Press release:
One Hike and Three Waterfalls
WAYNESVILLE, NC – Hike along Deep Creek trails on December’s Classic Hike of the Smokies. Hikers will reward themselves with breathtaking views of the 80 foot Toms Branch Falls and other waterfalls throughout the trip. Hiking guide and author Danny Bernstein will lead the last Classic Hike of the season for Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Tuesday, December 8th.
The hike is 5.5 miles in length with a total elevation gain of 600 feet and is moderately difficult. Hikers will visit Juney Whank, Indian Creek, and Toms Branch waterfalls.
The Deep Creek area has a long and vibrant history being one of the first trails constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the newly legislated park in the early 1930s. Also in 1910 Horace Kephart, a leader in creation of the park and author of Our Southern Highlanders lived in Deep Creek.
Participants on the hike will learn how donations made to Friends of the Smokies helps fund projects in the Deep Creek area including native trout management to help replenish and monitor streams in the park.
At the end of the hike participants will celebrate the 2015 Classic Hikes of the Smokies series with hot drinks and holiday sweets. Hikers will have the opportunity to enjoy the heritage museum in the Bryson City Visitor Center and visit the local Great Smoky Mountains Association store to shop for holiday gifts. Friends of the Smokies members receive 15 percent off their purchases at the GSMA store.
Friends of the Smokies guided hikes are offered on the second Tuesday of most months. They are $35 and include a complimentary membership to Friends of the Smokies. Current Friends members receive a discount and hike for $10. All registration donations benefit the Friends’ Smokies Trails Forever program.
To register for any Classic Hike of the Smokies and to view a complete listing of hikes please visit friendsofthesmokies.org/calendar/. Deadline to register for the Classic Hike is December 6th.
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For more than 20 years, Friends of the Smokies has raised over $48 million to help maintain Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a crown jewel of the national park system, including the establishment of the Trails Forever endowment to improve Smoky Mountain hiking trails in perpetuity.
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