Martins Creek Falls

Overall
Recommendation:
Hikers of all skill levels. Great family hike!  Spring months for wildflowers.  Wait on a good rain before going.

Outstanding
Features:
Serene 20′ waterfall.

Difficulty:
Easy

Driving:
GPS Address:  Martin’s Creek Falls Parking Area, 1390 Martin Creek Rd, Erwin, TN 37650

From Interstate 26 take the Erwin/Jonesborough exit (#37) and turn east towards town.  Drive 0.4 miles until you reach a stop light. Turn right onto Main Street and drive 0.3 miles to Love Street, turn left. You’ll travel through four red lights on Love Street. Continue straight through the fourth stop light and the road becomes Okolona Dr. You’ll pass by a school on your right. At the intersection, turn left on Martin’s Creek Road and continue 0.6 miles to the end of the road.  There is a gravel parking area there with a yellow forest gate.  The parking area will accommodate 4 or 5 cars.

Trails:
Once parked, proceed through the gate onto a graveled forest road.  The road will begin to slightly ascend.  There will be a few trails leading off to the left at various locations, and those can get to the waterfall, but the easiest way is proceed along the road.  In approximately 0.9 miles you will come to a trail junction where you need to take a LEFT (at the time I went there was a blue circle painted on a tree at this junction).  From here, the trail will descend toward the stream on an obvious path.  In approximately 0.1 mile you will be at the top of the waterfall.  It is a little precarious making the short climb down to the base of the falls,but there are some good hand-holds.  Just watch your footing.

If you are still feeling good when you get back to the road (after visiting the waterfall), you may want to take a left and continue ascending the forest road.  It will eventually dead end after an additional 1.4 miles.  In the winter months there are some nice mountain views at the these higher elevations.  If you do this, the entire hike would be approximately 5.0 miles.

Needed
Gear & Tips:
Normal day-hiking gear.

Distance:
Approximately 2.1 miles round-trip.

Time
Allotment:
1 – 2 hours.

Type:
Out & Back.

Vista
Rating (1-5):
1.5 – Limited mountain views

Waterfall
Rating (based on a 1-50 scale):
Martins Creek Falls: H(2) + F(4) + V(2) + W(2) + G(4+4+5) = 23

Water
Crossings:
0 (none)

Scrambling/Climbing:
Short hand-hold climb to the base of the waterfall

Hazards:
Some slippery slopes. As with all waterfalls… don’t try to climb them.

Strava Link (.gpx download can also be found on this page):  https://www.strava.com/activities/3695731924