Mingo Falls - Qualla Boundary

Mingo Falls is located in Qualla Boundary, the home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee.  The falls is just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the town of Cherokee, North Carolina.  To reach the parking area for the falls from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, drive south on US 441 for 1.2 miles and then turn left on Big Cove Connector Road.  Drive less than ¼ mile to the end of the connector and turn left on Big Cove Road.  After driving 4.8 miles on Big Cove Road, turn right to cross Raven Fork.  There may be a small brown sign stating "Mingo Falls" at this intersection.  Once across the creek, cross Sherrill Cove Road and continue straight ahead into the gravel parking area.

While less than ¼ mile long, the trail begins with 159 stair steps before leveling out as a dirt and rock trail.  This section of the trail is often damp with slick and muddy places.  The trail ends at a viewing bridge that spans Mingo Creek downstream of the falls. 

We visited Mingo Falls on New Years Day of 2014.  Although there was a lot of water flowing, the temperature was low enough that the mist from the falls had frozen on nearby tree limbs.

Trailhead

Concrete and timber steps are well maintained

The viewing bridge

Several logs have piled up below Mingo Falls

The NPS states the waterfall is 120 feet high

Waterfalls are like poetry in motion

The base of the falls

No fee is charged to enter the Qualla Boundary, the national park or to visit Mingo Falls.

The National Park Service description of the falls is at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/mingo-falls.htm.
The Cherokee tourism website is http://visitcherokeenc.com/.