CaddyWampus Life

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Michelle Fuson

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky

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Did you know that Kentucky is home to the LONGEST known cave system in the world? With over 400 miles explored, Mammoth Cave National Park is known for being a vast cave system.

If you love visiting unique National Parks, then Mammoth Cave should definitely make your list of places to visit! Read on to learn more about our trip to Mammoth Cave National Park and things that we learned along the way!

Mammoth Cave National Park Sign

*This post may contain affiliate links which help support this site, but won’t cost you anything extra. Read our full disclaimer.

How Do I Get to Mammoth Cave National Park?

We were staying right outside of Mammoth Cave in a neighboring town called Cave City, Kentucky. For us it was just a hop, skip and a jump before we were in the heart of Mammoth Cave.

No matter which direction you come from, the National Park Service’s website advises that you not completely rely on your GPS, as it has been unreliable for many people. 

The physical address for Mammoth Cave National Park is: 1 Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259. For us, we did use our GPS and it led us straight there!

However, if you have booked a Cave Tour and have to be there at a certain time, be sure to double check your directions beforehand and allow plenty of time to get there!

A Little History About Mammoth Cave National Park

The Mammoth Cave National Park area is full of history! From the first discovery of the cave to the various purposes it was used for over the years, there are so many interesting things to learn before you go!

If you are looking for more resources, here are few recommended suggestions we checked out prior to our trip!

Exploring Mammoth Cave National Park

A FalconGuide to Mammoth Cave National Park: A Guide to Exploring the Caves, Trails, Roads and Rivers

Mammoth Cave and the Kentucky Cave Region

Arriving at Mammoth Cave National Park

Take a Picture at the Park Sign!

Immediately upon arriving in the park, we hopped out and took some pictures next to the Mammoth Cave National Park Sign. This has become a tradition for us every time we visit a new National Park. It has always been fun to look back over the years at all of the places that we have visited!

Mammoth Cave National Park Sign with Family

Take a Quick Hike on Sand Cave Trail

Right at the park sign is also a quick hiking opportunity on the Sand Cave Trail.

Mammoth Cave National Park Sand-Cave-Trailhead

This is a quick 0.1 mile hike that walks back where you can look out over the famous Sand Cave.

Mammoth Cave National Park Sand-Cave-Sign Info

This is where Floyd Collins got trapped in 1925 while hundreds of people attempted rescue efforts for 16 days. Unfortunately, the rescue was unsuccessful, but the story circled the globe and was one of the reasons that Mammoth Cave National Park became so famous.

Mammoth Cave National Park Sand-Cave-Entrance

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center

Allow Time for Parking!

After you get closer to the actual Visitor Center, you will start to see a little more congestion and cars! (This is how you know you are in the right place! Ha!)

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Parking

We went on a weekend day (Sunday) and it was pretty busy! After circling the parking lot a few times, we finally found a spot!

Purchase Cave Tour Tickets (or Pickup Tickets)

You will head towards the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center which is also where you will check in for your tour or purchase tickets.

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center

Right as you walk in you will see the info desk in the middle of the room and the ticket pickup area over to your left. (That is where you would go to pick-up your tickets if you purchased them online…which is HIGHLY recommended as they do sell out of many of the tours!)

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Inside

Gift Shops Galore!

To your immediate right you will find the first (of MANY!) Visitor Center gift shops. This is also where you can get your stamps or cancellations for your National Parks Passport Book!

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Passport

There is another gift shop in the back of the building as well. It also has a penny pressing machine if you’re into that kind of thing!

If you head out the back door and across the bridge there are a couple more gift shops in that building as well. 

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Bridge

So there is no reason to head home from Mammoth Cave National Park without some kind of souvenir!

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Gift Shop

Take Time for the Museum!

The museum in the Visitor Center at Mammoth Cave is definitely one you will want to take time to explore! 

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Museum

From the cave theming, to the many unique displays, you will have more than enough to delve deeper into Mammoth Cave history as well as information about caves.

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Museum 2
Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Museum 3

Be sure to take a few minutes to watch the documentary that is playing in the museum as well. The boys really found it interesting!

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Museum Documentary

Get Some Ice Cream at Spelunkers Cafe & Ice Cream Parlor!

If you find yourself needing a little snack or sweet treat, be sure to check out the Spelunkers Cafe & Ice Cream Parlor while you are there! They offer a decent selection of ice cream treats and snacks so you will be ready for your spelunking adventures!

Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center Ice Cream

It’s Mammoth Cave Tour Time!

Now this part was definitely a little overwhelming when we started researching which tours to do! 

Tours For All Ages!

Depending on the time of year you go, there will be different tours available for that season. Be sure to check out Mammoth Cave National Park’s Cave Tour Schedule for the time of year you are going.

There are short cave tours like the “Frozen Niagara Tour” which is .25 miles and easily accesses some of the most beautiful parts of Mammoth Cave on the “New Entrance” end of Mammoth Cave. And there are super long, strenuous cave tours like the “Wild Cave Tour” that is about 6 hours long!

Entrances Galore!

There are a few different cave tour entrances and it all depends on which tour you sign up for. Many people will recommend that you do a tour on each end of Mammoth Cave IF time allows and you are interested in seeing both ends of the cave system. 

The two main entrances that tours begin are the “Historic Entrance” and the “New Entrance”. The shorter Niagara Tour begins at the “Frozen Niagara Entrance” but the majority of the tours begin at either the “Historic” or “New Entrance.”

Which Mammoth Cave Tour to Choose?!?

While it can seem daunting, be sure to thoroughly review each cave tour that is offered and start narrowing it down from there based off of your family and their abilities.

If you are up for it, like many suggest, pick one tour at each end. For the “Historic Entrance”, some popular choices are the “Historic Tour” or “River Styx Tour”.

Then on the other end, pick one like the “Frozen Niagara Tour” or the “Domes & Dripstones Tour.” 

When researching the tours, you can click on most of them and it will show you a map of the parts of the cave that the tour will cover. Many of the tours actually cover the exact same paths as the other tours, so be sure to read the descriptions as it will tell you what parts it covers on other tours.

Also, keep in mind that there is a self guided tour at the “Historic Entrance” which is pretty inexpensive if you just want to do something real low key. 

While we ended up not doing a tour that started at the “Historic Entrance”, we did walk down to see the front of it as we had heard the cold air coming up out of the cave is really noticeable. 

Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Historic Trail

Also, the beauty of that entrance is just amazing! It’s definitely worth a quick walk down there to just see it at least! 

Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Historic Trail

Plus there are some interesting plaques to read along the way.

Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Historic Trail Cave Airflow

For this go around, we ended up choosing the Domes and Dripstones Tour. This tour is about 2 hours and covers about ¾ of a mile. It begins at the “New Entrance” and covers the entirety of the “Frozen Niagara” Tour as well. 

Our Mammoth Cave National Park Tour 

Since we chose a tour that started a the “New Entrance”, we were instructed to meet at a designated shelter to board the bus to ride to that entrance. 

Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Shelters for Tour

Once at the shelter, the Park Ranger came and went over a few housekeeping items before we boarded the fancy buses!

Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Shelter talk with Ranger

After he makes sure that you are WELL aware of what you signed up for, then he instructs you to hop aboard one of the buses. 

Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Buses
Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Loading the Buses

After a short drive, they escort you through the woods into the new entrance area.

Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Walking Down

One more short pep talk with the Park Ranger, and we went on our way!

Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Walking Down 2

The stairs descending into the “New Entrance” part just kept going! The entire time though you will start seeing unique formations, not to mention some cave creatures like bats!

Mammoth Cave National Park Inside
Mammoth Cave National Park Inside 2

We went into several large rooms with benches, where we got to sit and listen to the Park Ranger share more information about that part of the cave.

Mammoth Cave National Park Inside 3

Then the rest of the time we just walked through and let the cave speak for itself. One area had names sketched into the cave wall from 1924.

Mammoth Cave National Park Inside 4

The pictures just don’t do it justice, but trust me, Mammoth Cave is really beautiful. Our tour wrapped up in the final area where Frozen Niagara was.

Mammoth Cave National Park Frozen Niagra

After descending the stairs to get a complete look at Frozen Niagara, we then headed out a small passage way and back out to the outside world.

All in all, the Domes & Dripstones Tour was pretty amazing! We learned quite a bit about Mammoth Cave and got to see some of the unique features that Mammoth Cave is known for! 

We loaded up on the bus and headed back towards the Visitor Center!

A Few Things to Consider

  • Be sure to arrive on time (or even a little early) for the Tour. They will not wait, as the show must go on!
  • Some tours do sell out, so be sure to order your tickets online weeks in advance, if you have your heart set on a certain tour! We wanted to do the River Styx, but by the time we decided (about a week before), it was already sold out for the whole weekend!
  • Make sure you allot extra time for exploring the grounds around Mammoth Cave. There are plenty of places to walk around and explore. There are also ranger talks that are free that happen regularly throughout the day. Check the “Surface Activities” schedule on the Mammoth Cave NPS website.
  • Also, keep in mind…most of these tours are a couple hours long. Be sure to use the bathroom before you go on your tour. And also limit your fluid intake for your little ones. (Trust me on this one!)

Final Thoughts

We’ve been in a TON of caves throughout Tennessee, but Mammoth Cave was a really unique experience altogether! The Domes and Dripstones Tour was really good and we are glad we got to see that end of Mammoth Cave, especially Frozen Niagara. 

Next time, we hope to do a cave tour from the “Historic Entrance” side. The kids also said they want to do one of the Lantern Tours one day! We may wait a few years before we go back for that one though! 

All in all, we highly recommend visiting Mammoth Cave if you love nature and exploring the great outdoors! We had a great time and look forward to going back again one day!

So have you ever been to Mammoth Cave National Park before? What tour did you do? What was your favorite part of Mammoth Cave? Be sure to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you!

And if you are looking for more things to do in Kentucky, be sure to check out our post on the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace.

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Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Kentucky

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Heading towards Kentucky anytime soon? If you are, be sure to make a stop at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site!

If you love exploring the rich heritage of our nation, then the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace will definitely inspire you by taking a peek into the early life of Abraham Lincoln and his humble beginnings. (Plus its one of the few places in Kentucky to get a Passport to Your National Parks Cancellation or Stamp!) 

Read on to learn more about our visit to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace and all that we learned along the way!

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Lincoln Memorial
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park

*This post may contain affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link we may earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a dime)! Read our full disclaimer.

Abraham Lincoln Resources for Kids!

If you are looking for some family friendly books and movies to get your kids excited about visiting the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, these were some great resources that we found at our local library!

Abraham Lincoln – Animated Hero Classics DVD

Great Americans for Children – Abraham Lincoln DVD

Magic Tree House – Abe Lincoln at Last Book

“Who Was Abraham Lincoln?” Book

“I am Abraham Lincoln” Book

How Do I Get to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park?

Located in Hodgenville, Kentucky, the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park is out in the middle of beautiful Kentucky hillsides.

If you search in your GPS, the address should pop right up: 2995 Lincoln Farm Road, Hodgenville, KY 42748. We had no problems finding it and our GPS took us right there! (Also, be sure to check Visitor Center Hours at the national park website).

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Sign

Exploring the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Visitor Center

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center

The Visitor Center

The first thing we usually do when we visit a new National Park site is to locate the Visitor Center.

Once inside, the first thing our family was drawn to was the face billboard they have in the lobby. I think Matt makes a pretty good park ranger…don’t you?!?

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Face Cut Outs

After having a little fun with that, we checked out the displays at the front that greet you right when you walk in the door. 

From the “Memorializing a President” display that talks about the dedication of the first Lincoln Memorial…

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Memorializing a President

To the inspirational quote on the wall with a statue of the Lincoln family…

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Quote on the Wall

You are immediately reminded of the special part that Abraham Lincoln played in our country’s history.

The Gift Shop & Passport Cancellations

We then made our way over into the actual gift store part where the Passport to Your National Parks station can be found. 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Passport Stamp

After getting our Passport cancellations, we browsed some of the unique Abraham Lincoln books and paraphernalia that you can purchase.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Books Store

Of course, the Abraham Lincoln bobbleheads were really tempting. Everyone needs a good presidential bobblehead collection, right?!?

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Bobblehead

The Abraham Lincoln Early Years Documentary

After browsing the gift shop a bit, we headed into the theater area where they show a short film about the early life of Abraham Lincoln and his family in Hodgenville, Kentucky. 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Documentary

It was actually really interesting and the kids are still talking about some of the stuff we learned from it. It was a good reminder of how hard it was during this time period for Abraham Lincoln and his family. We have so much to be grateful for in this day and age.

The Cabin & Museum

After the film was over, you then exit out into the museum area where they have a wall of information about Abraham Lincoln’s early days, particularly a little more about his parents.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Museum
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Wall

There is also the inside of a cabin setup that was really neat for the kids to explore. 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Cabin

But perhaps one of my favorite things was the Lincoln Family Bible that was on display.

