Complete Guide to the Waterfall Hikes of the Great Smoky Mountains
Did you know that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park receives more rainfall than anywhere else in the United States besides the Pacific Northwest? It is one of several reasons why this park is so lush. This rain is not only essential for the 20,000+ different species that call the Smokies home, but is also essential for one of the park's best features: its waterfalls! There are many hikes that visitors can take to enjoy these beautiful falls ranging from easy to strenuous, and they are all covered in this guide to the waterfalls of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Laurel Falls
Distance: 2.6 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 314 feet
Park Section: Sugarlands/Elkmont Area
Trailhead: on Little River Road between Sugarlands Visitor Center and Elkmont
Laurel Falls is one of the most popular hikes in the park due to its accessibility, proximity to Gatlinburg, and for its beauty. The waterfall itself is tiered and is almost always guaranteed to have decent water flow. The hike also features a window-like view over the surrounding rolling mountains which is even more breathtaking if you can time the hike right with the fall color peak. Because of its popularity, the park has placed barriers to prevent people from parking off the road to reduce the impact of erosion. This means that you MUST arrive early or in the late evening to secure a parking spot, off season included. To learn about this hike more in-depth, check out this blog post.
Abrams Falls
Distance: 5.5 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 629 feet
Park Section: Cades Cove
Trailhead: the turn off is just before the Cades Cove Visitor Center on the right
Did you know that by completing this hike, you’ll have survived one of the most dangerous hikes in the US? Not because the trail itself is dangerous (it’s actually pretty straightforward), but because of the waterfall and the pool that surrounds it. Due to the massive amount of rainfall that the Smokies gets, the volume of water that Abrams Falls moves is insane. This creates deceptively strong currents that can trap even the strongest of swimmers under. Not to mention the mossy, slippery rocks created from the spray — one misstep in winter and not only do you have to worry about drowning, but now you have to worry about hypothermia. Sadly, many have lost their lives here. But I’m sure you’ll be fine! In all seriousness, it’s a wonderful hike and despite its height of only 20 feet, the waterfall is quite impressive! Just use your common sense on this one. Winter is truly a beautiful time to go and you may get to see interesting ice formations like these ice bells below.
Grotto Falls
Distance: 2.6 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 544 feet
Park Section: Gatlinburg
Trailhead: along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed December - mid-March; start at Rainbow Falls TH if road closed which adds 3.4 miles total)
Another very popular hike in the park is the Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls which means — yup, you said it — get there early! This waterfall is unique as the trail actually runs behind the falls for a different perspective. There is some steady elevation gain but nothing too crazy. If you time it right (usually MWF mornings), you may even get to see the llamas that use this trail to carry supplies up to LeConte Lodge! To extend your hike, you can keep going up to Brushy Mountain or to Mount LeConte, but keep in mind that these are both full day endeavors.
Rainbow Falls
Distance: 5.1 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 1617 feet
Park Section: Gatlinburg
Trailhead: along the Cherokee Orchard Road
At 80 feet tall, this waterfall is the tallest single-drop falls in the park...and is also the most variable. Named after the rainbow that forms in the mist on sunny days, the falls can be spectacular after the rain or barely more than a trickle when it’s hot and dry (like when I went). The trail itself through the trees is really pretty, partly thanks to the hard trail work put in by the Trails Forever crew. The hike will definitely get your heart rate up with the amount of gain over the shorter distance but it is very doable for anyone in moderate shape.
Baskins Creek Falls
Distance: 3.1 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 912 feet
Park Section: Gatlinburg
Trailhead: at the beginning of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. While this road is closed in winter, you can park at the turnaround near the “Road Closed” gate on the Cherokee Orchard Road and walk the 0.2 miles up the road to the trailhead (as of 12/2022 this is allowed; if this changes, start from the Rainbow Falls TH). Please keep your car on the pavement to reduce erosion.
Despite being easily accessible from the busy town of Gatlinburg and next to some of the most popular hikes in the park, this waterfall is not well known at all. I have a special place in my heart for this one as it was the first actual hike I was able to do after my ACL surgery back in 2018 so I remember feeling so incredibly happy on this trail. The trail has a short but steep climb to start and then a more prolonged descent to the falls. Baskins Creek Falls is a 40-foot, two-tiered beauty that is absolutely one of the most underrated falls in the park.
