Chris and Kelsey will be doing a morning hike on Saturday. The hike will be moderate to challenging and ~5 miles. If you would like to join for this hike, please text Kelsey by Friday, August 30th, so you can be included in this plan!

The exact trail we will be doing will be added soon.

Please note, parking at a lot of trail heads is very limited, so if you experience an issue with parking at the trailhead we choose, please see different options below for exploring the park!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees:

There is no entrance fee for GSMNP. There is a parking tag fee that is required for any car parking longer than 15 minutes.

Daily, weekly and annual parking tags are available for purchase at the stores listed below. Hours may vary seasonally. Daily and weekly parking tags purchased in person must be used starting on the date of purchase. Daily parking tags expire at 11:59pm ET on the date of purchase. Weekly parking tags expire at 11:59pm ET 7 days from the date of purchase.

In person sales locations:

Gatlinburg Welcome Center - 1011 Banner Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Sugarlands Visitor Center - 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Greenbrier Grocery - 2406 E. Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

The Great Smokies Welcome Center - 7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882

Cades Cove Visitor Center - 686 Cades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont Store - 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN 37882

Clingmans Dome Visitor Center - 7078 Clingmans Dome Road, Cherokee, NC 28719

Oconaluftee Visitor Center - 1194 Newfound Gap Highway, Cherokee, NC 28719

Swain County Visitor Center - 2 Everett Street, Bryson City, NC 28713

Visit NC Smokies Visitor Center - 91 North Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745

EASY

Laurel Falls Trail - 2.4 miles out & back

Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and parking at the trailhead is limited. There is potential for parking along the sides of the road. Please watch for all rules and regulations and be careful when driving amongst pedestrians.

The area is especially busy on weekends year-round and on weekdays during summer. Laurel Branch and the 80-foot-high Laurel Falls are named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub that blooms along the trail and near the falls in May.

This is a paved trail because it was originally built to allow fire crews access to the Cove Mountain area and the Cove Mountain Fire Tower, which was built a few years after this trail was completed.

Bikes and pets are not permitted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as per park service rules.

Accessibility: This trail is likely not accessible for visitors using wheelchairs, mobility equipment, or strollers due to the uneven pavement and the moderately steep to very steep grade. Despite being paved, the aging pavement of the falls trail is rough and broken, so it can be rough for wheelchairs and strollers in sections.

Cataract Falls Trail- 1.1 miles out & back

Accessibility: There are at least 6 designated accessible spaces in the paved parking lot off of Fighting Creek Gap Road at the start of the trail. All of them are van-accessible with striped access aisles. The trail surface is cement, asphalt, wooden bridge (with railings) or packed dirt, and typically at least four feet wide. The estimated grade is mostly gentle (5% or less) except for one moderately steep (5-8%) downhill section at about 0.0 miles when going northbound toward the falls. Trail goers/hikers using wheelchairs/mobility equipment or strollers may need assistance in the steeper sections or to avoid them for safety. All-terrain tires or motorized equipment may be needed for the unpaved sections.

There are benches and picnic tables at the start of the route for resting. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is wheelchair and mobility equipment accessible. Please visit the park page for additional accessibility information. The more accessible route to the falls is located on its own trail page here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/cataract-falls-accessible

MODERATE

Alum Cave Bluff Trail - 4.5 miles out & back

The Alum Cave Bluffs Trail, or Alum Cave Trail, takes you to a “cave,” which is really more of a huge rock overhang, and on to Peregrine Peak. It has a gradual ascent to Arch Rock, then gets steeper and ends with many steps at the end. It includes a soft forest floor, log bridges to cross, beautiful flowers and trees and countless photo opportunities along the picturesque Alum Cave Creek. Keep an eye out for great views of Little Duck Hawk Ridge between Inspiration Point and Alum Cave Bluff. Take a picnic lunch to enjoy in the cave at the top. Be sure to bring your trash back out, as there are no trash receptacles.

Park at the Alum Cave Trailhead to begin this hike. This hike can get crowded, so get to the parking lot early.

Rainbow Falls Trail - 5.1 miles out & back

The hike to Rainbow Falls is a must-do for all visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With moderate difficulty, a stunning waterfall, and lush Tennessee forest, it’s no wonder this trail is popular.

Starting out from the Rainbow Falls and Bullhead Parking Area, this trail climbs steadily as it meanders along Le Conte Creek. Beware the parking lot gets full often, so arrive early! If it’s full, there is another parking area further down Cherokee Orchard Loop.

At roughly a mile, you reach a nice overlook. Continue along the trail and you’ll soon cross a couple of bridges, and you’ll start to see some smaller falls. After a little more hiking, you’ll reach Rainbow Falls. When the afternoon sun hits the mist from the falls just right, you can see a faint rainbow appear.

Most hikers turn around here and return to the parking area. The trail does continue onward if you’d like to extend your hike.

Grotto Falls Trail - 2.6 miles out & back

Accessed via the Trillium Gap Trailhead, the Grotto Falls Trail is a moderately easy hike that is a family favorite. There is ample shade throughout the hike, lots of small streams, wildlife, and during the right time of year — plentiful wildflowers.

Starting near the base of Piney Mountain, this trail to Grotto Falls can be busier during the warmer months and the parking area is limited so it’s recommended to get there early. While the falls are not big, it’s a wonderful place to picnic for lunch or dip your feet on a hot day.

Clingmans Dome - 1.3 mile out & back

The Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It leads to the highest point in Tennessee, which is also the highest point along the Appalachian Trail. From Clingmans Dome, you can enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the Smokies and the beautiful Spruce Fir Forest.

