Hazel Creek (Great Smoky Mountains)

Hazel Creek is a tributary stream of the Little Tennessee River in the southwestern Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. The creek's bottomlands were home to several pioneer Appalachian communities and logging towns before its incorporation into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hazel Creek is now a back country campsite and historical area.

Hazel Creek flows southwest from its source near the summit of Silers Bald to its mouth along the Fontana impoundment of the Little Tennessee River, a journey of roughly 18 miles (29 km). The creek drains the area between Welch Ridge to the east and Jenkins Trail Ridge to the west. Both Welch and Jenkins, which run perpendicular to the crest of the Smokies, reach elevations of over 5,000 feet (1,500 m) for considerable stretches. Two smaller ridges— the Pinnacle and Locust Ridge— parallel Hazel's northern banks, dividing the creek's valley from its upper watershed. Hazel Creek is one of three major watersheds in the southwestern Smokies, the others being Eagle Creek (on the other side of Jenkins Trail Ridge to the west) and Forney Creek (on the other side of Welch Ridge to the east). These three watersheds comprise the remote, roadless northern banks of Fontana Lake known locally as the North Shore.

From its source near the Silers Bald Shelter, Hazel Creek drops 1,500 feet (460 m) in just under 1 mile (2 km) before steadying at its confluence with Proctor Creek. 5 miles (8 km) from its source, the creek absorbs Walkers Creek and five smaller streams as it winds its way between two steep knobs known as High Rocks (to the south) and Raven Den (to the north). At the southwestern base of Locust Ridge, the creek absorbs Bone Valley Creek and Sugar Fork before turning sharply to the south and winding its way around the southern base of the Pinnacle. Just before reaching Proctor, the creek turns north and south again at a bend known as "the Horseshoe." At Proctor, Hazel Creek absorbs Shehan Branch before emptying into its Fontana Lake embayment. Northwest of Proctor, Shehan Branch slices a narrow valley known as Possum Hollow.

There are no public roads leading into the Hazel Creek valley. Fontana Village, which provides ferry access to the Hazel Creek Trail, is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the mouth of Hazel Creek on the other side of Fontana Lake. Along North Carolina State Route 28, Bryson City is just over 30 miles (48 km) east of Fontana. Along U.S. Route 129, Maryville, Tennessee is just over 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Fontana. Fontana is 11 miles (18 km) east of the state line at Deals Gap. Hazel Creek is located entirely within Swain County, North Carolina.

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