Friday, October 20, 2017

Porters Creek Trail

Porters Creek is a 4 mile hike in the Greenbrier section of the Smoky Mountains, about 6 miles east of Gatlinburg.  If you enjoy a nice walk in the woods while listening to a rushing stream, discovering old buildings and reading headstones in an old cemetery this hike is for you.  To top it off, if you continue on up the trail you will be rewarded with great views of Fern Branch Falls.  This is where the trail ends, it's all downhill from here!

Porters Creek is located in the Greenbrier section of the Smoky Mountains

These steps once led to the Cantrell farmstead, only a few remnants remain

A little further down the trail we found the Ownby Cemetery dating back to 1903

Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Cabin built 1934-1936
They used it until 1981

The cabin was built around an existing chimney of the Whaley house

John Messer Barn built in 1875

An example of a double-cantilever barn, unique to East Tennessee 

Old Whaley Springhouse

We were thankful for the bridges over Porters Creek

The creek was really flowing

These interesting fungi almost look like golf balls

Fern Branch Falls 

A closer look at the falls before we head back down the trail