Juney Whank Falls Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail is a wonderful little hike that doesn't take any time at all. There's also very little elevation gain/loss, so it's great for families. The trail is accessible via Deep Creek Road, with a large parking area at the trailhead.

Shortly into the trail, hikers will soon hear the falls before they reach them. Eventually, they'll reach a small footbridge with a great view of Juney Whank Falls. The falls are about 50' tall. Please be careful, though, as the rocks around the fall can be very slippery.

For hikers looking for a longer loop, they can take the Deep Creek Horse Trail, then turn right on Deep Creek Trail back to the parking area.

The Smokies are home to more than 1,600 species of plants, most of which produce an abundance of flowers in the spring. These species include mountain laurel, rhododendron, azalea, and many others. Spring wildflowers peak from early April through late May. To learn more about the plants of the Smokies and even get a trees and shrubs checklist, visit the park's website.

As for local fauna, black bears are common in the area, along with white-tailed deer and 31 species of salamanders.

Birdwatchers can spot a variety of species, notably the northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) and red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus).

For more information on black bears, refer to this webpage.