Clearly worn and used over time, this was obviously a treasure to Abraham Lincoln and his family. 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Family Bible 2

Junior Ranger Program

There is also a Junior Ranger Program that kids can participate in. We didn’t quite have enough time to complete it, but we did grab the booklet and read through some of the information which was interesting.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Visitor Center Junior Ranger

Our CaddyWampus Moment

After exploring the Visitor Center rather thoroughly, we sat outside on the benches and ate a little lunch. (There are also picnic tables available in a picnic area nearby…but it actually started raining, so we just made do!) 

We had not been sitting there long before we heard a strange announcement over the loud speaker, “Attention, Maggie Elizabeth…Maggie Elizabeth, please come to the Visitor Center, we have found your Passport book.” 

We all cracked up and realized that Maggie had clearly left her Passport book at the Visitor Center. It felt like she was being called into the Principal’s office or something.

They also weren’t sure how to say our last name, so they just said her first and middle name. The kids are still laughing about this and it is probably one of our favorite memories of our visit to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace. 

*Note- Be sure to put your phone number in your Passport book in case this happens to you, they can contact you! Or just cross your fingers and hope that they will call your name over the loud speaker.

Explore the Outside Grounds of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park

After collecting all of our Passport books and putting them in a safe spot, we set off to explore outside while the rain had eased up.

The First Lincoln Memorial

The first thing that we had to do was climb up the 56 steps to get to the FIRST Lincoln Memorial. 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Lincoln Memorial

This Lincoln Memorial was actually constructed 11 years before the one in Washington, DC was built. 

The 56 steps represent the 56 years of Abraham Lincoln’s life. And yes, the kids had to count all 56 of them, just to make sure!

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Lincoln Memorial Climbing Up

Around the back, you can actually go inside. There you will find a cabin that was constructed around the same time period that Abraham Lincoln was born. It is not the exact cabin that he was born in, but it would have been very similar (per the Park Ranger’s explanation). There are some more interesting plaques to read in there as well about the history of the construction of the Memorial.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Lincoln Memorial Inside Info

We took some pictures in front of the Memorial and then headed on down to explore some more!

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Lincoln Memorial Family In Front

Sinking Springs

Right at the bottom of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, you will find another area that was very important to the livelihood of Abraham Lincoln and his family, Sinking Spring. 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Sinking Spring

If you follow the steps down, you can see Sinking Spring which was their source of water.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Sinking Spring Steps
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Sinking Spring

The spring is actually what they call a karst window which is a special type of sinkhole. It was very interesting to see.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park looking at Sinking Spring

Nancy Lincoln Inn

After you head back up from Sinking Spring, you can always take a little time to explore some of the trails that are around the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace. 

It was starting to rain again, so we decided to walk by and quickly see the Nancy Lincoln Inn. 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Nancy Lincoln Inn

There was also a display with a plaque that has the words that are inscribed on the top of the Lincoln Memorial.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Plaque

It was also a perfect place to take one last picture of the Lincoln Memorial as well!

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Memorial

Final Thoughts

The life and legacy that Abraham Lincoln left in our country is so inspirational. After taking some time to study and learn about his early days and all of the hardships he encountered in his life, it really makes you appreciate all that he contributed to help our country become what it is today. 

Although it’s not a huge park and doesn’t have a ton to do, it is still worth a stop if you are going to be in the area and if you enjoy learning more about our nation’s incredible history. Abraham Lincoln definitely left a legacy and is still an inspiration to many!

And if you do venture into the hills of Kentucky, be sure to check out Mammoth Cave National Park which is just right around the corner!

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Cataract Falls in the Smoky Mountains

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Looking for a beginner waterfall hike for your family in the Great Smoky Mountains? Cataract Falls is a perfect hike to introduce your kids to the wonders of the outdoors!

Read on for more tips for your first visit to Cataract Falls in the Smoky Mountains!

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains
Cataract Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains

*This post may contain affiliate links which help support this site, but won’t cost you anything extra. Read our full disclaimer.

Hiking in the Smoky Mountains

As with any National Park, before you head out to explore, it never hurts to have on-hand some reliable and trustworthy resources for easy reference.

Here are a few of our favorite pocket guides about hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains:

Hiking Trails of the Smokies

Day Hikes of the Smokies

Waterfalls of the Smokies

For more history and information about the Smokies, be sure to check out more Great Smoky Mountains Books and Guides here!

Cataract Falls Trail Information

  • Round Trip Length: 1 mile
  • Trail Location: Sugarlands Visitor Center (near Gatlinburg, TN)
  • Directions: Fighting Creek Nature Trailhead
  • Trail Features: Waterfall
  • Round Trip Hours: 1 – 2 hours
  • Difficulty: Easy

The Sugarlands Visitor Center offers plenty to see and do for first time visitor to the Great Smoky Mountains! From chatting with a Park Ranger, to viewing a short video and touring the museum area, be sure to wrap up your visit at the Sugarlands with a short hike to see Cataract Falls!

This is an easy hike to the beautiful 25 foot waterfall that the whole family will enjoy. The path to Cataract Falls is on the Fighting Creek Nature trail that also offers plenty of opportunities to learn more about the native plants in the area.

Click here to get your free checklist of
family friendly hikes in the smokies!

How Do I Get to Cataract Falls in the Smoky Mountains?

No matter where you are coming from, you should be able to type into your GPS “Sugarlands Visitor Center” which is located at the very end of the Gatlinburg Parkway. The actual address is: 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains is at Sugarlands Visitor Center

Once you are there, you will make your way to the main visitor center building. When facing the Sugarland’s Visitor Center, the trail actually starts on the left of the building near the restrooms.

Explore Sugarlands Visitor’s Center

If time allows, be sure to hop inside the Visitor’s Center and check out all that it has to offer. From a short 20 minute video, to the museum area and gift shop, you can easily spend an hour inside just browsing and absorbing all there is to learn about the Great Smoky Mountains! (Just be sure to check the hours they are open before you head that way!)

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Visitor Center

Check out the National Parks Passport Book & Junior Ranger Program!

It’s also a great place to check out the National Parks Passport books or the Junior Ranger Program! Be sure to get your passport cancellation or stamp while you are there! 

Hiking To Cataract Falls in the Smoky Mountains

Locating the Fighting Creek Trailhead

After you find the restrooms to the left of the building, you will follow the paved trail down the hill to find the beginning of the Fighting Creek Trailhead sign.

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Trailhead

Once you get to the bottom of the small hill, you will see the sign directing you to the LEFT for the “Fighting Creek Nature Trail” and “Cataract Falls.” Don’t forget to take your obligatory trail sign picture to document your hike!

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Trailhead sign

Take a few minutes to check out the other sign there that tells a little more about the Fighting Creek Nature Trail and the community that once resided there. It also shares some “know before you go” tips that are always good to review.

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Informational Sign

There are some Nature Trail Guides available for purchase for 50 cents if you have time and want to experience more of the nature trail!

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Nature Guides

On the Trail

Even if you don’t purchase the Nature Trail Guide, there are tons of things that you can learn along the way. There are plenty of little signs that tell you about some of the plants and trees that you will find in this area and also how they were often used by the residing community of the past. 

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Box Elder Sign

Root beer anyone?

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Sassafras Sign

There are also some unique trees you will find. We found some “twin” trees along the trail as well. (I don’t know if that’s a real term or not…but it also happened to be National Twin Day…so it seemed fitting!)

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Twin Trees

Something happened at some point in the growing process, the trees split and one became two! The base of the tree is very interesting and we saw several of these along the trail.

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Twin Trees up close

We tried to get a picture of our twins with the twin tree…but they didn’t want to risk getting poison ivy. Ha!

Moving on along, you will come across a cute little bridge area that crosses over a creek.

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Trail

A little ways on down the trail, you will come to a foot bridge to cross over.

Bridge to Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains

Right before you cross over the bridge, there is a fun tree that is hollow at the bottom. 

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Tree on trail

Our kids have always thought it was fun to climb inside!

Climb in Tree on the Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Trail

After you cross the bridge, there will be a sign that directs you to the RIGHT for Cataract Falls.

Sign to Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains

The next part of the trail is really pretty. This part reminds me of some of the scenes in Star Wars where the Ewoks live. (Matt says its called Endor…haha!)

Trail to Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains

Next you will go under a bridge. (Watch out for the troll that lives under there…just kidding, don’t tell your kids that. We want them to LOVE hiking!)

Bridge on the Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Trail

You then head up the hill and take a RIGHT at the top of the trail. There are more signs directing you that way. You are now just minutes away from Cataract Falls.

Almost To Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains
Click here to get your free checklist of
family friendly hikes in the smokies!

At Cataract Falls

Once you arrive at Cataract Falls, depending on the day, there may be quite a few people. 

At Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains

We went on a hot summer weekend day and there were quite a few people there. In fact, if we had wanted a family picture in front of Cataract Falls, we would have had to wait in line. It takes a few minutes to walk across the rocks to get to the bottom of the falls, so just be patient if you want a picture.

Family Picture at Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains

Or just go on a weekday or a non-peak time during the winter when it’s not as busy! We took the kids several years ago on a winter day and we literally had the place to ourselves. 

Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains Family Picture

Of course the vegetation won’t be as green around the waterfall, but it’s still pretty!

There are also warning signs posted about staying on the trail in certain areas. Be sure to pay close attention to those. I apparently totally missed them and I was in an area I shouldn’t have been and Matt called me out. Oops! 

Stay on the Trail at Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains

On the Way Back

Once you have taken in plenty of time at Cataract Falls, it’s time to head back the way you came. Under the bridge and through the woods. (To Grandmother’s House we go?!? Or just the Sugarlands’ Parking Lot, I guess?)

Heading Back from Cataract Falls Smoky Mountains

Head back to the visitor’s center, hit the restrooms and start planning your next family adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains!

A Few Things to Consider When Visiting Cataract Falls in the Smoky Mountains

  • The Sugarlands Visitor Center can become rather congested during peak times. Visit earlier in the day or try to go on a weekday if your schedule allows!
  • Take time to enjoy the nature walk along the way and read about more of the native plants from the region.
  • Allow time to explore the Visitor’s Center and let the younger ones in your group do the Junior Ranger Program!
Click here to get your free checklist of
family friendly hikes in the smokies!

Final Thoughts

Cataract Falls is a simple family-friendly hike for all ages. It’s a quick ¾ mile hike that can easily be done in a short amount of time. While it can be a busy trail during peak times, it is still worth the short trek from the Sugarlands Visitor Center if you want to see a waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains!

So have you been to Cataract Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains before? What are your favorite family-friendly hikes in the Smokies? Be sure to leave a comment below!

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Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort

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Have you been wanting to check out Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort? Us too! We had been wanting to visit the resort since their opening in 2015 as it is ranked as a top resort in the Great Smoky Mountain region.

Read on to find out more about our recent stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and our list of the fun things you can do with your family!

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Entrance

*This post may contain affiliate links which help support this site, but won’t cost you anything extra. Read our full disclaimer.

Get a Little Dolly Parton Inspiration Before You Head to Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort!

Growing up in East Tennessee, it’s hard not to be a Dolly Parton fan! From her music, to movies, to the Imagination Library and so much more, she is such an inspiration to many!

In case you need a little extra Dolly Parton inspiration before heading to visit Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, be sure to check out some of our favorite Dolly Parton books!

Dolly Parton (Little People, BIG DREAMS)

Coat of Many Colors

Who Is Dolly Parton? (Who Was?)

Things to Do at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort!

1. Check Out all of the Special Interior Touches!

The first thing that our crew always loves to do is thoroughly check the resort out and take it all in! There is nothing like walking into a resort for the first time and seeing all of the unique architecture and decorations.  

And Dollywood’s DreamMore certainly does not disappoint! From the moment you walk in you are met by Dolly on the wall, welcoming you to come sit a spell and dream with her! 

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Picture of Dolly

Matt enjoyed spending some good quality time with her.

On the left is the check-in counter that had the most amazing sign that changes from a beautiful scenic view of the mountains…

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Checkin

…to a beautiful picture of a mountain river stream. 

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Changing picture

After exploring the lobby, we headed on down the staircase and discovered more Dolly! 

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Wall of Dolly

The kids had to count all of the albums on the wall. It was pretty neat!

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Pictures of Dolly

On around the corner you will find another unique sign that has a picture of the Dollywood Train and Grist Mill…

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Changing Sign

AND…as you keep walking, it turns into a Dollywood sign!

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Sign Changing

So fun! We just love unique touches like that! 

Also on the bottom floor, you will find the Spa, the Game Room, Camp DW, the Song and Hearth Restaurant and the Indoor Pool. (More on some of those in a bit!)

