Mingo Falls *

8/9/2014 - braved the forecast of 80% chance of rain and drove up to the Smokies.  My original plan was to do the hike from Deep Creek Campground to Indian Creek Falls, but I totally forgot it's prime tubing weather and I wasn't able to find a parking space close enough to the trail head.  So I drove back to the Cherokee, NC area and did Mingo Falls instead.

The hike is not long, but it starts with 159 steps up the side of the mountain!  Not so bad going up, but I had to go slow coming down to avoid hurting my knees...but I made it with no trouble.

The trail crosses a bridge right at the base of the falls, and looks like it continues on but I don't know where it comes out.

According to GMAPS this falls is on Mingo Creek

Directions and Information: from Cherokee, NC

• US 441 north
• right on Big Cove Rd (careful, makes a sharp left turn immediately across the bridge)
• follow to Mingo Falls Campground on the right
• parking area for hikers is immediately across the bridge

Note: the trail begins as a long series of concrete/railroad tie steps - 159 in all!  At the top of the stairs, the trail is short and easy to the bridge that crosses the creek at the base of the falls.