Mt. Sterling & Mouse Creek Falls Backpacking Trip

This is an extremely challenging, but also very rewarding backpacking trip to the summit of Mt. Sterling and cascading Mouse Creek Falls.  We will be hiking a 17.4 mile loop over 2 days.  The trailhead begins at the Big Creek picnic area. The first day we will steadily climb along the Baxter Creek trail until we reach the summit with 360 degree views of the Smokies from an old firetower.  The trail gains 4,100 ft in only 6.2 miles on day 1.  We will then set up camp for the night near the summit.  There is a water source about 500 yards before we get to the summit.  After breakfast, we will begin day 2 continuing on the loop via the Mt. Sterling Ridge trail, Swallow Fork trail, and Big Creek trail back to the starting point.  Day 2 will be mostly downhill over 11.2 miles with a stop at Mouse Creek Falls.  There should be plenty of water sources along the way on day 2. We'll probably make it back to the Big Creek picnic area by mid-afternoon on Sunday.  If there is a consensus, we'll stop for a meal on the drive back.  This trip is not for the average or novice backpacker!