Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN · NC
A steep old roadbed linking Thomas Divide and Deep Low Gap.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Smoky Mountains Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Great Smoky Mountains audio tourMore stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Indian Creek Motor Trail is a 1.8-mile, one-way connector from Thomas Divide Trail to Deep Low Gap Trail near backcountry campsite 51. It follows an old roadbed through the forest and is open to hikers and horses. “Motor” is historical: a scenic auto-tour proposal was abandoned, so this is a foot trail, not a road. It works as a link in a longer Deep Creek backcountry hike, not a stand-alone roadside walk.
From the Thomas Divide junction, the route descends roughly 850 feet to Deep Low Gap. Allow about 1½ hours for this section; the approach and return are extra. One described approach follows Thomas Divide about 3.2 miles from its trailhead on Tom Branch Road. The north end joins Deep Low Gap Trail near campsite 51, about four-tenths of a mile up from its link with Indian Creek Trail. Neither end is a direct roadhead, so plan the connecting trails before you set out.
The old roadbed is narrower and steeper than nearby Indian Creek Trail. Most of it is natural dirt, with short rocky or miry patches and several small springs crossing the track. It winds through damp coves and drier ridge fingers under tulip poplar, yellow birch and red maple; spring wildflowers show up in the coves. Pets are not allowed on this park trail.
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
ChallengingDeeplow Gap Trail6.1 mi · 5 hr · 1.3 mi awayA 95-foot cascade rewards this steep backcountry traverse.
ChallengingSunkota Ridge Trail8.6 mi · 6.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayAn 8.6-mile point-to-point ridge hike through Deep Creek backcountry.
ModerateIndian Creek Trail3.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.9 mi awayA 3.6-mile route climbs past Indian Creek Falls to Sunkota Ridge.
ModerateDeep Creek Horse Trail1.8 mi · 1.5 hr · 2 mi awayA wooded climb past Juney Whank Falls to Deep Creek Trail.
ModerateDeep Creek Waterfalls Loop2.4 mi · 2 hr · 2.4 mi awayThree waterfalls in one short loop, with one steep opening climbModerateDeep Creek Loop Trail4.6 mi · 3 hr · 2.4 mi awayA creekside loop links two falls with a steady half-mile climb.
EasyTom Branch Falls Trail0.5 mi · 1 hr · 2.4 mi awayA very short creekside walk to a tiered waterfall across the water.
EasyJuney Whank Falls Trail0.6 mi · 30 min · 2.5 mi awayA short loop reaches an 80-foot cascade and crosses its wooden footbridge.Sight · 1.9 mi awayIndian Creek FallsA creekside walk to two falls, ending at a broad 25-foot cascade.
Sight · 2.2 mi awayTom Branch FallsFront-row benches across from tiered falls, after an easy walk.
Sight · 2.5 mi awayJuney Whank FallsCross a footbridge for an unusually close look at both waterfall tiers.
Campground · 2.7 mi awayDeep Creek CampgroundCreekside camping puts waterfalls and tubing within easy reach.
Picnic area · 2.8 mi awayDeep Creek Picnic AreaCreekside shade, charcoal grills, and waterfall walks in one stop.
Visitor center · 5.5 mi awayOconaluftee Visitor CenterHistory indoors, elk country and an easy river walk outside.
Sight · 5.5 mi awayMingus MillAn 1886 turbine mill with its flume beside Mingus Creek.
Sight · 5.6 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.
