Meigs Falls: A Roadside Waterfall on Little River Road

About

Meigs Falls is one of the easiest waterfalls to see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Meigs Creek spills over a rock ledge and into the Little River just across from Little River Road, and a large pull-off gives you a clear view without setting foot on a trail. For families with young children, anyone with limited mobility, or guests heading to Cades Cove who want a scenic pause, it is a rewarding few minutes.

The falls stand about 30 feet tall and sit on the far side of the river, so you view them from the roadside rather than up close. They are at their fullest after heavy rain, and in very cold stretches of winter they can freeze into curtains of ice. The creek is named for Return Jonathan Meigs, a Continental Army officer who later served as a U.S. agent to the Cherokee. Leafy summer trees partly screen the view, so a zoom lens helps photographers.

Driving west from Sugarlands Visitor Center, go about 13 miles, roughly one mile past The Sinks, and look for a large pull-off on the left with a distinctive stone wall. From the Townsend Wye, drive about 7 miles east and look on the right. The National Park Service asks visitors to enjoy the falls from the pull-off; people have been seriously hurt at waterfalls, and the river is swift. A park parking tag is required to park longer than 15 minutes.

Photo: Warren Bielenberg / Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Public domain (NPS)

Did You Know

• Meigs Falls is about one mile west of The Sinks on Little River Road (National Park Service).
• The pull-off is marked by a distinctive stone wall (National Park Service).
• Meigs Creek takes its name from Return Jonathan Meigs, a U.S. agent to the Cherokee (TheSmokies.com).
• The falls are about 30 feet tall (Waterfall Picture Guide).