Laurel Creek Road GSMNP

The Townsend, Tennessee entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides a picturesque view of the Little River on the left.  

Little River downstream of the Townsend Wye

About three-quarters of a mile into the park, the river forks and the road does as well.  To the left is the Little River Gorge and Little River Road which leads to The Sinks, Metcalf Bottoms, Elkmont, Laurel Falls and Sugarlands Visitor Center.  To the right is Laurel Creek Road and the West Prong of the Little River.  About a quarter mile up Laurel Creek Road the river forks again with Tremont Road following the Middle Prong to the left or south.  Another quarter mile up Laurel Creek Road is West Prong Falls which is more like a cataract or a rapids than a true water fall.  The stream drops about ten feet in this short section.

West Prong Falls

West Prong Falls

West Prong Falls

Two miles up Laurel Creek Road from the junction with Little River Road is the confluence of Laurel Creek with West Prong.  From here, the road follows Laurel Creek nearly to the gap that allows access to Cades Cove.  

Laurel Creek on the right flows into West Prong

I visited the area on the third weekend in January, 2013, after several inches of rain had fallen in the previous week.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm.