Abrams Falls - Hike Abrams Falls Trail in the Smoky Mountains


Trail Features:		Waterfalls
Trail Location:		Cades Cove
Roundtrip Length:		5.0 miles
Total Elevation Gain:		340 feet
Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:		136 feet
Highest Elevation:		1710 feet
Trail Difficulty Rating:		5.68 (moderate)
Parking Lot Latitude:		35.59077
Parking Lot Longitude:		- 83.85293

Directions to Trailhead:

The hike to Abrams Falls begins from a field at stop number ten on the Cades Cove Loop Road. To reach the Abrams Falls trailhead, drive five miles on the Cades Cove Loop. After crossing Abrams Creek, turn right on a gravel road which runs through a grassy field. Park at the back of the field where there are signs and a wooden bridge that mark the beginning of the trail.

Trail Description:

The October 2008 issue of Backpacker Magazine listed their top 10 most dangerous hikes in America. The list was developed using casualty statistics as a result of lightning, altitude, extreme weather and drowning, among several other measures.

Some of the trails you would naturally suspect to be on the list were all there, such as the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon, Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, and the Mist Trail up to Half Dome in Yosemite. However, one trail that caught me by surprise was none other than Abrams Falls. The magazine ranked this pathway as the ninth most dangerous trail in the country as a result of high exposure to drowning and hypothermia hazards. The article cited 29 deaths on this trail since 1971 as a result of water related accidents.

"All sorts of unknown hazards lie at the bottom of our streams and waterfalls," warns park spokesman, Bob Miller. Strong currents beneath the falls have swept capable swimmers into unseen traps, and slick rocks have tripped many unsuspecting hikers into the chilly depths.

Needless to say, proper precautions should always be heeded while on the trail, especially near the falls.

The path from the Cades Cove valley floor to Abrams Falls weaves around the ridges that predominate in this area, all the while roughly following Abrams Creek. It traverses through pine-oak forest along the ridges, and hemlock and rhododendron forests closer to the creek.

The 5-mile roundtrip hike to Abrams Falls is relatively short and is considered to be moderate in difficulty, thus helping to make it one of the more popular trails in the park, and attracting nearly 1000 visitors per day during peak season.

Although Abrams Falls is only 20 feet high, the large volume of water rushing over the cliff more than makes up for its lack of height. In fact, Abrams Falls is the most voluminous waterfall in the park. The long, deep pool at its base is very picturesque; however, due to strong currents and an undertow, swimming here is extremely dangerous.

The waterfall and the creek are named after Cherokee Chief Abram (or Abraham) whose village once stood several miles downstream.