The Place of a Thousand Drips – The Most Unusual Waterfall

The Place of a Thousand Drips – what kind of name is that? As it turns out, it’s a very accurate one! It’s a place…with a LOT of drips. I didn’t count them, but 1,000 seems to be about right.

This is not the biggest waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but it may be the most unusual. Plus, the scenic drive to it is filled with things to see. Getting there is half the fun!

The Place of 1,000 Drips, featuring a series of several small cascades

Scroll down to get the scoop!

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Big Black Bear

Where is The Place of 1,000 Drips?

The Place of a Thousand Drips is part of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a delightful scenic drive just outside the northeast edge of Gatlinburg (near Anakeesta Theme Park and Ripley’s Aquarium).

Turn up Cherokee Orchard Road (by the Anakeesta parking lot), and you’ll come to the entrance. It’s just over one mile from the Parkway in Gatlinburg. Coming from Pigeon Forge will only add about 15 minutes to your drive.

Pro Tip

  • Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail can get extremely busy, especially during the summer months. We recommend coming when it opens at 9:00 am or waiting until late afternoon when the crowds have thinned out.
Map of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5-mile, one-way loop filled with beautiful scenery, hikes, historic cabins and barns, waterfalls, and the occasional black bear. Here are just a few of the many things you will see on your way to The Place of a Thousand Drips…

Noah “Bud” Ogle Cabin and Nature Trail

Technically, the Bud Ogle Cabin is before you drive onto the Motor Nature Trail. It’s just before you officially enter the Roaring Fork Nature Trail.

Don’t forget to walk around behind the cabin and take the short hike around the nature trail. It’s a beautiful walk, only about 1.0 mile long, through the shady woods back to a quiet little stream and old grain mill.

The historic "Bud" Ogle log cabin with a long porch and two doors

Rainbow Falls

At 75′, Rainbow Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in the national park. The hike to it is about 5.5 miles roundtrip and rated “Moderate” by AllTrails. It’s also a great place to do some rock scrambling!

Pro Tip

  • Though rated “Moderate,” this trail is on the more strenuous side of moderate. We suggest wearing hiking boots and taking along plenty of water.
Very tall waterfall falling down over striped rockface with several people scrambling over boulders at its base

Baskins Creek Falls

A much less crowded waterfall is Baskins Creek Falls. It’s a 3.2-mile roundtrip hike rated “Moderate” by AllTrails.

Pro Tip

  • If you decide to visit the falls, please note that parking is extremely limited at the trailhead. You’re much more likely to find a place to park about .25 miles before the trailhead in the second Rainbow Falls parking lot.
Baskins Creek Falls, a two-level waterfall which becomes wider at the bottom level

Grotto Falls

Grotto Falls is aptly named for the small grotto behind the waterfall, allowing you to walk behind the water around to the other side. It’s a fun spot, especially for kids!

The hike is only 2.6 miles roundtrip. AllTrails rates the hike to it as “Moderate”. Expect it to be crowded – this is one of the busiest waterfalls at the park.

Grotto Falls, a small waterfall with a passageway behind the falls, and a small pool at its base

The Place of a Thousand Drips

The Place of a Thousand Drips is near the end of Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, about 3 miles past the Grotto Falls parking area. You’ll need to keep one eye on your odometer, another eye on your GPS, another eye looking out the window on your left, and another eye on the road because this waterfall will sneak up on you. If you’re not careful, you’ll drive right by it!

The Place of 1,000 Drips, featuring several cascades sliding down the rock face

The hike to The Place of a Thousand Drips is about 12 steps from the parking pullout area and takes about 10-15 seconds. It’s right on the roadside, so we’re rating this hike “Easy Peasy”!

The waterfall is formed by Cliff Branch dropping 80′ down the rock face over multiple levels by multiple routes until it joins Roaring Fork. It is best viewed from several angles because it looks different from every angle. Watching all the different streams of water making their way down the cascade can be a bit mesmerizing.

There is a short, small footpath on the right side of the falls. Climb up it for a close-up look at the “Drips”, but stay on the path – the boulders here can be slippery.

The Place of 1,000 Drips, featuring several cascades sliding down the rock face

Pro Tips

  • When approaching this waterfall in your vehicle, watch out for visitors! They have a tendency to stand in the middle of the road to take photos.
  • Don’t stand in the middle of the road to take photos. Drivers who are busy looking for the waterfall may not see you.
  • If there are no parking spots available, drivers may slow down or stop to snap a quick photo. Please be patient and courteous.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is there parking near The Place of a Thousand Drips? Yes, but not much. Just past the waterfall, on the right, there is a small pullout, large enough for 3-4 cars to park. Hopefully, you’ll be one of the lucky ones! Since the road is one-way, there’s no turning around and coming back to it.
  • When is Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail open? 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. Please note that the trail closes during the winter due to hazardous driving conditions. The closures are usually from the beginning of December to the end of March each year. Check with the National Park Service for the most updated motor nature trail schedule.
  • Can I take my dog to the waterfall? You can take your dog on the Motor Nature Trail, but it must remain in the car – dogs are not allowed to “hike” here – even on leashes.
  • What about restrooms? There are no restrooms at The Place of a Thousand Drips. However, you can find restrooms at the first Rainbow Falls parking area, the Grotto Falls parking area, and at Ely’s Mill, just 0.5 miles past “The Drips” at the end of Roaring Fork.

The Verdict – The Place of a Thousand Drips

We think this is a really fun, interesting waterfall. If possible, try to visit after a heavy rain—the falls are even “drippier” then and even more beautiful.

Plus, the scenic drive around the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is so beautiful!

Our Verdict – Highly Recommended!

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Gateway Arch; Rocky Mountains rising above the clouds; two waterfalls spilling into a large pool

Jeff Powell

Jeff Powell is the Creator/CEO of two blogs - National Park Ventures and Smoky Mountains Ventures. He and his wife Mary Ellen are on a venture to visit every national park in the United States and share what they experience with their readers. Their goal is to help their readers "supersize" their own national park ventures.

Jeff and Mary Ellen have been married for 35 years. They have two sons, two grandkids, and two dogs. They live in a cabin in the mountains outside of Blue Ridge, GA.