Meigs Creek Trail

Meigs Creek Trail is a 3.5-mile point-to-point route from the trailhead behind The Sinks to Buckhorn Gap, where it joins the Meigs Mountain and Lumber Ridge trails. It climbs a ridge, descends to the creek, passes Upper Meigs Falls, then keeps going. Buckhorn Gap is a remote junction with no road exit: unless you have a separately planned return through the connecting trails, retrace your steps. That makes the full walk about 7 miles round trip; allow roughly 3.5–4 hours. Most day hikers turn around at the falls instead, for a shorter 3.4–3.6-mile round trip.

Expect roughly 18 crossings of Meigs Creek and its branches; the count varies by description, and many crossings have no bridge. The route gets quieter after the busy Sinks viewing area, but the water crossings ask for steady footing and slow the walk. High water can make them dangerous, especially after heavy rain; turn back if the flow is not safe to cross.

Stone steps lead from the trailhead into a wetland within the first quarter-mile. The route then climbs the western ridge of Curry He Mountain, levels briefly near the first mile, and drops toward the creek. There are short mountain views from the ridge when leaves are down; in other seasons, expect a mostly wooded walk. Wetlands cover little of the park but support an unusually large share of its plant life, so this opening stretch has more going on than a simple approach.

You reach Meigs Creek at about 1.4 miles. Upper Meigs Falls, also called Meigs Creek Cascades, is around 1.7–1.8 miles from the start: an approximately 18-foot cascade over sloping rock. A short side path reaches the water, and it makes a natural turnaround if you want the falls without the full backcountry route. Frame the water with some of the dark rock around it; that shows the split cascade more clearly than a tight crop.

Past the falls, the trail continues through creekside forest to Buckhorn Gap. A large American beech is reported near the Bloody Branch confluence around mile two, before the route reaches its junction with Meigs Mountain and Lumber Ridge trails.

The Meigs Creek trailhead is just beyond The Sinks viewing area on Little River Road. A valid park parking tag is required if you stop longer than 15 minutes; arrange one before you arrive, since trailhead machines generally are not available. Dogs are not allowed on this trail. No drinking water, restrooms, or food service were found at the trailhead or along the route, so bring water and plan any facilities stop elsewhere.