Indian Flats Falls & Middle Prong Trail - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Our hike along the beautiful lower half of Middle Prong Trail earlier in March 2016 (here) led us to plan to hike the complete trail. The water level in Lynn Camp Prong was significantly lower when we hiked this trail in late March 2016 than earlier in the month, but the numerous falls, cascades and swift water still made for a wonderful hike. Except for the side trail to the falls, the entire trail is at least the width of a single lane road because it was formerly the route of a logging railroad. The lower part of the trail climbs at a steady 5% grade up to the bridge over Indian Flats Prong. For the ½ mile above the bridge, the trail steepens to about an 8% grade through a series of switchbacks until it ends at a junction with the Greenbrier Ridge and Lynn Camp Prong Trails. The 4.1 mile trail climbs from an elevation of 1926 feet to about 3165 feet at the junction.

This trip we had sunny weather, so we took our time and explored a bit on the way. We found the abandoned old car we had read about at 1.8 miles up on the right side of the trail. At 2.3 miles, Panther Creek Trail heads left and crosses Lynn Camp Prong without a bridge. While this might not be too difficult for horses, it would not be wise to attempt to walk across the creek at times of high flows. Around 3.5 miles, the trail crosses Indian Flats Prong on a one-lane bridge without handrails. Beyond this bridge, about 3.8 miles into the hike at the third switchback, we turned right on an unmarked path and walked 500 feet to the base of the upper tier of Indian Flats Falls. From this vantage point, we also had a view over the second tier of the falls as well. We chose not to bushwack down to the lower two tiers. After leaving the falls, we rejoined the trail for the 0.3 mile climb to the trail junction. After arriving at the junction, we hiked back down to the trailhead to complete the 8.4 mile trip.

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

Lynn Camp Prong from the trailhead bridge

Lynn Camp Prong Cascades

Side view of the cascades

View from the top of  Lynn Camp Prong Cascades

Waterfall above the cascades

Series of waterfalls

Lynn Camp Prong flows over a rock ledge

A social path on right heading up the trail...

...leads to this relic from the 1920s

Possibly the remains of a 1927 Cadillac 314A

Another view

Trail condition just above Panther Creek Trail junction

Lynn Camp Prong

Stone retaining wall to right of trail

More of Lynn Camp Prong

First braid of Double Trestle Branch

Second braid of Double Trestle Branch

Bridge over Indian Flats Prong

Drainage across the trail

Switchback up the hill

Unmarked path to the falls from the trail

Damp conditions along the path

Path continues under the fallen tree

Small island at the base of the upper tier

Indian Flats Falls

Dainty right side

Forceful left side

View from the top of the 18' second tier

Another view of the second tier

Looking upstream from the top of the second tier

Sign marking the end of Middle Prong Trail

Greenbrier Ridge Trail

Lynn Camp Prong Trail

Looking back down Middle Prong Trail from the junction

Entry to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free.

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