There are plenty more places to explore (like some unique instruments, a special treasure box, etc.) – so be sure to take some time to explore and check out all of the special touches that make Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort unforgettable!

2. Explore Outside and Play on the Playground!

Once you make it outside, you will find some beautiful theming as well! Of course you can’t miss the giant DreamMore fountain right at the front of the resort. Be sure to take some family pictures to document your trip!

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Fountain

Right as you are walking into the front lobby you will also see a little cascading waterfall to your left. It definitely brings a taste of the Great Smoky Mountains to your doorstep!

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Waterfall

At the back side of the resort, you have some pretty garden areas to walk around in and even some benches welcoming you to come sit a spell and relax! And of course there was a giant butterfly shape in the landscaping! 

Dollywood's Dreammore Resort Garden

One of our favorite areas was The Barn. The rocking chairs were definitely calling our names!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort The Barn

Right past The Barn you will find a sweet little playground area that is perfect for letting the kids get all of that extra energy out!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Playground

And the most adorable benches that are themed from some of Dolly’s Imagination Library books. 

Dollywood's Dreammore Benches
Dollywood's DreamMore Bench

We were SO excited to find these as we are huge supporters of Dolly’s Imagination Library program that strives to improve literacy in children by providing FREE books for children up to Kindergarten age. (You can read more about the Dolly’s Imagination Library Program here.)

3. Play in the WATER at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort!

Okay, this of course is the crowd favorite by far. Who doesn’t love playing in the pool?!?

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Pool Area

And Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort has a very beautiful pool area called “The Swimming Hole!”

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Pools

From the waterfall theming…

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Pool Waterfall

To the Splash Pad…

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Splash Pad

To the Hot Tub (for 16 years and older)…

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Hot Tub

There is definitely something for all ages to enjoy.

You can tell Maggie had a good time!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Pool Fun

Then if you want to take some time to checkout the indoor pool area, you can head to The Garden House Indoor Pool!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Indoor Pool

It was a fun change of pace! They had balls and basketball hoops as well as beach balls to bounce back and forth! The kids really enjoyed playing in there for a little while…especially since we had the whole pool to ourselves! 

4. Do some daytime Camp DW activities and have some of Dolly’s FREE Pink Lemonade!

Dollywood’s DreamMore also has a special kids program called Camp DW! 

Located on the bottom floor, near the indoor pool, they have various activities planned throughout the day. At check-in they will provide you with their weekly resort calendar and all of the Camp DW activities will be listed on there with the days and times!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Weekly Schedule

Some of the activities do cost extra, so be sure to check it out before you head that way. 

However, one of our favorite things was Dolly’s FREE pink lemonade that they serve daily from 4-5pm in the Lobby. 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Lemonade

We may or may not have waited around everyday until 4pm before we headed out to our next activity. It was a nice refreshing complimentary service that we really looked forward to! (And we loved chit-chatting with the sweet Camp DW hostess as well!)

DreamMore Resort Pink Lemonade

Also, does anyone know where “Pink” Lemonade came from? Why is it pink? And where did Dolly get those Pink Lemons? Either way…it’s delicious. Don’t miss it!

5. Enjoy a Meal at Dollywood’s DreamMore! 

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort has several different dining options. 

From the Song and Hearth, which is a buffet style restaurant located on the first floor (reservations are recommended)…

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Song & Hearth

To the In-Room Dining (provided by Song & Hearth)…

To the Pantry that offers a variety of things including made to order pizza!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Sweets & Treats
Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Pizza Sign

But our choice this go around? Poolside Dining!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Poolside Dining

It was a fun experience and the prices were actually pretty reasonable!

All you do is pick a table (or chair even!) and browse through the menu (that usually can be found at a nearby table). Once you are ready to order, you just raise the yellow flag and an attendant will come and take your order. 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Flag on Table

Then you can go and swim or hang out while you wait on your food! Easy peasy! And so fun!

6. Play some Games Together!

As you roam around the resort you will find some fun little surprises along the way, like family-friendly games that are just inviting you to come play!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Games

The living room area right off to the side of the check-in desk had some games set up that we enjoyed sitting down to play several times!

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Checkers

And downstairs outside of the pool area was another fun area we found that had giant checkers and a larger version of Connect 4. 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Life Size Checkers

Then if that’s not enough gaming for you, be sure to checkout the Game Room that’s on the bottom floor. You can buy a card with credits and play until your heart is content (or your wallet is empty…whichever comes first).

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Air Hockey

7. Enjoy an Ice Cream treat (or Coffee!) out on the porch!

If you are looking for a sweet treat (or afternoon coffee break), be sure to head over to the DreamMore Pantry and get some ice cream or specialty coffee (they Starbucks coffee)! 

The kids enjoyed picking out their ice cream.

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Ice Cream

And Matt and I ordered ourselves a little coffee treat.

We actually ended up taking it out to the porch area and enjoyed our treats while we took in the views of the surrounding areas.

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Porch

Maggie insisted on taking our picture as well. 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Porch Rocking

8. Ride the Trolley to Visit Dollywood or Dolly’s Splash Country AND Use the Time Saver Passes!

One of the biggest perks of staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort is being able to utilize the free transportation trolley that drops you off right at the entrance of the parks! 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Trolley

In fact, the Dollywood entrance that they drop you off at is a special entrance that you can only enter if you are riding the trolley or if you buy a special parking pass at the parking booth. So for those of us that are used to the regular parking lot and riding the tram into Dollywood, this is a special treat! Ha!

It’s the little things in life, right?!?

Then when you are ready to head back to the resort, you just return to where they dropped you off at the specially marked Trolley pickup spot, and hop back aboard for a short trip to DreamMore! 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Trolley Pickup

In addition to that, you also get a complimentary TimeSaver Pass included in your stay! This allows you to bypass the regular line at certain rides in the park. This little gem is perfect for busy days when the lines are long! (You can read more about the TimeSaver Pass here.)

The TimeSaver Pass also helps you do most of the big roller coasters without waiting too long, so you can use more of your time to checkout their newest expansion Wildwood Grove!

To pick-up your TimeSaver Pass or buy tickets to the parks, you will head over to the Concierge/Ticket Center that is located around the corner from the check-in desk. 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Concierge/Ticket Center

*TIP: You can go ahead and start utilizing the TimeSaver pass and Trolley the day that you check in. Be sure to stop by Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort before you head to the park and do a “soft” check-in to go ahead and utilize the Trolley and the TimeSaver passes! AND…be sure to give them a call a little early to see if your room might be ready. You just never know! 

