Hike to the beautiful Benton Falls in the Cherokee National Forest on this easy out-and-back hike that's good for kids and dogs. A popular destination especially in summer, Benton Falls offers a lot of reward with a little effort. And if you go after a good rain the falls will be quite powerful. You just may have to deal with a good amount of mud on the way.

Three parking lots accommodate a good amount of people, but you may find on sunny weekends this isn't enough, so get there early or on a weekday. Most of the facilities are closed during winter, but year-around day use restrooms are available. A trail to the left just after the trailhead leads down to them or you can walk down the road to the campground area from the parking lots.

There are two large intersections that don't specifically have a sign for Benton Falls and in both cases just stay straight/right, following the blue blazes. In all other cases signs specifically point the way for Benton Falls.

About a quarter of a mile from the end you'll begin to hear the falls. Making a sharp left turn at the last sign, the trail begins to descend. A short side trail leads to the top of the falls just before the main trail drops steeply down to the base of the falls. Rock steps leading down can be wet and slippery, so take your time.

Arriving at the base of Benton Falls, you'll be treated with a multi-tiered 65-foot waterfall. If it's rained recently, it will be quite powerful and all the more impressive. There's not a lot of room to navigate around other people, another good reason to try and visit when it's not crowded.