Deep Creek pre-holiday hike with Friends

Indian Creek Falls
Indian Creek Falls

Thanksgiving is over,  really over and Christmas is not for almost four weeks.

So come on the last Friends of the Smokies hike for 2015. The hike will be on Tuesday December 8.

We’re promising three waterfalls in less than six miles in the Deep Creek section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We’ll have breathtaking views of the 80 foot Toms Branch Falls, Indian Creek Falls and Juney Whank Falls, spread out throughout the hike. I’ll be leading the group along with Anna Lee, the Development and Outreach Associate for Friends of the Smokies.

Juney Whank Falls
Juney Whank Falls

The hike is 5.5 miles in length with a total elevation gain of 600 feet and is moderately difficult. The Deep Creek area has a long and vibrant history being one of the first trails constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the newly legislated park in the early 1930s. In 1910 Horace Kephart, a leader in creation of the park and author of Our Southern Highlanders lived in the Deep Creek area.

At the end of the hike, we’ll celebrate the 2015 Classic Hikes of the Smokies series with hot drinks and holiday sweets. We’ll also take the opportunity to enjoy the heritage museum in the Swain County  Visitor Center and visit the local Great Smoky Mountains Association store to shop for holiday gifts. Friends of the Smokies members receive 15% off their purchases at the Great Smoky Mountains Association store. It’s not just books anymore. The store has toys, T-shirts, puzzles, ranger vests and hats.

This is your chance to buy all your Christmas gifts at once, support the park, and shop local. Where else can you do this? So bring your FOTS card and your wallet.

You know the drill by now. To sign up, contact Anna Lee Zanetti at [email protected] at Friends of the Smokies on 828.452.0720.

3 thoughts on “Deep Creek pre-holiday hike with Friends

  1. Do you know of any youth programs? I have a 12 year old daughter who found this site while looking for things to do regarding nature and nature hikes. Thank you

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *