We entered the Smokies just off of I-40 at the NC-TN border. The hike starts just a few miles off of I-40 at the Big Creek Campground. Carter was super happy to get into his pack!
The trail was very easy - wide and not very rocky. The hike in was a gradual uphill which made the hike back to the car really easy.
Midnight Hole was gorgeous. Unfortunately there were a ton of bees at the viewing area so Brian and Carter stayed up on the trail while I took some pictures. I also didn't bring my Chacos so I stayed on rocks that were out of the water to take pictures which really limited me. I got a few pictures I am happy enough with but next time I'll be more prepared and hopefully will get some better photos.
Midnight Hole is a popular swimming hole and thankfully we were there before the swimmers arrived. We passed dozens of people heading up to the hole on our way back to the car. I have no idea how that many people could enough such a small swimming hole at the same time!
After I finished taking pictures of Midnight Hole we continued on the trail for another half mile to Mouse Creek Falls. It's a pretty cascade that flows into Big Creek.
We headed back after seeing Mouse Creek Falls because it was supposed to get into the mid-90s today and we didn't want to bake Carter. When we got back to the car though he had totally passed out in the pack. We got our other pack emptied and our shoes changed and he was still sleeping so we took our lunch to a picnic table and left him in the pack. We put it on the ground next to the table and Carter slept through our entire meal. We eventually had to wake him up so we could start heading home.
We had a lot of fun hiking today and plan on doing the hike again so I can get more pictures.
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