9. Do Some of the Evening Activities: S’Mores by the Fire and Bedtime Stories

To wrap up your evening at Dollywood’s DreamMore resort, be sure to check the schedule for the evening Camp DW Activities that are going on! 

Our first night was a Ranger Talk in the barn where a retired Park Ranger came and shared some interesting information about the Great Smoky Mountains! 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Park Ranger Talk

Our family really enjoyed the Ranger Talk but depending on the age of your children (little ones in particular…) they may not have the attention span for the entire length of the talk. Just keep that in mind. 

They also have other evening activities throughout the week. Everything from live entertainment, music, and outdoor movies. So check the schedule!

But one thing that families seemed to really enjoy were the S’mores by the Fire Pit.

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort S'mores

They give you pre-packed bags of everything you need to make your S’mores.

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort S'mores Kits

And then you actually get to roast them as a family. 

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort Making S'mores

The Bedtime Stories were also happening at the same time. So it was sweet to see the little ones over listening to the stories. If you have little ones, they may enjoy that as well! 

Final Thoughts about Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort

All in all, our first trip to Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort was pretty fun! We enjoyed getting to see all of the unique Dolly touches that make this resort so special.

We definitely made lots of family fun memories while we were there and look forward to going back one day! We definitely recommend visiting one day!

So what about you? Have you stayed at the DreamMore Resort? What was your favorite thing about it? We would love to hear your thoughts!

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National Park Passport and Why You Need It!

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Do you love to visit different National Parks but sometimes struggle to get your kids excited about it? Have you heard about the National Park Passport books?

We sure hadn’t either, until some friends told us about it! When we found out about the Passport to Your National Parks Program, it was a complete game changer for our kids!

Read on to find out how these little gems have added so much value to our family adventures!

Smoky Mountains National Park Passport

*This post may contain affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link we may earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a dime)! Read our full disclaimer.

Planning to Visit National Parks?

If you have just started scratching the surface for visiting National Parks, be sure to grab our FAVORITE National Parks book. This gem is full of great itinerary ideas and tips for visiting the National Parks! (And here is a little bonus…there is a place to put a passport stamp in it as well!)

The newest version covers all 62 parks and was released in October 2020.

Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 62 Parks

National Geographic Road Atlas 2021: Adventure Edition

What is a National Park Passport Book?

The Passport to Your National Parks Program was established in 1986. The program is run by Eastern National, which is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports America’s National Parks through a variety of educational experiences and opportunities.

Options for the National Park Passport Books

Most of the National Parks in the United States participate in this program which offer opportunities for visitors to collect regional stamps and cancellations that are unique to the National Park in that area. 

National Park Passport Cancellations

What are the different types of passport books?

The program currently contains a variety of books that you can purchase to collect your stamps and cancellations at the various National Parks that you visit.

To break it down, there are four choices of passport books available for purchase.

1. Junior Ranger Edition

2. Classic Edition

3. Collector’s Edition

4. Explorer Edition 

photo3-view

How to choose which National Park passport book to buy

While it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the different choices, we just chose to go with the Passport to Your National Parks “Classic Edition” as it seemed to suit our needs just fine at the time!

National Park Passport Classic Edition

However, now that we have visited quite a few of the National Parks in the Southeast Region, the kids have their Southeast Region completely filled up with cancellations.

So now we are contemplating moving up to the Collector’s Edition or the Explorer Edition. (That or buy the expander packs to add more pages in their Classic Edition books!)

National Park Passport Collectors Edition

The Collector’s Edition looks like it would be a really great one to use as a family as well. It has much more room for cancellations and collecting the regional stamps.

It seems to have a better layout and more information about the regions. AND it also has a great checklist to checkoff the parks once you visit! (I LOVE checklists!)

National Park Passport Collectors Edition Inside

And the Explorer Edition just looks totally legit. So, if you are a huge National Park fan, I would definitely check it out!

Where can you buy a passport book?

Most of the different Passport books should be available at the majority of the National Park Visitor Centers across the United States.

All of the books also can be purchased online on the eParks website . The Classic Addition or Collector’s Addition can also be found on Amazon as well. (Be sure to price check though!)

The Classic Edition is usually around $10 at the Visitor Centers.

Cost for the National Park Passport Classic Edition

And the Collector’s Edition is about $25.

If you are having a hard time deciding, be sure to check them out in person at one of the Visitor Center’s gift shops. They often times will have a “Demo” book you can open up and look at a little closer!

National Park Passport Demo Book

But be sure to do your research on each of the books to see which one will suit you or your family best!

Other National Park Passport Items to Purchase

Once you purchase the book itself, you really don’t have to spend anything else! The cancellations are completely free once you get into the Visitor’s Center. The only other potential cost would be if you started collecting the Special Collector’s Stamp at each of the parks.

That is completely optional. We didn’t do any of the Special Collector’s Stamps with the kids except one time. The cost for the Special Collector’s Stamp is usually about $2.50 if you do decide to collect the stamps.

Now that we are considering the Collector’s Edition Passport Book, I might consider buying the stamps at each location to have as a family collection. I think that would be fun!

National Park Passport Collectors Stamps

They also have special Annual Commemorative Stamp Series that you can purchase. Those cost about $5 but are also completely optional.

Stamps Series for the National Park Passport

In addition to the Passport Books and Stamps, there are also Passport Accessories, Collectible Pins, Patches and more that you can check out at eParks.com!

How to Find the National Park Passport Locations

1. Check Your Passport Book Information

Most of the Passport Books include a map with a list of the current cancellation station locations (say that three times fast!) that you can visit. 

National Park Passport Map

2. Look Online

You can also access a list of “Passport to Your National Parks” cancellation locations online at America’s National Parks Website.

3. Download the App on Your Phone

There is also a companion app that you can download on your phone as well!

It has been so much fun for us to look up different parks in the areas we were vacationing at to see if there were any nearby National Parks that we could visit. 

How Do You Use Your National Park Passport Book?

1. Do Your Research Beforehand

Once you have decided on a location to visit, do your research and find out how long you need to allocate for your visit. 

Almost EVERY single time, we have not allowed enough time and end up rushing through the visit. For some reason we always underestimate how long we will spend there. Be sure to build in a little extra time to explore. We always end up getting into it WAY more than we think we will!

2. Locate the Cancellation Station

Upon arrival, our first stop is usually to the Visitor Center to get our cancellations in our Passport books! It is typically easy to find, but if you have any problems locating it, don’t be shy to ask for help (the park employees are usually more than happy to assist)!