Cataract Falls
Distance: 1.1 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 29 feet
Park Section: Gatlinburg/Sugarlands
Trailhead: behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center
This is another waterfall that is not particularly well known despite its proximity to Gatlinburg. Located just behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center, the trail is flat and easy to navigate which makes it a great beginner hike. Unfortunately the trail is not currently ADA-accessible but I imagine that one day it will be as the trail is already fairly wide and level. The waterfall itself is small but quite pretty; it would be even better after a good rain! Just be aware that the trail can get quite muddy.
Spruce Flats Falls
Distance: 1.8 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 413 feet
Park Section: Tremont
Trailhead: go down the road leading towards the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. The TH (Lumbar Ridge Trail) is just past the bridge near the building.
The secret is out on these falls! Spruce Flats Falls is not listed on the park map and the trail the waterfall is on is not advertised as a “waterfall hike” which means it’s still flying under the radar…for now. The waterfall is also multi-tiered and splits into a couple of smaller falls towards the bottom. The hike even offers a small view towards Bote and Thunderhead Mountains at one overlook along the way. To reach the falls, take the Buckeye Trail on the right shortly after starting down the trail. When you get to the next intersection, keep left to reach the falls.
Ramsey Cascades
Distance: 8.1 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 2224 feet
Park Section: Greenbrier
Trailhead: very end of the road that goes into Greenbrier, turn left at the junction.
While the Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the US, those of us who visit the park frequently often joke that to lose the crowds in the Smokies, all you have to do is walk a few feet. Despite the proximity to Gatlinburg, you won’t find many visitors on this trail due to its difficulty which makes it a bit of a hidden gem. The trail is non-technical but the elevation gain is persistent. The hard work is worth it though once you see the cascading waterfall. So if you’re looking for a bit of a challenge with a great payoff, this is the hike for you!
Fern Branch Falls
Distance: 4.0 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 700 feet
Park Section: Greenbrier
Trailhead: Porters Creek TH in Greenbrier, keep right at the road junction
To be honest, the highlight of this hike is the trail itself and not necessarily the waterfall. The waterfall is tall but typically low in volume. The trail itself though is absolutely gorgeous, especially in the fall with the fall colors and in the spring with the wildflowers. There are some old cabins you can check out as well as several scenic footbridges across the creek.
Hen Wallow Falls
Distance: 4.5 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 964 feet
Park Section: Cosby
Trailhead: Gabes Mountain TH, located about ¾ of a way down the road towards the Cosby Campground. You could also start at the campground but this will extend your hike a little.
This waterfall is definitely off the beaten path near the small town of Cosby, TN. The Gabes Mountain Trail is not particularly exciting but it’s peaceful, especially walking the sections along the creek. I did this hike not long after a large tornado had swept the area so there were some blowdowns requiring some navigation, but even despite the blowdowns, the trail did feel a bit more rugged and less maintained than some of the other trails in the park. The waterfall is really pretty as it slides down and fans out across a steeply angled and mossy rock slope. This would be a good one to do after a big rain.
Tom Branch, Indian Creek, Juney Whank Falls
Distance: 2.4 mile loop (if doing all 3 falls on the Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop; there are options to shorten or extend your hike)
Elevation Gain: 426 feet
Park Section: Deep Creek/Bryson City
Trailhead: ½ mile down the Deep Creek entrance road
This section of the park is outside of Bryson City, North Carolina, and is not nearly as well visited as the area near Gatlinburg and Townsend. Just inside the Deep Creek entrance is an amazing waterfall-filled hike called the Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop. Tom Branch Falls tumbles straight into the creek passing by the trail, Indian Creek Falls has a massive amount of water rushing down a rock slope, and Juney Whank Falls is a huge 80-foot cascade. They’re all worth seeing if you can! This area is pretty popular in the summer for tubing which would be another great activity to do.
Mouse Creek Falls
Distance: 4.0 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 541 feet
Park Section: Big Creek
Trailhead: Big Creek TH at the end of the entrance road near the campground
Another lesser-visited area of the park, the Big Creek Trail to Mouse Creek Falls and Midnight Hole is a really pleasant hike along a creek to a serene 45-foot waterfall and deep pool. When I went it was right after a huge rain so the creek was overflowing! Just past the Midnight Hole at 1.5 miles you’ll find a spur trail near a hitching post that will take you to where you can see the waterfall. If you’ve reached the footbridge you’ve gone too far.
Honorable Mentions
While not hikes, there are a few waterfalls you can drive to in the park: Meigs Creek, The Sinks, and Place of a Thousand Drips. These are all marked on the park map and easy to access! Also just outside the national park is Mingo Falls. Located in the Cherokee Indian Reservation (Qualla Boundary), this trail is just 0.3 miles RT with 100 feet of elevation gain and leads to a tall, beautiful waterfall.
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