Among the plethora of picturesque and peaceful destinations within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Spruce Flats Falls is one of the many wonderful waterfalls pouring over the rocks amidst the hills.
The trailhead for Spruce Flats sits near the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, an educational center complete with dorms and cabins that offers summer camps, family adventures, guided backpacking tours, photography workshops, a writers conference and other nature-related programming. Find the entrance to Tremont only 3 miles outside of Townsend in Blount County, Tennessee, just within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park boundary.
The community of Tremont—a name derived from a combination of “tree” and “mountain”—served as a logging operations base until 1938, when the National Parks Service absorbed the land.
Those embarking upon a journey to see Spruce Flats Falls can park near the Institute’s visitor center. After a brief climb up a fairly steep hill, hikers reach the Buckeye Trail junction. Take a right to head towards Spruce Flats Falls.
A left here leads to the Lumber Ridge Trail, which does eventually offer an opportunity to loop back around, passing by the waterfall on the way back, but that turns the adventure into a reportedly very strenuous 7 miles, rather than the 1.5-mile round-trip length to Spruce Flats Falls and back accomplished when taking a right at this initial fork.
An out-and-back jaunt through the hills to the site of the falls travels a short, easy-to-moderate trail with some steep sections and rugged, rocky terrain, but nothing too extreme, suitable for most all levels of hikers.
The trek heads uphill to begin but levels off later on, eventually heading downhill to reach the falls.
Instructors with the GSMIT led a large group of teenage girls through the forest on an excursion to Spruce Flats Falls one afternoon, but even with groups of Institute participants on the trail, there’s plenty of room for all to enjoy the area and the expansive park.
A hiker noted the sounds of the birds singing and water flowing on the way to the falls above all else on a recent visit.
Arriving at the waterfall yields a lovely sight—as the waters of the Spruce Flats Branch tumbles down the tiers of rocks before that creek flows into the Middle Prong of the Little River a bit downstream from here.
Climb up to the highest section of the multi-tiered falls for a rocky ledge protruding over a plunge pool just large enough for a couple of outdoorspeople to jump in the water.
Some leap into the cold mountain water here, alongside the falling water of the upper level of Spruce Flats Falls, as the pool is deep enough to submerge an adult over their head, making the spot a pleasing place for a plunge.
The area surrounding the various levels of rocks at the falls contains all sorts of boulders, alcoves and corners to perch and relax.
As an added natural bonus, a hiking party spotted numerous bears near the Spruce Flats Falls trail during a springtime visit.
Back at the visitors center, open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. those exploring the Tremont area can find maps, souvenirs, restrooms and information on the area.
And those exploring this piece of East Tennessee can discover all sorts of other trails, waterfalls, overlooks, sights and attractions within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as the nearby Tuckaleechee Caverns.
IF YOU GO:
Spruce Flats Falls
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
9275 Tremont Rd, Townsend, Tennessee
