Big Creek Trail NC – Access to Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls

Trail Overview

Big Creek Trail, on the NC side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the Tennessee border, leads to both Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls. It runs 4 mi round trip to Mouse Creek Falls, featuring provides access to both Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls; the trail reopened in 2022 after an 8-week rehabilitation (97 drainage structures, a new 24-foot bridge).

Where It Is

Big Creek Picnic Area / Big Creek Trailhead, via the Waterville Road exit (I-40 Exit 451), NC side near the Tennessee border.

Good to Know

Always check current trail, parking, and access conditions with the managing agency before you go — conditions can change with weather and season. The Park Service confirms the distance to Mouse Creek Falls but does not publish a full end-to-end trail length — non-official sources cite 5.8 miles one-way to the trail’s end, unconfirmed. Source: National Park Service (nps.gov).

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