One Day Wilderness: Baskins Falls

This great 3 mile day hike is best started from the overflow parking lot of the Rainbow Falls TH. From the lot follow a way trail uphill to an intersection with the Trillium Gap TR. and make that left, cross over the Roaring Fork Rd. and continue on Baskins Creek TR. proper. Continue on for a bit as it enters a slightly burned area that scorched some of the bases of some of the trees, but not the canopy. What it did expose is big boulders of quartz that add some nice color to the blackened landscape. This area is a great example of the rejuvenation qualities of a fire, with some small oaks, maples and small conifers popping up at the bases of the burnt specimens. Continue to climb up more to what I call “Baskins Pass” and drop out of the burn area back into the lovely green forests that the Smokies are known far and wide for. Drop down to cross a small stream before following following Baskins Creek all the way to the falls. Along the way look for some signs of pioneer settlements on the right and some recent bear evidence on a old hemlock on the left. Another cool side trip is a stop to the old cemetery, posted up on a small rise. Most of the graves are unreadable, but last time I found one from 1906! Back on the trail, begin to drop down to the Falls in a semi rocky part best traversed by using your hands a bit. The Falls are fairly hidden until this point, but now they are in front of you for you to enjoy. Cross the Creek to get a better view of them and do yourself a favor and get another hiker to take a photo of you on the ledge in the center of the Falls.

Coming out of the burn area, I found this cluster of Hygrocybe flavescens.