Baskins Creek and the Hidden Waterfall

The Baskins Creek hike is one that ranges from moderate to hard in difficulty. This usally means that there are far fewer hikers on this trail when you choose to go. Unlike Grotto Falls, which is probably the busiest trail on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Loop, Baskins trail is a bit more challenging. That coupled with the fact that there is not a large parking lot near by for visitors to pull off, make it a very solitary hike.

Just after turning right on Roaring Fork Loop Road, start looking to your left and you should see the trail head marker sign.

You can begin this hike in two different locations. You can begin at the top of the trail and hike down to roaring fork road. I call this the UPPER END. (This is the hike description given here) Or you can drive all the way through the Roaring Fork Motor loop and start the Baskins hike near the bottom at marker #10. I call this the LOWER END.

The trail crosses over the road in both directions.

If you take the trail on the right side of the road it takes you to the Trillium Gap Trail in 0.10 of a mile.

Take the left side, and you will wind down to the Roaring Fork Road after 2.6 miles of mostly down hill walking. This is the one to take to find the hidden waterfall.

This trail runs all the way to the lower portion of the Roaring Fork Road. I would say that a good 90% of the 2.6 miles are down hill. Remember to save enough energy to make the hike back up-hill!

On the first little section of the trail you will wind up a moderate incline and behold some pretty nice views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

One thing that you will learn as you enjoy these wonderful hikes of the Smokies, other than the fact that you may be out of shape, is a "re-discovery" of a place in the human heart that longs for a connection with nature.

This place doesn't need a cell phone, computer or cable TV. Maybe it is a place that we are losing touch with in this digital age. It is a void that can only be filled with something Awesome, something Exalted, something made by God, not man.

You will soon run into a huge rock over hang worth checking out for awhile if you can battle the skeeters long enough to enjoy it.

After a mile or so of decending downwards, the trail starts to run along side of a creek. This is Baskins Creek.

The mosquito population here is intense. We had to re-aply repellant several times.

On all the hikes we take, we bring along some good snacks, like apples, grapes, trail mix and of course a lot of bottled water.

Occasionally, we stop in at Parton's Deli and pick up some delicious sandwiches and have our lunch up in the woods off by the trail side. I don't know why, but we've noticed that food seems to taste so much better out here in the wilderness.

After another 0.5 mile or so you will run into a trail "intersection". There you will see the sign pointing to the Baskins Cemetery. There are two cemeteries on the trail. The big one and the little one. This sign points to the little one.

It is definitely worth the little extra effort to go ahead and walk on up to the cemetery. It is a little steep on the way up, but it is not a long walk.

You get a humbling feeling when you enter the little cemetery and relize that over a hundred years ago people gathered here and payed their last respects to their loved ones.

1926 was the most recent stone to be added here it appeared. We really couldn't make out any dates on the other headstones, but I'm told that some are as early as the mid 1800's.

After visiting the cemetery we headed back down to the little trail intersection. Keep going down the trail from there until you find the next Trail Marker.

If you continue on down the trail you will run into the lower end of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail road.

For something a little more challenging and a lot more rewarding, you can go visit the spectacular yet "Unofficial" Baskins Creek cascading waterfall.

This is how you find it...

Stand directly in front of the Baskin Creek Trail sign. Look off to your right and you will see a "Man Trail". A man trail is kinda like a beaten down undeveloped path. This path/trail has gotten larger over the years as more and more hikers discover the wonderful waterfall that lies hidden just ahead.

Be very careful on this trail!

It desends down some steep rocky sections and you must watch your step at all times. I was able to do this very carefully with James, our 2 year old son, but I did have to go slow and sure. Your legs may be a little rubbery from the hike already, so please be cautious. It is about 0.20(two tenths) of a mile down to the falls.

There was a fallen tree over the trail. It may be there when you go if the Forest Service hasn't removed it.

It gets kinda wet down towards the bottom. That's yet another reason to always have a fairly decent pair of hiking boots.

The 75 foot cascading waterfall is worth every drop of sweat that falls.

We loved this hike!!

We stayed around the falls for as long as time would allow. But eventually we had to turn around and make our way back up the Baskins Creek Trail to the truck and head home.

Another wonderful journey comes to an end.

If you come to the Smokies don't miss this hike!

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