Spruce Flats Falls

The author standing at the base of Spruce Flats Falls

Spruce Flats Falls is one of our three favorite waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (The other two are Indian Flats Falls and Abrams Falls.) It’s not as well-known as some other waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains, which is a plus – less crowds to contend with!

Read on to learn about this very special place in the park!

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Getting to Spruce Flats Falls

Technically, Spruce Flats Falls is located in Townsend, TN, near Cades Cove, on the west end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are a couple of ways to get there.

If you’re starting from Gatlinburg, drive southwest on Highway 441 toward the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Turn right on Fighting Creek Road, which becomes Little River Gorge Road. Drive another 17 miles and Little River Gorge Road becomes Laurel Creek Road. Continue straight for 0.3 miles, then turn left on Tremont Road. Another 2 miles and you’ll see Tremont Institute on your left. Turn in and park in the lot in the back.

(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge the image.)

Map from Gatlinburg to the Tremont Institute parking lot

If you’re starting from Pigeon Forge, drive southwest on Highway 321/Wears Valley Road for 15 miles, then turn left on East Lamar Alexander Parkway. Travel another 2.2 miles and take a slight right at the fork. Drive 0.2 miles and turn left onto Tremont Rd. The Tremont Institute is 2 miles ahead on your left. Turn in and park in the back parking lot.

(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge the image.)

Tremont Institute

The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is an interesting place. The institute’s mission revolves around connecting people to nature, and it does that in various ways—family camps, kids’ camps, educator workshops and conferences, writer conferences, photography workshops—the list goes on and on.

Inside is a restroom and a small gift shop with books, tee shirts, souvenirs, and a small selection of snacks. There is a soft drink vending machine just outside. Every time we’ve been in the shop, the workers have been very friendly and eager to answer our questions. One even showed us a video she had taken of two otters playing together in the area!

Sign for Great smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

The Hike to Spruce Flats Falls

When you walk out of the gift shop you will be facing the parking lot. The trailhead to Spruce Flats Falls is in the back right corner of the parking lot.

We were a little confused at first because the trail starts on a gravel driveway leading up to Tremont’s classrooms and dorms. Look for the trail sign pointing to the left of the first building, pointing to Lumber Ridge Trail. This is the way.

The hike to Spruce Flats Falls is 1.8 miles roundtrip and is easy, or moderately difficult, depending on whom you ask. You could do it in an hour if you really wanted to, but what’s the rush? It took us a couple of hours, but we stopped a lot for photos and to play around the waterfall.

You’ll walk about 75′ to Buckeye Trail/Lumber Ridge Trail and turn right. Heading uphill, you’ll be walking behind the Tremont dorm and classroom building. A bit up the hill the trail turns left at a water tower and then follows the ridgeline to the falls.

View through the treetops of the Smoky Mountains in the distance

Lumber Ridge Trail is short, but it is rocky and rooty, and it does have some elevation gain along the way. I may have tripped once or twice…

PRO TIP – Wear boots on this hike. The trail will be tough on your soles and hard on your toes if you’re wearing sandals or sneakers.

Along the way, you’ll have wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, as well as a variety of native plants. Photo opps!

Native plant with three large, green leaves

Spruce Flats Falls is beautiful. The waterfall is fed by the Middle Prong of the Little River combined with the Spruce Flats Branch. It is made up of four cascades that drop a total of 125′. The first three cascades are visible at the main falls. The fourth cannot be seen from here – it is 75′ above the main falls.

Author taking a photo of Spruce Flats Falls

There is a large pool at the base of the falls. This is a great spot to take off your shoes and socks and dangle your feet in the cool water. As you can see from the photos, I was able to walk right up to the edge of the waterfall with no difficulty.

Spruce Flats Falls spilling into a large pool at its base

During the winter, when the leaves are off the trees, it is possible to see Spruce Flats Falls from Tremont Rd. On our last visit to the falls, a family was there who had seen the falls, parked their car on Tremont Road, and bushwhacked their way to the falls. Adventurers!

Questions?

Can I Bring My Dog on This Hike? Sorry, no. Dogs are only allowed on two trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail. They must be on leashes on those trails.
What Other Hikes/Waterfalls are Near Spruce Flats Falls? Well, there’s a lot! If you drive to the end of Tremont Road, you’ll run into Middle Prong Trail, which leads you to Lynn Camp Cascades and Indian Flats Falls. And if you go back out to the main road and turn left, you’ll be at Cades Cove in no time!
What Will I See Along the Trail? Lots and lots of native wildflowers! It’s beautiful in the spring and summer. And some nice views of the Smoky Mountains.
Will We See a Bear? Maybe!
Is This Trail Kid-Friendly? The trail is rocky and rooty, and it does have some elevation gain. Having said that, we’ve seen hikers of all ages at Spruce Flats Falls.

The Verdict – Spruce Flats Falls

If we had to choose only three hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Spruce Flats Falls would be one of them. I think that says it all.

Happy Hiking!

Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Rocky Mountains poking their heads above the clouds, and Indian Flats waterfalls flowing into its base pool

Spruce Flats Falls – Your Complete Guide to This Amazing Waterfall

Getting to Spruce Flats Falls

Tremont Institute

The Hike to Spruce Flats Falls