Grotto Falls
The One You Can Walk-Behind
There’s something magical about standing behind a wall of water as it cascades to the ground at Grotto, the only waterfall in the Smokies where you can do this. The walk to Grotto is as easy as pie. It’s just minutes out of Gatlinburg, right off the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, so make it the first stop on your day trip into the park. You can stroll the Trillium Trail through old-growth forests, and if you’re there in May, get ready to be wowed by the dazzling wildflowers.
Laurel Falls
Paved Access To A Picture-Perfect Wonder
Take a 2.6-mile walk on the paved trail to Laurel Falls, and you’ll see why so many people consider it a must-see. The 80-foot cascade is one of the most-photographed spots in all of the Smokies for good reason. It’s only a few miles from Sugarlands, right outside Gatlinburg. If you arrive in the early morning, you’ll beat the crowds and be rewarded with perfect photography lighting. Bring the whole family. The path is stroller, wheelchair and walker-friendly.
Abrams Falls
Abrams Falls Boast The Most Water And The Deepest Pool
The five-mile round trip along Abrams Creek is a moderate hike that’s worth every step. Cross the wooden bridge, and follow the path along the Cades Cove Valley floor among pine, oak, hemlock and rhododendron. When you arrive, you’ll see why a waterfall that’s only 20 feet high is one of the most popular places in the Smokies. The amount of rushing water is staggering, and the pool below it is long and deep. The warnings about swimming are worth heeding! The currents here are dangerous and have swept some to their deaths. Look, but don’t leap!
Mt. LeConte
Hike To The Best Sunrises And Sunsets In The Park
The views from the top of LeConte Lodge (just shy of 6,600 feet) in the Smokies make it a trek worth taking. You can stock a backpack and head up for a stay at the rustic LeConte Lodge, and despite the lack of electricity, it is a sellout every year. Please note, there are also backcountry campsites nearby. The most spectacular sunrises and sunsets occur on Myrtle Point in the east and Clifftops to the west. Find out the best places to see a sunset here.
Even if you don’t have reservations at the Lodge or shelter, the trails to LeConte are worth the day trip, and you can reserve lunch at the Lodge dining room if you call ahead. The Alum Cave Bluffs Trail, past storm-tossed boulders, up stone stairs and under Arch Rock, is one of the best hikes in the Smokies. Try the Boulevard Trail for a longer but easier ascent, or a more challenging trek on Rainbow Falls Trail, all the way to the top. Learn more about Mt. Leconte by reading our blog here.
Ramsey Cascades
Tallest Waterfall In The Park
Ramsey Cascades is the highest waterfall accessible by trail in the park. Most of the water comes from the 6621′ Mt. Guyot, the second-highest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains. Water drops 100 feet over rock outcroppings and collects in a small pool where numerous salamanders can be found. The trail to the waterfall gains over 2,000′ in elevation over its four-mile course and the eight-mile roundtrip hike is considered strenuous but well worth the effort. It takes between five and seven hours to hike to the waterfall and back. The trail follows rushing rivers and streams for much of its length. The last two miles pass through an old-growth cove of hardwood forest with large tulip trees, basswoods, silverbells, and yellow birches. Photo by Kristi Parsons.
Read our Trail Spotlight blog to find other trails.
