Waterfall Wednesday is back today with a quick look at a great waterfall located in the Deep Creek Area of the Great Smoky Mountains. Chris and I spent a weekend in the Bryson City, NC area and took a quick hike to see Tom Branch Falls. 
There are actually 3 waterfalls in the area that can be seen fairly easily. Access to the falls is very easy. From downtown Bryson City simply follow the signs to Deep Creek Campground. After you enter the park (Great Smoky Mountain National Park) drive on the paved road past the campground entrance and the picnic areas. There is a turnaround and plenty of parking in a paved lot.
There are only 2 trails in the park that allow pets to accompany their humans so make sure to make note of that if you have Fido along. The hikes to these waterfalls were pet free.
Tom Branch Fall is a really lovely spot and it is a mere .24 miles from the trailhead so almost anyone can walk it. There are even a few benches located across from the falls for easy sitting and viewing.
The multilevel cascades about 75 feet with very little watershed. The River Basin is the Little Tennessee. The waterfall is probably best viewed in the winter or early spring when the foliage is not so heavy and the water level is higher. The day we visited we were able to view it really well.
We watched a family enjoy their time on the rocks on the bank and their little boy was named Micah which made me smile. It is a beautiful spot to stop for a spell.
I wondered why the name was Tom Branch and did a bit of research. Apparently it is thought that it is named after Tom Wiggins who operated a gristmill on the stream from 1854-1892. Whoever it is named after it is a really beautiful waterfall and a beautiful spot.
The short hike to the falls was nice and we enjoyed seeing a few wildflowers along the way. I am not exactly sure enough of what these two are to identify them so any of my wildflower experts out there chime in if you know what kind of plants these are.
The stream as lovely to walk along and it was the perfect end to a perfect day of sightseeing in Bryson City. 
My all time favorite book to use for local waterfalls is North Carolina Waterfalls by Kevin Adams. It is a hiking and photography guide and gives detailed information about the falls, the hikes, hints for photography and more. It is not a travel book as it is quite heavy but it is a great resource that I was able to use for this post. Check it out.
Today is the last day to Comment for a Cause for UMCOR – Hurricane Florence Recovery. Tomorrow I will announce our donation amount and the new cause for November so make sure you stop by.