Once you locate the cancellation station, its really easy…

  1. Turn to the region in your passport book
  2. Find a blank page
  3. Test the stamp on one of the sample sheets they have there to make sure you are not stamping it upside down!
  4. Then STAMP in your book!

*TIP! Often times there are specialty stamps at most locations. We always double check the stamp before we commit to stamping in our books!

National Park Passport Cancellation at the Smoky Mountains

While in the Visitor Center, this is also a great opportunity to ask the park employee or volunteer (often times a Park Ranger!) more about the location and anything that we MUST do while we are there!

Optional: Junior Ranger Program!

Often times they have a Junior Ranger Program as well, so this would be a good time to ask about that. If time allows, our kids will usually grab the Junior Ranger booklets and complete them while we are there.

Junior Ranger Program

If they meet all of the requirements for that location, they will get a Junior Ranger badge and some other little freebies. And they get to officially swear in as a Junior Ranger!

Like I said, there is ALWAYS plenty to do at these locations!

3. Explore and Make Memories!

The last thing that’s left to do is EXPLORE! Have fun being with your family and take lots of pictures along the way!

National Park Passport Location at Kitty Hawk

Some of our favorite memories and experiences have been at some of the National Parks locations that we never would have visited had it not been for this little book!

Our Experience with the Passport to Your National Parks Program

Although our family has grown up in the region that is home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we honestly had no idea that the Passport to Your National Parks program even existed! 

Once we learned about this jewel, we high-tailed over to one of the Great Smoky Mountain NPS visitor’s centers and bought one for each of our kids. And these Passport Books have honestly been a priceless addition to our family’s adventures!

The kids absolutely love getting new stamps in their booklets. And every time we visit a new area/region they always ask if there are going to be any places that we can stop along the way to get more stamps.

Exposure to New Places

We have come across some of the most interesting places on our way to another destination just by looking at the map beforehand to see what was in the area.

A few of the fun little surprises along the way have been places like:

Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama

Russell Cave in a National Park Passport Location in Alabama

Our 17th President’s Homestead and National Cemetery at the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, TN

Andrew Johnson is a National Park Passport Location

The Wright Brothers National Memorial in the Outer Banks in North Carolina

Wright Brothers Museum is a National Park Passport Location

Haleakala National Park in Maui, Hawaii (Read more about our experience here.)

Haleakala is a National Park Passport Location

Final Thoughts

We absolutely love the Passport to the National Parks program so much! While it definitely isn’t necessary for visiting National Parks, it really has added an extra little excitement and anticipation for our family.

It’s so fun to look back through our books and see where all we have visited over the years.

We are so excited to keep exploring in new regions and see what other unexpected treasures we find along the way!

So what about you and your family? Have you heard of the Passport To Your National Parks Program before? What have been your favorite places to visit? Did you use the Classic Edition book or another version? What do you like about it? Be sure to leave your comments below! We would love to hear from you!

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Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike in the Smokies

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Looking for some waterfall adventures in the Great Smoky Mountains? How about ONE short hike that takes you to THREE different waterfalls? The Deep Creek area offers some of the most beautiful waterfalls within a short distance that the whole family will enjoy!

Read on to learn more about our experience in the Deep Creek area, that may possibly be one of our new favorite waterfall adventures in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Juney Whank Falls is one of the Deep Creek Waterfalls
Juney Whank Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains

*This post may contain affiliate links which help support this site, but won’t cost you anything extra. Read our full disclaimer.

Hiking in the Smoky Mountains

As with any National Park, before you head out to explore, it never hurts to have on-hand some reliable and trustworthy resources for easy reference.

Here are a few of our favorite pocket guides that we recommend for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains:

Hiking Trails of the Smokies

Day Hikes of the Smokies

Waterfalls of the Smokies

For more history and information about the Smokies, be sure to check out more Great Smoky Mountains Books and Guides here!

Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike – Trail Information

  • Round Trip Length: 2.2 miles
  • Trail Location: Deep Creek Campground and Picnic Area (near Bryson City, NC)
  • Directions: Deep Creek Trail Trailhead
  • Trail Features: Waterfalls
  • Round Trip Hours: 1 – 2 hours
  • Difficulty: Easy

The Deep Creek Waterfall Hike includes three beautiful waterfalls within a short walking distance: Tom Branch Falls, Indian Creek Falls and Juney Whank Falls.

Each waterfall is completely unique and captivating in their own ways! This waterfall hike will not disappoint!

Click here to get your free checklist of
family friendly hikes in the smokies!

How Do I Get To Deep Creek?

No matter where you are traveling from, you can put into your GPS “Deep Creek Trail Trailhead” and it should pull up the exact location on W Deep Creek Rd, Bryson City, NC 28713.

For us, we were coming from the Gatlinburg area. From the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg, it is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Deep Creek.

The drive is so beautiful between the Visitor Center and the Deep Creek area. 

Some of the pull-offs are just gorgeous along the way. So if you have extra time, be sure to check some of these out if you are traveling from the Gatlinburg direction!

Between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Deep Creek

In addition to the many picturesque pull-off opportunities, you will find several other unique places to stop and visit in the Great Smoky Mountains area along this stretch as well.

Here are some of our favorites if you have time (or to just note for another day!):

Chimneys Picnic Area, one of several picnic areas in the Great Smoky Mountains. We love to have a picnic & play in the water!

Visit Chimney Picnic Area on the way to Deep Creek Waterfalls

Rockefeller Memorial, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains here. You will also find the North Carolina/Tennessee line as well as a great panoramic view of the mountains!

Visit Rockefeller Memorial on the way to Deep Creek Waterfalls

Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains at 6,685 ft. It also has some of the most amazing views of the Great Smoky Mountains if you are willing to take a 0.5 mile (uphill) hike.

View of Clingmans Dome from drive to Deep Creek Waterfalls

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is where you can stop by and ask Park Rangers about the Great Smoky Mountain Park and learn more about the history in the area. The Visitor Center also neighbors the Mountain Farm Museum, which is also worth exploring at some point!

Stop by the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on the way to Deep Creek Waterfalls

Once you get into the Ocanuluftee area, there are often Elk roaming. We saw some on the way there and also on our way back, but couldn’t snap a picture quick enough. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled and your camera out! (Unless you are the one driving that is…and in that case, be a responsible driver and let your co-pilot take pictures!)

Cherokee and Bryson City – We also drove through some of the town of Cherokee and Bryson City. We plan to explore those a little more thoroughly another day when we have more time!

