43
Perfect Weekend
In Bryson City
Hike Deep Creek: This
is a great
place to walk, run or mountain bike near
Bryson City. Head off up the level road grade along
the wide, green, and pristine Deep Creek. Soon the
sound of the stream rises to a higher pitch, and as
you amble up to 5 benches on the riverside, there’s
awesome Tom Branch Falls plummeting into the
water on the opposite side of Deep Creek. Turn
around here for a mile out and back walk.The road
continues along the stream past more benches and
then turns right to cross a bridge. At 0.7-miles, the
Indian Creek Trail veers right from the Deep Creek
Trail at a sign prohibiting tubing above that point.
Go right, and in just a few hundred feet, a side trail
descends left to scenic Indian Creek Falls (a 1.4 mile
roundtrip from the parking area). Directions:
From downtown Bryson City, turn north from US 19
on Everett (look for the “Deep Creek Campground”
sign) and follow the well-signed route north 3 miles
to the park boundary. Inside the park, pass the Deep
Creek Campground and the picnic area and turn left
into the parking area as you reach a bridge on the right
(Galbraith Creek Rd.). The road ahead is a circular
drop-off point. Bryson City Outdoor offers guided
hiking trips on this and other hikes in the area to help
you make the most of your visit.
Twentymile Creek: Just west
of Fontana Lake, this isolated stream is
a wilderness gem that includes backcountry
campsites not far from Highway 28. A mediumwidth stream, much of its waters were swallowed
by the damming of Fontana Lake, and it’s now
much shorter than its name entails. Hike along
the trail by the creek, and you’ll find ample pools
hiding rainbows and the occasional brown trout.
Cascades and steep descents can require some
adventuring to navigate your way upstream. The
creek’s steep descent requires wading skills, with
water particularly high in the spring. Directions:
From Bryson City, leave town on US-74 W