When planning to hike trails in the park, we recommend you get to the trail head early. Many of the trails are very popular and parking can be difficult. Some of the most popular trails are Abrams Falls, Grotto Falls, Laurel Falls, Chimney Tops, and Alum Cave Bluff.
When viewing waterfalls, the best time is spring and winter due to the larger amounts of precipitation. Summer and fall are typically drier months and may cause waterfalls to be less impressive. View waterfalls after a recent rain during these times for best viewing. Safety on trails and around waterfalls is imperative. Many trails are very narrow with steep drop offs. So, take your time. Rocks and ledges around waterfalls and streams can be very slippery. Be careful when walking in these areas. We recommend a walking stick to help with safety and comfort. A good walking stick helps with footing along trails and helps to relieve stress and strain on your hips and back.
Abrams Falls trail head is located halfway around the Cades Cove loop. This is a 5-mile round trip hike. This is a moderate hike with a couple of strenuous uphill climbs. Good trail most of the way. There are several footbridges to cross. There are areas along the trail that become rocky and root laced. At the beginning of the trail, you will travel through a tunnel of Rhododendron. Abrams Creek will accompany you for most of your journey. Abrams Falls is a 25 ft. high and about 20 ft. wide powerful waterfall. This is the largest water volume falls in the park. It pours over a rock ledge into a deep pool that extends about 100 ft. out from the base.
Grotto Falls is located on Roaring Fork Motor Trail. It is about a 3 mile round trip hike. This is a easy to moderate trail. There are several rocky and root laced areas along the trail. This is a very popular trail so get there early to photograph or it will be almost impossible. Grotto Falls descends about 20 ft. into a pool of blue-green water. The fascinating feature of this fall is the ability to walk behind the falls. This trail also takes you to the Mt Leconte Lodge which is a 6.4 mile hike one way. It is also fun to watch the Llamas as they walk behind Grotto Falls as they make their 3 times a week delivery to the Mt Leconte Lodge.
Laurel Falls is another very popular trail so arrive early in order to photograph. This is a paved trail that is about 2 ½ mile round trip. This is an easy to moderate trail. Beginning of the trail is a gradual ascend up Cove Mountain. There are several window type views of the distant mountains. As you near the falls, there is an unprotected exposure with a 100 ft. drop off so keep close tabs on children! Laurel Falls is a double waterfall. This is one of the top 3 most visited trails in the park.
Spruce Flats Falls is located in the Tremont area. Turn left onto the access road for the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont off Little River Road (road to Cades Cove). The trail head is difficult to locate so ask at the office and they will direct you. This is about a 2 mile round trip moderate to difficult hike. This trail has steep ascends/descends, steep drop offs, and a rocky/root laced/narrow trail. But, the falls are beautiful.
Alum Cave Bluff trail is located on US 441 on the way to Newfound Gap. The trail to the bluffs is about 4.5 miles round trip. However, the entire trail is about 10 miles round trip. This trail leads to the summit of Mt. Leconte and the Mt. Leconte Lodge. The Alum Cave trail probably has the most spectacular scenery of any trail in the park. This is one of the busiest trails in the park. It is a moderate trail with a few difficult areas. Along the trail you will see the Arch Rock, Alum Cave Bluffs and dramatic landslide scars on the flanks of the mountain and excellent views of the Little Pigeon River Gorge. Minerals have been found at Alum Cave Bluffs that are not known to exist anywhere else in the world!
Chimney Tops is a strenuous 4-mile round trip hike. It is a popular trail because of the views. It is a steady uphill climb and can be hazardous at the top. If the parking lot is full when you arrive, you may want to try the trail another time. The trail becomes very narrow at the top that can be dangerous with a lot of hikers on the trail.
Mingo Falls is located in Cherokee. From the Ocanalofee Visitors Center, drive south on US 441 for about 1.2 miles. Turn left onto Saunooke Bridge Rd. Go .2 miles to stop sign. Turn left onto Big Cove Rd and travel 4.7 miles. Turn right onto Mingo Falls Rd. This is a strenuous .3 mile round-trip hike because of the steep ascend and more than 150 steps. The waterfall cascades 150 ft. into the ravine below. This is beautiful after heavy rains.
Meigs Falls is seen from a roadside pull off along Little River Road (Cades Cove Rd). The falls lie across the Little River and about 400 ft. up the Meigs Creek tributary. It is on the left side of the road when traveling to Cades Cove. Watch or you will miss it. Really need a telephoto lens to get a good picture of this waterfall.
Henwallow Falls is located in the Cosby area of the park. Take Rt. 321 to Cosby, which are about18-20 miles from Gatlinburg. Drive east on 32 for 1.2 miles to Cosby. Turn right go about 2 miles to Gabes Mt Trail. This is a moderate to difficult trail with a gradual ascend almost the entire way. This is about a 4-mile hike. The trail is wide but very rocky and root laced. The waterfall is about a 75 ft. cascade into a shallow rocky pool of water. This is typically a low water volume fall. We were not real impressed with this fall especially after hiking so far.
