Updated July 2026
Tom Branch Falls
An approximately 80-foot cascade where Tom Branch slides down a rock face into Deep Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just north of Bryson City. It sits only about 0.3 mile from the Deep Creek Trailhead and is part of the Deep Creek Waterfall Loop.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NPS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tom Branch Falls drops about 80 feet. That makes it the 279th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 62% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Deep Creek Trail reaches it about 0.6 miles (out-and-back), rated easy. The nearest town is Bryson City. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NPS) for closures and current conditions.
spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More North Carolina waterfalls
- Bridal Veil Falls · 120 ft
- Catawba Falls · 100 ft
- Courthouse Falls · 45 ft
- Crabtree Falls · 70 ft
- Cullasaja Falls · 200 ft
- Daniel Ridge Falls · 150 ft
- Dill Falls · 50 ft
- Douglas Falls · 60 ft
Sources
Get trip conditions by email
Lake grades, water temperature, and seasonal conditions as the data updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.