Navigating the Deep Creek Area

Once you enter the Deep Creek part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, some of the first things you will see are the campground and picnic areas. 

After passing the entrance to the picnic area, we found a great pavilion on the left with some bathrooms that we could stop at right off of the main road (W Deep Creek Road). 

Deep Creek Waterfalls Bathrooms

There were also some signs with some great information about the surrounding areas, so be sure to stop by and check those out!

Deep Creek Waterfalls Sign

We then loaded back up and headed on our way to the Deep Creek Trail Parking area. During the summer months, this little parking lot is a popular spot! 

Deep Creek Waterfalls parking area

We finally found some hikers that were on their way out and we quickly snatched their spot. If you have trouble finding any parking, you can always head back over towards the picnic area and park there.

Locating the Deep Creek Trailhead

Right next to the parking lot, there is a nice area with a little bench and some signs that you can read before you take off on your trek.

Deep Creek Waterfalls Trail sign

There is also a pretty bridge to cross over.

Deep Creek Waterfalls Trailhead

And this is also a busy area where tubers are being dropped off to tube in the river.

Which Way Do You Go?

From the Deep Creek Waterfalls trailhead area, you have 2 options: 

Option 1: Start with Juney Whank Falls

You can take an immediate left and start at the Juney Whank Falls trailhead, which will actually loop around and put you back on the Deep Creek Trail. You would then take a left on the Deep Creek Trail to see Tom Branch Falls and then wrap it up at Indian Creek Falls as your last waterfall before you head back.

Deep Creek Waterfalls Juney Whank Trailhead

Option 2: Start with the Deep Creek Trail

Start at the Deep Creek Trailhead and see Tom Branch Falls first, then trek on to Indian Creek Falls. You would then head back and take a right onto Juney Whank Loop Trail, which leads you to Juney Whank Falls. Then you would follow that trail that loops around putting you right back out at the parking lot.

Deep Creek Waterfalls Trailhead sign

For us, we decided to do the Deep Creek Trail first and then loop back around and see Juney Whank Falls on our way out. I don’t think there is any right or wrong way to do it, so just pick one and go with it!

Take a quick picture next to the trailhead sign to document your journey, and head on your way!

Deep Creek Waterfalls Trail Sign
Click here to get your free checklist of
family friendly hikes in the smokies!

On the Trail

Tom Branch Falls

If you are visiting during the summer months, this trail may have TONS of tubers walking up to go tubing. I don’t know if the timing of it was a busy part of the day or what, but at one point Matt looked at me and said he felt like he was at a busy water park. Ha!

On the Deep Creek Waterfalls Trail

Just a short walk and you will surprisingly come to Tom Branch Falls rather quickly! 

Tom Branch Falls Sign on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

This is such a beautiful waterfall! It is also a very popular place for tubers to get in the river. So it took a few minutes for the river to clear to get a pretty shot of the waterfall! 

Tom Branch Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

So be patient…it’s worth the wait!

Indian Creek Falls

As you head on up the trail, you will find a sign that is directing you to Indian Creek Falls.

Indian Creek Falls sign on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Along the way there are several benches that you can stop at and take in the relaxing sounds of the river.

Deep Creek Waterfalls Bench

After a little more walking, you will come to a bridge to cross over. (Did I mention there were A TON of tubers there that day?!?)

Bridge on Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Right after you get across the bridge, there are some more benches next to some small cascades.

Benches on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Head on up the trail until you come to a crossroad where you will take a right. Don’t worry…there is a great sign marking the trails and pointing you in the right direction for Indian Creek Falls. 

Bridge on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Only 200 more feet up the hill, and you will come to the stairs that will take you on down to the falls.

Hiking Down to Indian Creek Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Once at the bottom, take a few pictures of the falls.

Indian Creek Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

And if you are lucky enough to strike up a conversation with another couple or family, you can even ask them to take a quick family picture for you. (And be sure to return the favor and offer to take a picture for them as well!)

Family Picture at Indian Creek Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

When you are ready, head on up the steps to make your way out.

Hiking up from Indian Creek Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Head back the way you came, across the bridge.

Bridge on Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

And this time we got to enjoy the view of the river without tubers as most of them seemed to be gone for the day.

River View on Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

We also got to enjoy having the trail to ourselves for a little bit too!

Trail on Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Juney Whank Falls

On the way back down the Deep Creek Trail, you will start looking for the sign on your right that will direct you towards Juney Whank Falls. The sign is actually facing the other direction, so you will see something more like this…

Hiking up to Juney Whank Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Once you turn, you will see that it is pointing you up the hill and you should arrive at the falls in around 0.2 miles.

Juney Whank Loop Sign on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

This is the part that was a little challenging. It was literally straight up. 

Uphill on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

This is actually a part of a horse trail, so you may find a few surprises that the horses left along their way! 

Once you get to the top, you will see a sign where you will take a left and begin descending down to the waterfall.

Descending to Juney Whank Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike
Heading down to Juney Whank Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

As you walk down, it feels like you are in a different place completely. The bridge in front of the falls is so beautiful and just adds to the serenity of the waterfall.

Juney Whank Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike
View of Juney Whank Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

Once there, we definitely took our time and sat on the bench and enjoyed the peacefulness that the Deep Creek area provides. 

Juney Whank Falls on Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

After relaxing a little while on the benches, it was time to head home. Up the steps and back down the trail, we headed to the parking lot.

Steps near Juney Whank Falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike

A Few Things to Consider

  • If your family loves to have a good picnic, plan your hike before or after a meal time and take advantage of the Deep Creek Picnic area!
  • Be sure to take a good look at a trail map of the Deep Creek area before you go that way so you are familiar with the area!
  • If you have extra time, be sure to check out the town of Bryson City or Cherokee while you are in the area! Such a fun little place to explore!
  • Make sure to take time to laugh and create memories exploring together as a family! And don’t forget to take plenty of pictures along the way!
Click here to get your free checklist of
family friendly hikes in the smokies!

Final Thoughts

All in all, our fun three waterfall adventure was a success! We had an amazing time exploring the Deep Creek area.

Each of the waterfalls were completely different and the views of each one offered its own beauty in its own way. We absolutely loved visiting the waterfalls and can’t wait to get back over there to give it a try during the fall or spring when the crowds (or tubers?!?) aren’t as plenty! If you get a chance to head that way, be sure to check out the Deep Creek waterfalls!

So what about you, have you been to the Deep Creek area before? Have you hiked to the Deep Creek waterfalls? Which one is your favorite? And if you go try this adventure, be sure to let us know what you think!

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