Site logo

Meigs Creek

Meigs Creek

Get your hiking sticks because you’re going to need them.

information about the trail

There is a term we use in the hiking community that brings a wide range of emotions. Rock Hopping!! Some love a good rock hop while others shutter at the thought. What is rock hopping, you ask? The Smokies are full of creeks and tributaries. Anytime a trail crosses one of these, you are either forced to wade through or if shallow enough, you can sometimes find rocks sticking up out of the water. If these rocks are close enough together you can then walk, or hop, across them to keep your feet dry. Thus the name rock hopping. The Meigs Creek Trail has some 18 to 20 such crossings in just 3.5 miles. In normal water flow, it is possible to navigate these crossings without wet feet but just barely.
If water levels are high…well I hope you have a dry pair of socks. But even with the wet feet the Meigs creek trail is a beautiful trail with the highlight being mid way up at Meigs Creek Cascade. We recommend visiting in Autumn because it doesn’t get much better than colorful leaves and mountain streams. Get your hiking sticks because you’re going to need them.

It’s time for Meigs Creek Trail with Up N’ Adam Adventures.

The Trail Gallery

Directions

Meigs Creek Trail Starts at the Sinks Parking Lot. From Gatlinburg head into the park and turn Right at the sugarland visitor center on Little River Road. The Sinks parking lot is 12 miles on the left.

Hike Description

The Trail starts by climbing the rocks around the sinks and then makes it way down into a marshy, swampy area. From here the trail turns right and starts a very healthy accent along the side of the ridge gaining about 400ft in a little over ¾ of a mile. The fall foliage in this area is just astounding and you can hear Little River down below. At about 9/10th of a mile you will crest out on the ridge and start to make your decent back down. As you descend, you will go through some rodo tunnels which is a joy to see for most hikers. At 1.4 mile you arrive at Meigs Creek and your first water crossing. The first of 18 crossings to be exact. Yeah Rocking Hopping Time has come! It is recommended to have a hiking stick through this area. Some sandals or water shoes wouldn’t hurt either. However, at normal water flow it is possible to do all 18 crossings without getting wet but don’t count on it. Don’t fret, because all these water crossings are absolutely gorgeous. In the fall the leaves cling to the exposed rock making for a gorgeous scene for landscape photographers. From here the trail does a gradual ascent grade of about 250ft per mile. After about the 4th water crossing, Meigs Creek narrows and forms Meigs Creek Cascade on the right at 1.8 miles. Be sure to make your way down the spur trail to the right to get the best view of this falls. For a lot of people the hike ends here as this is truly the highlight of the trail. Meigs Creek Cascade also marks the halfway point to complete the entire Meigs Creek Trail. From the cascade, the trail continues to ascend at roughly the same grade. When out exploring in the outdoors please always remember to practice the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. Learn how at www.lnt.org
Get Directions

Hike Description​ Continued

You will continue to frequently cross Meigs Creek but the crossings become easier as you go up because the creek becomes smaller. Additionally, there are more old growth trees as you make your way up probably due to the fact it became harder to log this area.
At 3.5 miles you will finally arrive at the Junction of Lumber Ridge and Meigs Mountain trail. Meigs Creek Trail ends here. Unless you have a car drop at Tremont or Elkmont you best bet is to turn around and head back down Meigs Creek back to the Sinks. Oh and the 18 water crossings become 36 because you get to do it all over again.
We hope you enjoyed the ride and hope your feet don’t get wet. Thanks for coming along on another Up N’ Adam Adventure.

 

At 2.0 miles on your left you will see a Tributary cascading 20′ down into big creek. this is Mouse Creek falls. it is a stunning Vista and a must see if you are in this area and if you look close you can see the old logging rail grade.

Parking in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park remains free to the public. But, as of March 1st, 2023 parking passes are required for stops longer than 15 minutes inside the park. Please follow the link below for all the latest information from the National Park Service on where to purchase parking passes, and pricing.

Learn More