Weekend Gem-Noland to Indian Creek Traverse
As I try to knock out the Smoky Mountains 900 miles of trails there are a few of them left in North Carolina to explore. One of my friends is also do them all too so we have been teaming up with shuttling each other to get some the harder to access areas finished. We started this one at Noland Creek TH and finished by Deep Creek Campground after finishing an alternative trail for horses. Noland Creek TR is a well groomed road that is easy to makes tracks on. It crosses over several nice bridges that give you a good perspective of the Creek and the interior of deeper mountains that you are entering. We stopped 4.3 miles in at Camp #64 which is at the base of Springhouse Branch TR, one that we both needed to do on our “maps”. We hiked up to Board Camp Gap which turned out to be a really scenic experience for all of us. The first 3/4 of the hike are your typical hike up a creek to a gap like trail, but the last 1/4 made a spectacular change in design. After you mostly topped out elevation wise, you traverse over slopes to the Gap that afford great views up Forney Ridge and across to the same namesake creek. On the way back we got the good alpenglow light on the surrounding peaks to close out the day.
Noland Creek
Nice light setting in
Nice conical peak in the distance
Nice second growth trees on Springhouse
After a good night’s sleep it’s time to get back on the trail out of the Solola Valley. I noticed afterwards that over the trail from the camp is marked as historic, so it might be interesting to poke around for a few minutes for historical buffs out there. Next up you cross paths with Camp #63 and a couple of creek fords as the trail winds up the more scenic upper Noland Creek drainage. Here you climb a bit to a great spot at Camp #31 below Upper Sassafras Gap. Complete the scenic climb up and over Sassafras before dropping down to Deep Creek. The winter views across this lovely valley from here are monumental in my opinion. Mountain peaks spread our north to south above the valley that showcase the NC section of the Park in a most glamorous perspective. Soon you will be down at Deep Creek where the depth of this valley is realized. Continue on cruising following signs heading out of the Creek and up to Martins Gap and Sunkota Ridge on your left. Take that trail to moderately quickly make quick work of Martins as your hiking day starts to come to a close. When you hit the intersection for Sunkota, you have 2.2 easy downhill miles to your camp #46. This quiet place is a good spot to lay your head for the night. I find the NC section of the Smokies to be especially scenic and have a more remote feel to the area. Enjoy good conversation as the light fades.
Everyone loves a good extended foot bridge
Getting up to Martins Gap
Looking back to Deep Creek Valley
After a wonderful night’s sleep it’s time to pack up your wet camp and move along. Enjoy a nice bit of regular trail along Martins Gap TR as Indian Creek Creek grows in side and eventually leading to the old road which is the trail of the same name. The way keeps making its way down as the canyon widens out. As short side trail leads you down to pretty Indian Creek Falls which flow down a slanted shelf of Sandstone. We continued right here on the Deep Creek Horse TR that climbs to Juney Wankey Falls before giving you views down to the Deep Creek Front Country Campground. Finish the shuttle off as you dry off talking about the next big adventure. Drop back to your car with dreams of the amazing Rice Wagon Hawaiian Cart in Bryson City. A good burger or grub is always a good ending to a soggy trail day.
Indian Branch Falls
Juney Wankey Falls