About Porters Creek Trail (Greenbrier)
Porters Creek is one of the best wildflower trails in the park and a good all-season walk. The National Park Service describes a peaceful trail filled with history and natural wonders, and about a 4-mile round trip gets you to Fern Branch Falls. You can hike as far as you like; the trail itself runs nearly 4 miles.
The hike
The first stretch is a wide gravel road beside the creek, passing old stone walls and homesite ruins from the settlement here. Further along the trail narrows and crosses a footbridge, and about 2 miles in a side trail leads to Fern Branch Falls, a thin fall that slides down a mossy ledge. Roughly 650 feet of climbing makes this a gentle-to-moderate outing.
When to go
Spring is the star, with trilliums, violets and Spring Beauties, usually from late March through April. Fall color is good and winter is quiet. Weekends in April fill the lot.
Getting there
From Gatlinburg, take US-321 east to the Greenbrier entrance and follow the gravel Porters Creek Road to the trailhead. Entry to the park is free, but a parking tag is required if you park more than 15 minutes: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. America the Beautiful and other federal passes do not count, and the tag has to be displayed in the vehicle.
Know before you go
Stay on trail to protect the flowers. Pets are not allowed. Carry water, and check the Greenbrier area page before you go.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Ramsey Cascades: an 8-mile round trip to a tall waterfall
- Hen Wallow Falls: a 4.3-mile round trip near Cosby
- Cosby Nature Trail: an easy short loop
Planning and safety
Give yourself more time than the mileage suggests. Rocks, roots, stream crossings and short climbs all slow the pace, and most people stop often. An early start gives you the quietest trail and the best chance at a parking space.
Weather in the Smokies changes fast, and it is noticeably cooler as you climb. Bring a rain layer even on a sunny morning, wear shoes with good traction, and carry more water than you expect to need. Black bears live throughout the park, so stay at least 50 yards away, never feed wildlife and store food properly. The park's hiking safety guidance is worth a read before any trip.
Good to know
- How long is Porters Creek Trail (Greenbrier)?
- Porters Creek Trail (Greenbrier) is 2 miles one way (4.0 miles round trip), with about 650 feet of climbing. 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.
