and masses of wildflowers before reaching the falls.

The trail runs through a dense forest that makes it shady and pleasant. Many of the streams the trail crosses are full of fish, so some hikers take a break and throw in a fishing rod. Fern Branch Falls is not marked and is hidden by heavy brush.

It takes a bit of a scramble to reach the base of the fall in a heavily wooded ravine. The falls spill 40 feet down an almost vertical, moss-covered rock.

107 Park Headquarters Rd, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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