Hiking in The Smoky Mountains National Park

An adventurous guide to the hiking trails of East Tennessee's Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas   . . . 

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​Receiving over ten million visitors annually, The Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee are considered one of the best destinations for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Many of the hiking trails in "The Smokies" are clustered together in one area. That makes Gatlinburg an excellent base of operations for your outdoor adventures. 

A Guide to the Trails of Gatlinburg and Beyond

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to hundreds of miles of hiking trails, many of which connect to the well known Appalachian Trail. Each year nearly half a million trail blazers make their way through these mountainous pathways in search of adventure and natural beauty. This is a quick rundown of only a few of these popular hikes.

Sugarlands Visitor Center

We'll start of with this beginners trail located just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The trails behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center are appropriate for all ages. These pathways are well maintained, and a large portion of this area is relatively flat compared to others. 

This hiking adventure begins with a nature walk through the woods with educational material posted providing information on the various forms of plant life you will see along the way. After crossing the wooden bridge, I recommend taking a left to visit the historic John Ownby Cabin. From here you can loop back around and continue on to Cataract Falls. The majority of this trail is pretty is easy, but if you are feeling adventurous, there are other side trails to be explored as well. One of which being the Gatlinburg Trail, that leads all the way back to town. 

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Laurel Falls

Continuing on past the visitor center, you will travel up the mountain along Fighting Creek Gap Road where you will enjoy multiple scenic overlooks. Parking at Laurel Falls is found on both sides of the road, but this popular location can fill up very fast.  ​

​This hike is paved, but the steep incline can make it a bit more strenuous. It is about 2.5 miles round trip to the falls and back. A leisurely stroll through these hills will treat you to one of the most magnificent waterfalls around. There is also an abundance of wild life in the area, so mind the bears, and always keep a safe distance.

Laurel Falls

Try not to get confused, now - there is another Laurel Falls located further north. We'll cover that one in my guide to Northeastern Tennessee, but this one is located between Gatlinburg and Townsend. 

When leaving Laurel Falls, continue west and you will notice the road becomes Little River Gorge Road. After about eight miles of scenic roadway, there will be a parking lot to the left at an area known as The Sinks. This is a popular, but dangerous part of the river that has claimed many lives over the years. Just behind the sinks is the Meigs Creek Trail that takes you across the ridge to another set of cascades. 

The Sinks

Little River Gorge Road is full of scenic pull offs where you will have many photo opportunities. Continue on, and take Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove. This is a very popular area for tourists that consists of a loop featuring multiple historic buildings and an enormous opportunity for wildlife viewing. 

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Rainbow Falls, Baskins Creek Trail, & Grotto Falls

I have grouped these three hiking trails together due to their close proximity. Each is located along The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail just outside of downtown Gatlinburg. This scenic roadway spits to a one way loop called Cherokee Orchard Road. Parking at each of these trailheads is limited, so get an early start. Also remember that this is a one way street, so if you pass a parking lot you will have to loop back around. 

Rainbow Falls is the first trail head that you will encounter along this road. To get the falls, it is about a 2.5 mile hike. There are also a series of other trails branching off from the trailhead that will connect you way back over to the Sugarlands Visitor Center. This adventure is not too strenuous, as many families can be seen making their way up and down the trail. Some smaller waterfalls can be found along the way, but keep going - the finale is well worth the hike. 

​Baskins Creek Trail is a bit on further up. Turn right off of Orchard Road onto the upper section of Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. For this one, I would advise you to park in the second Rainbow Falls parking lot and walk up the road to the trailhead. 

This section of the mountain now displays remaining evidence of the Gatlinburg fires that occurred in late 2016. This tragic event claimed the lives of 14, injured over 100 others, and destroyed numerous structurers. The regrowth that can be seen along the trail seems to nicely symbolize the resiliency of the community and the rebuilding that has taken place.

I have explored Baskins Creek area thoroughly, and enjoy this one very much. While the prize at the end may be a very nice photo opportunity at a waterfall, there is also a side trail that will take you to the very old (and strangely out of place) Baskins Creek Cemetery. The path continues on past the old grave yard and the falls, this eventually connects to another point along the northern section of the Motor Nature Trail. 

​Continue to the upper The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail to find the Grotto Falls trailhead. It has its own parking lot, but this section of the road is also one way - so don't pass up a good spot!

Notice:
​ The upper section of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is closed each year from November to May. The lower parking lots on Cherokee Orchard Road are still accessible, and the Trillium Gap Trail conveniently links to all three of these trailheads. 

​Have your camera fully charged before taking on this area. Both of these scenic loops contain a multitude of historic structures, cascading waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife just waiting for you to test those photography skills. And keep in mind, this is easily an all day adventure, so bring plenty of water and maybe even a snack. Just be sure properly to deal with food. 

I have included The Motor Nature Trail in my article on Appalachian Lifeways. 

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Greenbrier & Cosby Areas

If you begin to venture a bit to the east, you'll find the Greenbrier community. It is about 4.5 miles along Greenbrier Road to the Ramsey Cascades trailhead. It is said that this is somewhat of a difficult hike - I'll be reporting on it soon!

Continue on an eastward journey to the town of Cosby, where you will find Cosby Campground. From here you will have access to the Mount Crammerer trailhead, as well as the Gabes Mountain trailhead which will take you across Bear Neck Gap to the gorgeous Hen Wallow Falls, and eventually up to  Maddron Bald. ​

Hen Wallow Falls

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Alum Cave Trail 

Leaving Gatlinburg and traveling several miles southbound on 441 will bring you to the Alum Cave Trail parking lot. Be sure to get there early, as you will see late comers parking on the sides of the road. This is one of my favorite hikes in The Smokies. The climb is fairly moderate, but does require a bit of time depending on how far you want to go. 

Inspiration Point

Along the way you will encounter some amazing photo opportunities at places like Arch Rock and a really impressive view at Inspiration Point. Just a little further up, and you will reach the enormous rock shelter also known as Alum Cave.  

The trek to Alum Cave and back is about 4.5 miles, but if you choose to continue onward, you will eventually come to Mt Le Conte. From there you will find a southward connection to The Appalachian Trail, while other paths will take you north to the previously mentioned Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls. Notice how most of the trails in this area are connected in some way. 

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Clingmans Dome

After Leaving Alum Cave Trail, you may want to continue a few miles up the road to another adventurous location just across the North Carolina state line. Clingmans Dome is the tallest peak along the Appalachian Trail, and the view from its observation tower offers proof. The fairly short pathway to the top is paved, but the incline is somewhat steep - pace yourself. 

Clingmans Dome Observation Tower

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For more information on this area
visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park official website.

You may also like
Hiking in The Blue Ridge Mountains.

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I am a local here in the hills of East Tennessee, and will be updating this post as I continue to explore the many trails of my homeland. Feel free to comment below if there are any you would like to see added to this list. 

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