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Embrace the Secret Season: Winter Wonder and Holiday Charm in Jackson County, NC Learn more

Chasteen Creek Falls

A great stop for campers staying at Smokemont Campground, Chasteen Creek Falls boasts gorgeous wildflowers in late spring and a challenging hike year round.

The cascade, fed by its namesake creek, has a drop of about 16 feet, and isn’t far from several backcountry campsites and the Cabin Flats Trail spur, for backpacking enthusiasts. If you’re fine with a little soreness the next day, use the falls as a starting point and follow the Falls Side Trail, Chasteen Creek Trail, Hughes Ridge Trail and Bradley Fork Trail, successively, for a 17.2-mile hike.

Contact Information

Get Directions 35.58741, -83.31081
Photo of Chasteen Creek Falls

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Hike Description

Begin on Bradley Fork Trail at the gate. The trail is an old park auto road that follows the lazy Bradley Fork, so it’s wide and has easy grades. At 1.18 miles, you’ll come to a fork. Turn right on Chasteen Creek Trail. You’ll soon pass a backcountry campsite. At 0.18 mile from the fork, you’ll cross Chasteen Creek on a wide footbridge. About 0.5 mile from the bridge, take the side trail that forks left. After passing a horse-hitching rail, continue on a path heading upstream. You’ll reach the falls 0.1 mile from Chasteen Creek Trail.

Trails and Waterfalls can be dangerous; take no chances, only photos for memories. Read our Safety and Insider tips to have a safe, fun and enjoyable trip to Jackson County.

Leave No Trace — Seven Principles

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more details, visit www.lnt.org
©1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
 

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