Abrams Falls Trail

Of all of the trails that we have hiked over the years, one of the best day hikes that we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing was Abrams Falls Trail located in Tallassee, Tennessee. This trail starts at the entrance of the Abrams Creek campground which is a quaint little campground tucked away in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is considered one of the best kept secrets of the entire area offering a serene and tranquil escape from the rigors of every day life. The campground entrance offers a parking area for numerous vehicles so parking should not be an issue. Due to the length and difficulty of this trail, it is recommended that you start the hike early in the day. The trail is 5.2 miles and you can either end the hike at Abrams Falls and have another car located at the trailhead, or you can make the return trip for a total distance of 10.4 miles.

The trail winds up, down and around a number of large mountains taking you deep within the National Forest and through several different types of terrain. It is not a hike for the faint hearted as a few miles into the trek, the trail narrows to only a foot wide while you walk along a large drop off. In addition to the terrific mountain top scenery and vast, expansive views, you travel into the humid lower canopies of the mountain laurel thickets as the trail meanders along Abrams Creek. There are plenty of places to stop for a rest, take pictures, view the wildlife and have a picnic lunch along the river and at the end of the trail, you are met with the grand spectacle of the Abrams Falls which is a 20 foot cascade of water flowing down into a deep, refreshing pool that is a welcome sight after the challenging trek. It pays to bring along some water shoes to protect your feet and so that you're not hiking back in wet boots.

For us, the best time to hike this trail is during the summer months so that you can take advantage of the many opportunities to swim in the creek on your return trip. Late summer seems to offer some reprieve to the insects but the laurel thickets can humid and offer little air flow. We prefer to carry a water filter as there are several places to fill your canteen or water bottle from the creek and it saves us the added weight of carrying along all of our water. Bears are a common occurrence in this area so we walk with bear bells and are cautious when choosing our picnic spots ensuring that there is a wide field of view to avoid being "snuck up" on. The trail is challenging and carries a rating of moderate to difficult depending on which resource you cite, however I would not recommend hiking this trail in wet, snowy or freezing conditions.

The beauty, tranquility and serenity of this trip far outweighs the muscle aches and blisters that you may encounter and the memory of this trial has stayed with us for a long time. For more information about this trail including a map, campground description and information about the surrounding areas and trails, here is a helpful link:

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/frontcountry-camping.htm. I hope you enjoy the trail as much as we did and remember to leave no trace.