spruce flats falls

Babuh1996

My husband and I hiked to Spruce Flat Falls on the first Saturday in March. The trail was still kind of muddy but not terrible. Very nice hike, on a beautiful day. The man we spoke to at Tremont Institue did a great job of explaining the trail. One of the prettiest waterfalls we have hiked to in the Smoky Mountains. It was pretty chilly that morning so sitting by the waterfall was cold but it was so nice I hated to leave. On a hot summer day, it would feel heavenly. Great waterfall, I would for sure go again and one of our favorites in the Smoky Mountains.

sheffie1304

In the Smokies. Drive towards Cades Cove but turn into the Tremont area. Drive the beautiful, twisty road to the Tremont Institute. If unsure where trail is, ask in the Visitors Center. Otherwise, walk towards the buildings you see on your right. Look for the sign that says Waterfall.This is a little over a mile hike to falls. You may have been told this is an easy hike . It is NOT.Uphill for a spell, many rocks and roots, and when you get close to hear falls be real careful rocks are slippery. Winter is especially treacherous . There are several seeps and the trail will be frozen.However, when you get to the falls, you will be treated to a beautiful waterfall. Well worth the trip, just take your time and be CAREFUL.

Fun4AnT

We drove back just to see what the Tremont Institute is and were checking out the gift ship when we overheard a gentleman ask about a hike to a waterfall. After confirming where the trail began we set out to find this 'off the map' waterfall. It was a one mile hike (one-way). There are a lot of rocks and roots along the trail and there is a steady incline for the first 2/3 of the hike. Then you begin to go down to the waterfall (so yeah, up hill both ways). But so worth it! We sat down and enjoyed a snack and the view for about 30 minutes. A few other couples came and went but we were out of their photos and view of the falls. If you continue to drive along the Upper Tremont Road, you can see where the waterfall waters join the river. If you're not up for the hike, the drive along the river is beautiful! Some day when we have more time we will return to hike the trails at the end of the road.

816amyb

My husband and I set off for this waterfall hike on Tuesday 10/21/14. It was very rocky and rooty and this aggravated my old ankle injury that never fully healed. I stopped halfway through the trail while my husband continued on. He saw the waterfall and took a couple of pictures. He said the waterfall was beautiful, and I'm sure it was. My ankle just couldn't handle this particular trail. Be warned for those who might have a similar situation. There are many other hikes out there that are not so rocky and rooty for those of us whose ankles cannot handle that.

GCGal12

Pro: Trail is between 1-2 miles. Not a lot of people. Moderate in difficulty. Absolutely amazing falls at the end.Con: Does not appear on Smoky Mountains map like other falls.

landfalia

the hike to the falls is moderate with some ascents and descents, but we did it with 2-10 yr old boys and a 14 yr old boy. The falls is very impressive and we had the whole place to ourselves. We only saw 4 other people during the entire visit. Be sure to visit the small gift shop in the parking area, it is very nice and the staff is friendly and helpful.

lelia103

Good hike; beautiful falls. Take a camera and take your time as there are flowers, fungi, and wide vistas on the trail. Make certain you have plenty of battery power left though for the falls.

rtgill19

Overall it was a good hike. It wasn't too difficult for an intermediate hiker or someone of a decent fitness level. There were times where I was breathing a little hard but not really anything crazy. The falls weren't disappointing. It certainly isn't the most magnificent waterfall you'll ever see but it is nice to admire once you get up there. Walk around in the water a bit and cool off before you head back. The hike there took long than the hike back due to it being up hill on the way there and opposite on the way back. I gave it a 4 rating because of the falls. It's a rewarding sight but it just isn't going to make your jaw drop. Worth the hike though.

LaxMomX2

After finding this waterfall on trip advisor, we headed out to find it. We found the first 3/4 of a mile to be the most challenging since it was uphill, but the rest of the walk to the waterfall and back to the car was fairly easy. Please be warned, there are ground bees/hornets on the trail and one of us was stung. When we were leaving the waterfall another couple asked if we had encountered the ground bees/wasps and they told us that 4 of the 5 of their family was just stung. Beautiful hike and awesome waterfall, but I would just hate for someone with a bee sting allergy to be unwarned.

139mike139

Short hike to a mostly unknown waterfall. Not as crowded as the others waterfalls have become. Go very early! Start on the trail as early as 7am. The hikers start coming around 11 to 2, and it starts to get busy. Nice waterfall, short distance and excellent views on the trail. There is a small pool, to swim in only 4 to 5 feet deep. Take a lunch with you and enjoy the peace and quite! We hike it every year.

779ericaf

Nice hike, not too difficult. We hiked with 3 teen age girls and 11 y/o boy with little to no complaints from them. Once we arrived to falls everyone agreed it was well worth the mile long hike. Special little secret place in the mountains.

katlynkw

My husband and I recently spent a long weekend in the Townsend area. Our main activities included hiking to different waterfalls. Spruce Flats Falls was my favorite hike and waterfall that we visited during the trip!One of the main reasons I liked it so much was because so far, it seems to be a relatively "hidden gem." We only saw 1 other couple and one photographer during the hike and time spent at the actual falls. Most of the time, we were completely alone in nature. Those are the types of experiences we enjoy most! We also visited the more popular Abrams Falls (whose trail head is inside of Cades Cove) but that one was far more populated and in my opinion the falls were not quite as beautiful as Spruce Flats.In summary, this is a great hike that brings you right to the base of the falls. It's relatively short (I think only 2 miles out and back) so definitely well worth your time!

dosomething2

My wife and I have done this hike many times and it is one of my favorites. The hike is never crowded and we usually have the waterfall to ourselves. It is the perfect spot for a picnic after the hike. The hike is fairly easy if your are in decent shape, even if you are not just take your time and it's not that bad. Definitely don't miss this place!

rjasonking05

Loved this family hike this morning. While the trail is rated moderate due to change in elevation and some cautious spots on the trail, we took our elementary age daughters and they handled it like champs. It is not a terribly long hike, but does come with some challenging terrain. The payoff at the end leads you to one of if not the best waterfall in the Smokies is a huge reward for the trek. I would highly recommend.

TEFox1

We learned about this waterfall from Trip Advisor. We parked at the Tremont Institute and had a little bit of difficultly locating the trail, but once we did, it was easy to follow. It was a moderate hike with one wet spot you had to cross and many rocks and roots to step on and around...but it was worth it. We were fortunate enough to arrive at the falls when no one was there so we got to enjoy the quiet and beauty of nature. On our way back to our car, we passed many other hikers who had been in and around this area for years, but never knew about the water fall. It is a great way to spend part of the day.