Indian Flats Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
N 35° 35.546 W 083° 37.951
17S E 261495 N 3941934
Indian Flats Falls is a 4-step tiered waterfall that drops 59 feet over a run of 123 feet.
Waymark Code: WMJD8W
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 11/02/2013
Views: 4
The hike to Indian Flats Falls is a 7.5 mile round trip up the Middle Prong Trail (WM9YJY). On the way you will pass Lynn Camp Prong Cascades (WM9Z4T), the Panther Creek Trail trailhead (WMJBG5) and a brick chimney (WMJ1CC). The falls are accessed by a side trail to the right in the second switchback in the second set of switchbacks. Look for a narrow gap behind the rhododendron thicket at the bluff face.
We were unable to find access to the third and fourth steps.
Description taken from “Waterfalls of the Smokies.”
”Indian Flats Falls is a strand of four falls whose beauty is magnified due to their placement on the necklace of Indian Flats Prong. When viewed from the base, Indian Flats Falls is a truly magnificent sight, but each step has a wonder of its own.
“The headwaters of Indian Flats Prong are near the crest of the Smokies at Mt. Davis, Hemlock Knob and Miry Ridge. The water, cooled by the high elevation, quickly tumbles to the falls. The trail arrives at the base of the uppermost falls which drops 20 feet into a small pool. The creek travels to the right around an island of rounded stones for 60 feet to the next ledge which is 35 feet wide.
“The second step begins at a width of 10 feet, but this spreads to 16 feet when the water strikes a small ledge partway down the 18 foot fall. A large circular pool is at the base of the second falls. The Thunderhead Sandstone of the area is scoured clean and smooth with pockets of rounded rocks. Tilting slightly away from the viewer, the sandstone forms numerous ledges of the falls. The creek moves 45 feet then drops off the third ledge. The third ledge is the smallest at 9 feet.
“The fourth and final step is 18 feet beyond the third. The water falls 12 more feet before being squeezed back to normal creek size by boulders at the base.”
(
visit link)