Great Smoky Mountains National Park- Cataract Falls and Fighting Creek Nature Trail

I knew nothing about the Sugarlands Visiters Center, but I arrived and began to walk down a trail any trail. Totally by happenstance, I ended up on the Fighting Creek Nature Trail. I also had no idea that there was a waterfall in the vicinity until I stumbled across this intersection.  

The trail leading to the waterfall is called the Cove Mountain Trail, but the Cataract Falls is just a short distance at 0.1 miles.  The trail hugs alongside the Fighting Creek much in which we walked on a boardwalk. It is somewhat confusing on how I ended up here from the Fighting Creek Nature Trail. There must be some connector trails that isn't shown on the map I used.

A few hundred yards towards the falls there was a sign with a picture of a dog with a red circle and a black slash going across the picture. I was here with Gypsy and by gum, I was going to see this waterfall.

If I had the time, I would have gotten a real good education on identifying the different plant life that grew in the Great Smoky Mountains and North Carolina in general. The Fighting Creek Nature Trail had many of these placards that identified what you were viewing. What I was viewing here was a Mockernut Hickory.

 A log bridge that crosses over a small brook.

Hiking in late evening through a dense forest was a nice break from the intense heat of the day.

The Fighting Creek Trail begins its loop back at this historic John Ownby Cabin. Built in 1860, and the last surviving structure from the pre-park Forks-of-the-River community. I didn't think of taking a picture of this cabin; this picture is courtesy of  Wikimedia Commons.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Gatlinburg Trail

Just outside the city limits of Gatlinburg, Virginia about a half mile past the last stop light on U.S 321 South you.Enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  

You can start your walk at the large National Park sign or begin at the actual trailhead on River Road about one-third of a mile towards town.

The main attraction is the stroll along the banks of the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. There are plenty of places to take your shoes off and wade in the water. There are also places you can relax and hear the roar of rapids cascading of rocks and boulders.

Half of a mile from the trailhead we crossed the river on a mostly wooden pedestrian bridge then continued to follow the West Prong of Little Pigeon the rest of the 1.9 miles.

The view of the West Prong from the bridge.

Would have been a beautiful homestead, but all that was left is the chimney and fragments of a foundation.

 The Gatlinburg Trail goes under the Gatlinburg Bypass, and this is just about at the halfway point.

 With the trail being so close to town and the relatively flat terrain this is where most people go who wants to take a walk or ride a bike other than on the busy streets and sidewalks of Gatlinburg. It was a nice getaway After dinner and before dusk.