The Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee are a very popular destination for people either driving through or planning a more lengthy stay. It is one of the best places in America to experience nature and enjoy that wonderful sense of solitude and freedom. Hiking in the Smoky Mountains is one such way to partake.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park hikes range from waterfall, to vista and to history. Here we will cover the most popular Smoky Mountain waterfall hikes that visitors of all physical abilities will be able to enjoy.
LaurelFalls
This water fall is one of, if not the most popular hike in the Smoky Mountains. The moderately difficult trail is wide and paved allowing strollers and hardy wheel chairs plenty of space to travel and enjoy Laurel Falls. The Laurel Falls trailhead is located 3.7 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center at the intersection of Little River Road and Newfound Gap Road on the Gatlinburg side of the park.
The 2.6 mile round trip hike is an old one, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. After a fairly smooth, though heavily trafficked hike you reach a 75 foot waterfall at 1.3 miles. Enjoy the pool at the base of upper Laurel Falls and look down on lower Laurel Falls.
If you choose to continue on past the waterfall you will find an unpaved path, fewer people and old growth forest. This path leads to the Little Greenbrier Trail, Wear Cove Gap, Cove Mountain Trail, and eventually the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
GrottoFalls
Grotto Falls is unique in its ability to allow hikers a view of the waterfall from the other side. A path leads behind the waterfall to an alcove where many species of salamanders are often spotted. The Great Smoky Mountains are thought to be the Salamander Capital of the World!
To access the trail you will need to travel four miles down the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail that starts off stoplight #8 in Gatlinburg. With only a few hundred feet in elevation gain over a little more than a mile this is a relatively easy hike. The 2.4 round trip hike to Grotto Falls leads to a 20 foot fall making it one of the shortest and easiest waterfalls to hike in the Smoky Mountains.
AbramsFalls
This popular falls in located at the midpoint of the 11 mile Cades Cove loop road so allow extra time for possible traffic and “bear jams.” The beautiful beginning of the trail only the entices the hiker to further explore the path. Stay to the left after the footbridge and follow the trail 2.5 along Abrams Creek to the falls.
The 5 mile round trip hike is on a fairly wide path that gains elevation over a couple of hills and three split log bridges before reaching the 20 foot falls at the end. Abrams Falls is not impressive for its height but for the sheer volume of water being thrown over the fall. A deep pool that shallows out into wading depth is a popular spot for kids to cool off before making the return journey. The rocks are slippery and the occasional water snake or copperhead will be seen so exercise a bit of caution.
A trail continues beyond Abrams Falls that leads to Hatcher Mountain trail, Hannah Mountain trail, and Little Bottoms trail. The Abrams Creek campground is also accessible from this trail, so conceivably you could hike to Abrams Falls from there, although it would be a much longer hike at about 4 miles one way via the Little Bottoms trail.
This Smoky Mountain waterfall hike is one of the most strenuous but well worth viewing the rainbow mist at the bottom of the fall, for which it gets its name. At 2.8 miles and 1500 feet of elevation gain up the steep and rocky trail is an 80 foot fall that sometimes resembles a bridal veil.
The 5.6 mile roundtrip Rainbow Falls hike starts off the beaten path (or at least away from the most traveled roads in the park). From Gatlinburg you need to travel 2.5 miles from the entrance to the park on Airport Road, which turns into Cherokee Orchard Road.
Beyond Rainbow Falls is an old trail that leads to the Alum Cave trail and eventually to Mt. LeConte. This used to be the only way to reach Mt. LeConte after a roughly 7 mile hike from the beginning of the Rainbow Falls trail. Mt. LeConte is the only overnight lodge in the Smoky Mountains at almost 6600 feet in elevation. It is very rustic with supplies brought in by horses and visitors traveling by foot or horse as well.
Ramsay Cascades
The hike to Ramsay Cascades is somewhat difficult but very popular, especially for photographers. At the end of the 4 mile trail and 2100 feet in elevation gain is a 90 foot cascade that tumbles down rock ledges that look like stairs. The water falling is brought in by two streams that converge before dropping down in an impressive cascade.
The 8 mile round trip Ramsay Cascade hike is in the Greenbrier section of the park, accessible from Gatlinburg traffic light #3. Driving east on US 321 will lead 6 miles down the road to a right on Greenbrier Road. After a little more than 3 miles down Greenbrier Road turn left on Ramsay Prong Road and continue a mile and a half to the parking area and trail head.
As with many Smoky Mountain hikes the destination does not have to be the turn around point. A half mile above Ramsay Cascade is a deep pool surrounded by rock ledges. Another half mile beyond the first pool is another cascade. Neither is frequented by Ramsay Cascades hikers unless they are on their way to the Appalachian Trail.
Before you set out on your Smoky Mountain waterfall hikes there are a few important things to keep in mind about safety. Rocks are slippery when wet, especially if covered with slimy moss. Loose rocks are also dangerous so make sure you give them a nudge before asking them to hold your entire weight. Salamanders are frequent visitors but so are snakes. Most of the snakes you will see will be generic water snakes but copperheads are also known to frequent rapids and the bases of waterfalls.
For all of these reasons keep an especial eye on children. Speaking of children…Where pools of water form, children will probably want to get wet. It is ok, but you might want to remind them that it can be a long, wet hike to the car!
