I have been on dozens of Tennessee hiking trails, some quite desolate and nearly devoid of other human traffic, but the Baskins Creek Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park marked the first one I can recall where my group encountered a grand total of zero other hikers.

Multiple travel and hiking websites refer to Baskins Creek as a “popular trail,” so evidently plenty of other nature lovers do embark upon the pathway, but a single group of hikers seemed to have the trail to themselves on a sunny and pleasant December day.

One of the many, many scenic and secluded trails within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, those who travel the walkway may get to experience a significant climate change over the 3-mile out-and-back Baskins Creek Trail.

The Baskins Creek Trailhead sits on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a roadway loop within the national park, not far from Gatlinburg.

The Roaring Fork, however, is only open to vehicular traffic April 10 through Nov. 30 each year. So when visiting Baskins Falls Trail outside of this window of time, hikers can access the trail from the Rainbow Falls/Bullhead Parking Lot B on Cherokee Orchard Road, just before it crosses the Roaring Fork Nature Trail.

From here, to get to the trailhead, hikers can then walk up the paved Roaring Fork road—steeply uphill, but only for about two tenths of a mile.

Setting out on the dirt trail, the Baskins Creek Trail begins uphill, over some rooty terrain and peaks upon a hill, the early afternoon sun at this point beaming directly upon the hikers.

This high point at this sunny moment feels unlike many of the very shady trails in the Great Smoky Mountains covered by tall trees. (Some hikers point out that the absence of tall trees on the hilltop resulted from the effects of the 2016 wildfires in the park.)

Visibility is high at this vantage point on the crest of the hill among the small pine trees and brush. Enjoy the stunning views before the trail subsequently heads down the other side of the hill.

One hiker in our single party said it felt like it was just him and the birds on this quiet Tennessee trail.

The ground all along the Baskins Falls Trail displays a variety of interesting-looking rocks, some sparkly, white, geode-type ones that would likely unveil some spectacular, vibrant colors if busted open. Other stones have a reddish-clay-brown look to them.

The trail soon leads hikers to a marshy creek; some small logs have been pushed over the creek, making a surprisingly sturdy bridge.

The forest contains a different terrain and environment here, down below. This portion exhibits a much shadier, wetter, cooler and rockier vibe than the sunny hilltop experienced just moments ago.

The trail follows alongside Baskins Creek, continuing to head downhill, at times, the rushing creek totally hidden by the lush rhododendrons.

It levels out for a while, but then turns back downhill, so the hikers know the return is primarily going to be a substantially uphill climb.

Continuing to head down some rocky ground, visitors can look to the left and see Baskins Falls spewing forth out of a huge rock wall face.

Hikers must carefully navigate just a few final steps down some steep, challenging rocks to arrive at the base of the falls. 

“The rocky scramble to the base is very tricky. Still, it remains one of my favorite hidden gems in the park’s most crowded area,” hiker Daniel Worley reported after a 2023 visit to Baskins. “The falls are gorgeous and overlooked by the crowds heading to Rainbow and Grotto [other nearby waterfalls].”

Not far from the waterfall, a spur trail leads to a cemetery, which could make a roughly third-of-a-mile side trip before rejoining the main trail).

Overall, Baskins Falls Trail is simple to follow, since it doesn’t contain any offshoots or trail crossings and doesn’t really require any markers (other than the cemetery spur). It remains fairly rustic along the way, with plenty of roots and rocks and without the constructed creek crossing bridges or staircases present on many trails within the Great Smoky Mountains.

Another hiker, Milan Koprivica, dubbed it “the non-gentrified trail of the Great Smoky Mountains,” saying the “trail was rough and not as maintained as many others.

“The uphill return adds some difficulty,” the visitor added.

That uphill return leaving the waterfall is the trail’s big challenge and leg workout.

But Tennessee waterfall buffs have a good one to take in with Baskins Falls, and those walking the trail get to experience various different environments, crests, crags and creeks on the (manageable, but uphill and taxing on-the-way-back) hike.

Set out for Baskins Falls any time of the year; even the winter months, which, despite their shorter daylight hours and occasional snow and ice, still have plenty of suitable days to traverse a Tennessee hiking trail.

Baskins Creek Falls
Baskins Creek Trailhead
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park