Burnt Mill Bridge Loop

I went backpacking with a friend and our dogs. We decided to camp out at Burnt Mill Loop. The trail goes mostly along the water. You will see stunning Rock formations and some smaller waterfalls. There are several campsites along the way. We put our tents near the water. It was very peaceful and perfect for the dogs to swim. The trail is a loop but you can take John Muir trail and connect over to the Honey Creek area. There is also a hike to Beaver Falls. The trail is not super crowded and definitely worth to see.

This area is so incredibly beautiful, with amazing views, rock formations, beautiful foliage, gorgeous river. But the terrain is ROUGH! Especially with a pack. There are ladders, stairs, scrambling, rocks, and steep terrain. But there’s several campsites around the area, and you can choose one that’s easier to access if you’d like. We went down near the river, and camped and did some fishing.

The trail had a few hikers on it during the morning and afternoon, and we saw a few rafters and kayakers on the river, but overall it’s not crowded, especially compared the the Smokies. There was a group camping at a nearby site, but not close enough to disturb us.

I did see some trash by the river. It’s disappointing that people pollute such a beautiful place, it’s an unfortunate reality. But overall, the park is very nice, clean and very well maintained. I look forward to going back!