Description:
Big Creek is a steep, high gradient stream with lots of rough and tumble pocket water. It’s about as difficult to negotiate as any stream in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that is fairly easy to access. Big Creek is located in the North section of the park. The stream flows into the Pigeon River just outside the park.
Stream Size:
The size of this stream ranges from medium to large as compared to other streams in the park. We would class it as a large size Great Smoky Mountains National Park stream.
Accessibility:
The lower portion of Big Creek runs through a campground and is easy to access. Above the campground it’s mostly difficult to access the stream from the main trail. The trail lies far above the stream and traveling upstream in the stream bed is tough to impossible in places. Large deep pools, huge boulders and fast water makes it difficult to follow the stream bed. The stream can be followed from angler made trails from the campground leading upstream.