Spruce Flats Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The twenty-eight foot high Spruce Flats Falls is located in the Tremont area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail climbs nearly 400 feet in less than 2/3 mile to traverse a spur of Mill Ridge before descending about 130 feet to Spruce Flats Branch and the base of the falls. This results in an average grade of 12% to the ridgetop and 10% down to the falls. From the parking area to the falls is about 0.9 miles.

To reach the trailhead from Townsend, drive south into the park. After passing the entrance sign, drive 0.7 miles to an intersection known to locals as the Townsend Wye. Turn right toward Cades Cove and drive ¼ mile before turning left onto the paved Tremont Road. Drive two miles on Tremont Road, crossing Middle Prong Little River twice on the way. Turn left and cross the one-lane bridge to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Park in the small parking area on the left. The building between the river and parking area houses a visitor contact station and restroom. A vending machine is located here as well.

The trail begins at the gravel road that heads up the hill. This service road, as well as the paved road and parking area to the right, are part of the Institute. Walk up the gravel road to the concrete sidewalk. Turn left at the sign before reaching the dormitory building. This is the Lumber Ridge Trail trailhead. Continue up the trail about 100 feet before turning right on the Buckeye Trail. This short trail hugs the hillside as it heads south to the other end of the Institute. After passing above the platform tents, a trail junction is reached. The sign at this junction faces away from you. In years past, the route to this location was through the Institute parking area to the staff cabins before heading up the switchbacks on the Buckeye Trail from its southern end. At the junction, turn left to head uphill toward the water tank. Additional signs are located at both switchbacks. The trail ends at the falls.

I hiked to the falls in late March 2016 about four days after any significant rainfall.

Topographic map with GPS route

Trail elevation profile

The trail begins by hiking up this gravel service road

Turn left onto the gravel path

Continue left on the dirt path

Continue for just a short distance before turning back to the right to climb higher

Root-bound Buckeye Trail

Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)

Tents of the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

Approaching the back of a trail sign at a junction

The front side of the sign points uphill to the falls

Rocks and roots

Timber steps

Sign at the water tower switchback

Rock steps at the final switchback

Part of Thunderhead Mountain is visible on the horizon

Very little water in Bull Branch

There is a trail through here somewhere

An unnamed drainage has more water flowing than Bull Branch

More common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)

The trail levels out before the descent to the falls

Slippery footing

Rock steps

Log stairs

Cascade below the falls

Spruce Flats Falls

Side view of the falls

Cascade from above

Spruce Flat Falls and Cascade

Spruce Flats Branch below the cascade

Entry to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free.

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