Mingo Falls
Height of Falls: 120′
Round-Trip Hike: 0.8 mi.
Difficulty: Average / Hourly
At 120 feet tall, Mingo Falls is one of the tallest and most spectacular waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains. It is located on the Cherokee Indian Reservation (Qualla Boundary), just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. No special permit is required for access to the reservation. Although the hike to the waterfall is only 0.4 miles in length, it is still considered moderate in difficulty.
Pigeon Creek Trail serves as the access trail to Mingo Falls. To reach the trailhead from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, drive south toward on Cherokee on US-441 and take the second left onto Big Cove Road. Turn left at the first stop sign and drive 4.5 miles to where the trail begins at the Mingo Falls Campground.