Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Blinutne assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0Abrams Falls
Worth a detour
Is it plungeworthy?
A punchbowl on Abrams Creek.
The details
- Type
- Punchbowl
- Watercourse
- Abrams Creek
- Coordinates
- 35.60859, -83.87976
About Abrams Falls
Abrams Falls is a 25-foot punchbowl in Tennessee, on Abrams Creek.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Abrams Falls 6.8/10 — worth a detour. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Only twenty feet tall and the most dangerous waterfall in the Smokies: Abrams Creek carries the park's biggest volume over this ledge, and the pool below hides an undertow that has drowned about ten strong swimmers. Hike the five miles from Cades Cove for the sight and the spray — stay out of the water, full stop.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Abrams Falls Trailhead, Cades Cove Loop Road, Great Smoky Mountains NP
- Parking
- Trailhead lot off the loop
- Road
- Paved; the Loop Road is bike-only on Wednesdays May–September
- Hike
- 5 mi round trip, 500 ft of climb (moderate)
- Heads up
- Parking tag required park-wide ($5/day); periodic bear and maintenance closures — glance at park alerts.
When to go
Spring for dogwoods and flow; autumn for Cades Cove color. Summer Wednesdays make it a lovely bike-and-hike.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- Smokies parking tag $5/day; no entrance fee
- Dogs
- Not on trails
- Camping
- Cades Cove Campground
- Warnings
- NO SWIMMING — the undertow here kills capable swimmers. The wet rocks beside the falls are the second-leading culprit.
Researched from NPS — Abrams Falls. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Abrams Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
How tall is Abrams Falls?
Abrams Falls drops about 25 feet, in Tennessee.
Where is Abrams Falls?
Abrams Falls is a waterfall in Tennessee, at 35.60859, -83.87976.
Is Abrams Falls worth visiting?
Worth a detour — Plungeworthy rates it 6.8/10.
Gear for the trip
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