Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN · NC
A 95-foot cascade rewards this steep backcountry traverse.
Overview
Deeplow Gap Trail is a 6.1-mile one-way corridor linking the Indian Creek and Mingus Creek trails through wooded ridges and creek bottoms. Its rewards are Little Creek Falls, a 95-foot stepped cascade, and two old home sites along the way. This is a hard backcountry walk, not a quick waterfall spur: allow about five hours for the named trail itself, with roughly 2,100 feet of climbing and 1,000 feet of descent. It is not a loop. Walking from the end of Deep Creek Road to Mingus Mill adds the access walks for about 12.6 miles total. Arrange vehicles at both ends or a pickup; with one car at Deep Creek, walking the same way back makes the day about 19.4 miles.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Smoky Mountains Tour Guide
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Trail guide
The west end leaves Indian Creek Trail on a broad old track above the Georges Branch confluence. A wooden bridge crosses the branch; a homestead clearing appears about 0.2 mile in. The tread follows an older roadbed up the flank of Thomas Divide, becoming steep and rocky before reaching Deeplow Gap at about mile 2.2, where it meets Thomas Divide Trail. Rhododendron, mountain laurel and dog-hobble grow thick along the route.
Beyond the gap, the trail drops steeply through dense vegetation into Little Creek's drainage. Near mile 2.9, it reaches the top of Little Creek Falls, then takes a sharp switchback down to the base. Water spills over broad rock ledges for more than 95 feet. A footlog crosses below the falls, where spray can reach the path; more stream crossings and footlogs follow.
The grade eases along Cooper Creek and an old roadbed. At a clearing around mile 4.1, two chimney remains mark the site of a farmhouse; another footlog crossing comes later, before a sharp climb out of the creek bottom to the Mingus Creek Trail junction. That east junction is about 2.9 miles from Mingus Mill on Mingus Creek Trail. The west junction is about 3.6 miles from the end of Deep Creek Road via Deep Creek and Indian Creek trails. Pets are not allowed on this route.
Wildlife
1,566 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
899 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
13 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
142 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
26 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
42 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Smoky Mountains. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateIndian Creek Motor Trail1.8 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.3 mi awayA steep old roadbed linking Thomas Divide and Deep Low Gap.
ModerateMartins Gap Trail3 mi · 3 hr · 1.6 mi awayA backcountry link from Deep Creek to Indian Creek via Bryson Place
ChallengingSunkota Ridge Trail8.6 mi · 6.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayAn 8.6-mile point-to-point ridge hike through Deep Creek backcountry.
ModerateDeep Creek Horse Trail1.8 mi · 1.5 hr · 2.5 mi awayA wooded climb past Juney Whank Falls to Deep Creek Trail.
ModerateIndian Creek Trail3.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 2.5 mi awayA 3.6-mile route climbs past Indian Creek Falls to Sunkota Ridge.
ModerateDeep Creek Waterfalls Loop2.4 mi · 2 hr · 3.1 mi awayThree waterfalls in one short loop, with one steep opening climbModerateDeep Creek Loop Trail4.6 mi · 3 hr · 3.1 mi awayA creekside loop links two falls with a steady half-mile climb.
EasyTom Branch Falls Trail0.5 mi · 1 hr · 3.1 mi awayA very short creekside walk to a tiered waterfall across the water.Sight · 2.5 mi awayIndian Creek FallsA creekside walk to two falls, ending at a broad 25-foot cascade.
Sight · 2.9 mi awayTom Branch FallsFront-row benches across from tiered falls, after an easy walk.
Sight · 3.1 mi awayJuney Whank FallsCross a footbridge for an unusually close look at both waterfall tiers.
Campground · 3.4 mi awayDeep Creek CampgroundCreekside camping puts waterfalls and tubing within easy reach.
Picnic area · 3.5 mi awayDeep Creek Picnic AreaCreekside shade, charcoal grills, and waterfall walks in one stop.
Sight · 5.3 mi awayMingus MillAn 1886 turbine mill with its flume beside Mingus Creek.
Visitor center · 5.4 mi awayOconaluftee Visitor CenterHistory indoors, elk country and an easy river walk outside.
Sight · 5.5 mi awayMountain Farm MuseumA short walk through farm buildings gathered from across the Smokies.Parkwolf’s Great Smoky Mountains ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
