About Chasteen Creek Trail
Chasteen Creek Cascade is a friendly destination for a morning hike. The National Park Service lists a 3.6-mile round trip through hardwood forest, following mountain streams to a peaceful cascade, on a wide, well-graded trail used by both hikers and horse riders.
The hike
The route begins on the Bradley Fork Trail from Smokemont Campground, then turns onto Chasteen Creek Trail and climbs gently along the stream. The cascade is a pretty, moderate-sized drop. The Chasteen Creek Trail itself continues for about 4 miles to the Hughes Ridge Trail.
When to go
Spring and fall are best. Horse traffic is common, so step aside and be calm.
Getting there
The trailhead is in Smokemont Campground off US-441. You need a parking tag for any stop over 15 minutes in the park. It costs $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful are not accepted. Buy it at a visitor center or on recreation.gov, and display the physical tag.
Know before you go
Pets are not allowed. Bring water. See the Smokemont page.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Oconaluftee River Trail: an easy riverside walk that allows dogs
- Kephart Prong Trail: a 4-mile round trip to a CCC camp
- the Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop: a 2.4-mile loop past three waterfalls
Planning and safety
Allow about two miles per hour on rolling mountain trail, then add time for photos, snacks and rest. Start by mid-morning at the latest so you finish with daylight, and decide on a turnaround time before you leave the car.
Cell service is spotty across much of the park, so download a map ahead of time and tell someone where you are headed. Stay on the trail, keep dogs and other pets on the few trails where they are allowed, and give wildlife plenty of room. Trail conditions are posted on the park's closures page.
Good to know
- How long is Chasteen Creek Trail?
- Chasteen Creek Trail is 1.8 miles one way (3.6 miles round trip). It is rated moderate.
- Are dogs allowed on this trail?
- No. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed only on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Do I need a parking tag to hike here?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