As the weather conditions can get chilly at the highest peak (6,643 feet at Clingmans Dome), it is advisable to bring a jacket and warm clothes. There is a large parking area, a visitor center, and several scenic pullouts in the area.

CHALLENGING

Chimney Tops Trail- 3.6 miles out & back

The climb to the Chimney Tops is one of the most popular hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and all of Tennessee! Although steep, the breathtaking views of the mountains at the top make every step worth it. Starting at the Chimney Tops parking area located east of the Chimney Picnic Area off Newfound Gap Road, the trail starts relatively flat and quickly begins to gain elevation. The first mile takes you across the rushing Road Prong over bridges and past small waterfalls.

When the path turns west, you’ll come to an intersection for the Road Prong Trail. You can go down this route, passing a couple more waterfalls and meeting up with the Appalachian Trail at Indian Gap. This trail travels straight and continues the climb along the Chimney Tops Trail. The ascent is challenging, but the trail is well-marked and maintained. At the top is a recently built observation platform that allows you to see incredible views of the Smoky Mountains, including Mount LeConte and Sugarland Mountain.

The trail has been closed a quarter-mile from Chimney Tops due to wildfire damage in 2016. A gate has been constructed to prevent hikers from entering the damaged area. Please do not hike past the gate; instead, enjoy the observation deck's view.

Alum Cave to Mount LeConte- 11 miles out & back

This challenging trail leading up to Mount LeConte is one of the most popular in the area. Featuring incredible views, well-maintained trails, and a cave, this great hike is a great choice for anyone looking to see the best of the Smoky Mountains. Due to its popularity, the parking lots on Newfound Gap Road fill up early. This is a more popular route to the summit than the nearby Rainbow Falls Trail.

The trail begins with a climb along Alum Cave Creek and the Styx Branch. At 1.3 miles you will get to Arch Rock, one of the trail's prominent landmarks. The arch's interesting geological features were formed when wind and water eroded away the softer rock. The trail passes right under the natural arch making a great vantage point for photos.

At around 2.3 miles in you will arrive at Inspiration Point. From here, you will be rewarded with views of Little Duck Hawk Ridge and The Eye of the Needle, as well as Myrtle Point on Mt. LeConte. Shortly after you’ll come to Alum Cave Bluff, a great photo opportunity characterized by its orange clay.

Past Alum Cave, at the peak of Mount LeConte, is the LeConte Lodge, where you can stay in one of the primitive cabins or multi-room lodges. Don't expect to just show up and find a place to stay overnight, however. Reservations must be made months in advance. The cabins are the only formal lodging in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At the lodge you can also purchase drinks and use the restroom.

Once you reach the lodge, you’ll be on the Bull Head Trail. The Bull Head Trail leads to the Boulevard Trail, which takes hikers up to the summit of Mt Leconte. Those looking for an extra challenge can make the climb to Cliff Top from the lodge as well.

From Mt LeConte, you can choose to continue to hike up to Myrtle Point.

Cades Cove

Cades Cove is a scenic valley surrounded on all sides by mountains south of Townsend, Tennessee.

An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area's trails. Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round. While driving the loop road, please be courteous to other visitors and use pullouts when stopping to enjoy the scenery or view wildlife.

Drive to a Waterfall

Meigs Falls

The pulloff to view Meigs Falls is along Little River Road, 13 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center (7 miles east of Townsend). The falls is tucked away on the far side of Little River and can be easily missed while driving.

The Sinks

This waterfall is short in stature, but its volume includes the entire flow of Little River. The parking area to view the falls is along Little River Road, 12 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Place of a Thousand Drips

During wet periods, this waterfall is dramatic as the flow of water splits into numerous small channels cascading around rocks and creating "a thousand drips." From the parkway in Gatlinburg, turn at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail into the park. Take Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter). The waterfall is at stop #15.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

An exuberant mountain stream gave this area its unusual name. Roaring Fork is one of the larger and faster flowing mountain streams in the park. Drive this road after a hard rain and the inspiration behind the name will be apparent.

The narrow, winding Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. The 5.5-mile-long, one-way, loop road is a favorite side trip for many people who frequently visit the Smokies. It offers rushing mountain streams, glimpses of old-growth forest, and a number of well-preserved log cabins, gristmills, and other historic buildings. Please note that the road is closed in winter.

Before entering the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a stop at the Noah “Bud” Ogle self-guiding nature trail offers a walking tour of an authentic mountain farmstead and surrounding hardwood forest. Highlights include a streamside tubmill and the Ogle’s handcrafted wooden flume plumbing system.

Just beyond the Ogle farmstead is the trailhead for Rainbow Falls, one of the park's most popular waterfalls. The hike to the falls is 5.4 miles roundtrip and is considered moderately strenuous. If you plan to attempt this hike, be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and carry plenty of water and snacks.

The entrance to the motor nature trail is located a short distance past the parking areas for Rainbow Falls. Several homes and other buildings have been preserved in this area. The trailhead for Grotto Falls, another of the park's most popular waterfalls, is located along the route. And a “wet weather” waterfall called Place of a Thousand Drips provides a splendid finale to your journey. An inexpensive booklet available at the beginning of the motor nature trail details landmarks along the route.

Directions

To access Roaring Fork, turn off the main parkway in Gatlinburg, TN at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail Road to the Cherokee Orchard entrance to the national park. Just beyond the Rainbow Falls trailhead you have the option of taking the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter). Please note that buses, trailers, and motor homes are not permitted on the motor nature trail.

Mileage to Roaring Fork:

from Gatlinburg—1