Petes Branch Falls is a 3.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Afton, Tennessee that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
April 4, 2021my 4 year old and I loved all the creek crossings! a few were very challenging but we pushed through to make it to the falls which were gushing after all the recent rain
February 21, 202120 creek crossing total out and back . Definitely need to go in spring or after a lot of rain to have good flow on the falls but a beautiful area to hike .
February 21, 2021December 23, 2020This hike would be better in the warmer months due to all the creek crossings. I will be back in the spring with my hiking sandals. Today we had our dog with us that likes to pull on her leash. Even with 2 hiking poles I couldn't trust that she wouldn't drag me off of one of the logs or slick rocks to cross. My husband and some other hikers were able to cross by rock hopping carefully. Since I had the pup, I put on what I had in my pack, which was a pair of flip flops and walked through. Creeks were cold and refreshing and only went up to my shins at most.. just wish I didn't have to take off my shoes and dry my feet so many times. In the future warmer months or during a dry spell, I suppose. We turned back after I think the 3rd crossing and there are many!
December 18, 2020The first 1.8 miles of the hike takes you on wide ATV road. The remainder of the hike, designated with a small wooden sign indicating Petes Branch Falls, is an easy hiking trail with moderate incline to the falls. We counted 10 creek crossings one-way which do get high after snowmelt or recent rain. Our boots got soaked on a cold winters day, so I'd recommend bringing a pair of hiking poles, dry socks, and/or extra shoes if hiking in colder conditions with high water. The falls was flowing solidly today and it's a gorgeous 45 ft drop. Of note, my AllTrails app recorded a total hike mileage of 6.0 miles from the main parking lot, so I'm not sure if the listed mileage is accurate.
November 14, 2020Trail is a wide 4x4/ ATV path but littered with trash and currently run amuck with bear hunters. Find another spot
October 15, 2020This was a really beautiful and relatively easy hike for a family that hikes quite a bit (including a 12 year old, a 7 year old, and our Great Pyrenees). The trail begins as an ATV road at a campground/picnic area. There is plenty of level parking. We saw one Jeep and one ATV leaving the road as we were beginning the trail at about 2:30 pm, but didn't see another person on the entire hike. This hike has several creek crossings. My husband (6 feet tall) managed to jump the rocks at the creek crossings and never got wet, but my kids and I (5'2 and shorter) got our feet wet on three of the crossings. The water was a bit cold at this time of year, but not cold enough to make hiking in wet shoes uncomfortable. The trail has good signage (which looked new) to show where you split to follow Pete's Branch to the left towards the falls or continue uphill on a different trail. The trees were also well marked with blue markers up to the falls. The falls don't have a huge flow volume, but were really beautiful. It was a very easy scramble to get to the bottom of the falls and there was room to sit and enjoy a snack. This was a fairly level hike with only a few spots of incline. Great family hike!
September 24, 2020Beautiful hike , even though the falls were just a trickle. Total solitude. 7creek crossings, low water flow kept my feet dry. When you park at the trailhead for Squibb Falls, just follow the forest service road until you come to the trail marker for Pete's Branch. It would be nice if there was a marker at the trail head. I'll go back and do both falls in late winter, hopefully with more flow.
August 27, 2020August 16, 2020The trail was awesome. Not to steep but certain places get more slope. 10 creek crossings on the way to the falls that are mostly easily crossed and a few that are smaller than others. Great hike
June 20, 2020Great hike. Very slippery in areas and a lot of creek crossings. Falls were beautiful and the trail follows the stream. So green and lush. Added on Pete’s Branch Falls trail. Beautiful cove and even though water flow was low the rock cliff was very pretty. Jeep road is rough with many wet stream crossings
May 24, 2020Multiple creek crossings. I managed to only have to wade 3 times. Much of this trail is a 4x4 forest road. I encountered jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles. Nice falls at the end and no one else in sight there.
April 22, 2020Nice short warm up loop trail before hiking one of the longer trails that start from the same parking area. Good for kids.
April 22, 2020There are at least 2 stream crossings that you can't avoid getting your feet wet.
May 31, 2019Not a difficult hike, but not well marked and overgrown.
March 19, 2019Took my senior dog yesterday and the creek crossings were a bit more difficult than expected. I was able to hop on some rocks and keep my shoes from getting too wet but the water was up to my dogs chest and she was having a pretty hard time due to the water temp. After about a mile on an old forest road, we came to a fork in the trail and there was a sign pointing in the direction of "Pete's Branch Trail" and 2 other destinations. I figured Pete's Branch Trail was different than the falls. I also noticed red tree markings on the other path (where the Pete's Branch Trail" sign was located. So we took a left and gave up after about half a mile. We never noticed any blue tree markings. Still a nice day in the woods.
November 24, 2018The waterfall is beautiful with recent rain. A lot of the trail is along a ATV road but beyond that it’s a nice hike.
September 27, 2018This trail starts with a gravel (slightly washed out) Jeep trail then narrows into a single-person path to a waterfall. I was surprised this was marked an easy trail, because you have to cross the creek at least seven times - not easy crossings either. The creek was up on the day I went, so my feet got wet since water was up to my calf. Some of the crossings had big rocks to jump on, but at least three did not at all. The creek would have to be really low to not get wet at least once. After the Pete’s Branch split, it was not particularly steep until the very end. It’s a well-maintained trail. The Waterfall was peaceful but there are not a lot of dry places to sit and enjoy the view. I wish I had brought a blanket because the nearby rocks were wet from overhead drippings of the rock facing. Still, it was a great place for a snack and to enjoy the peaceful waterfall.
September 24, 2018This trail follows a rough gravel road for a little over a mile. With a mild incline and several tricky creek crossings but still manageable to cross. Once the road ends you follow the blue markers for Pete's Branch Falls on the left for another half mile to the falls. Definitely worth the trip out there. The falls are amazing!
September 23, 2018This trail follows a rough gravel road for a little over a mile. With a mild incline and several tricky creek crossings but still manageable to cross. Once the road ends you follow the blue markers for Pete's Branch Falls on the left for another half mile to the falls. Definitely worth the trip out there. The falls are amazing!
August 26, 2018Trail follows a rocky jeep trail 3/4 of the way to the falls. After road ends trail becomes more pleasant.
August 19, 2018Good little hike, had to cross water 4 or 5 times(went after it rained the previous 2 days).
June 15, 2018Hiked with four of my young children to this trickling-tallish and reclusive waterfall. Most of the trek was on a rocky road, littered with trash (even old furniture), and wasn’t marked until 1 1/2 miles into the trail. From there it became a moderate hike and very beautiful, with several small waterfalls and creek crossings (you WILL get wet).
May 27, 2018Crosses the creek several times. Hard not to get wet feet especially with kids.
