Our 3 Favorite Waterfalls In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 11 different waterfalls. The trails leading to these beautiful sights vary in distance and difficulty. We have narrowed it down to our 3 favorites.

Here Are Our 3 Favorite Waterfalls In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

Grotto Falls

The hike to this 25 foot waterfall is only 1.3 miles each way for a total round trip of 2.6 miles. What we love about this one is how the trail takes you behind the waterfall. To get there, take Historic Nature Trail (traffic light 8) from downtown Gatlinburg, then turn onto Roaring Fork Nature Trail. There is a large parking area at the trailhead.

Don’t forget to wear hiking shoes because portions of the trail are rocky. Supervise children at all times and do not climb on the rocks as they are very slippery.

Laurel Falls

We have a couple of reasons for adding this waterfall to our list. First of all, the hike is only 1.3 miles each way. But we also chose this one because of its close proximity to Downtown Gatlinburg. The trailhead is only 3.5 miles from the Sugarlands Visitors Center. To get there, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road. There is a limited amount of parking along the side of the road at the trailhead.

This waterfall is unique because it has a lower and upper section with a walkway crossing the stream between the sections. The first part of the trail is paved, but it becomes rocky and uneven as you get closer to the falls, so don’t forget to wear those hiking shoes!

Abrams Falls

This one is for the adventure-seekers because the round-trip hike is 5 miles and some portions of the trail may be considered difficult for some visitors. Abrams Falls is located inside of the Cades Cove loop. The waterfall is only 20 foot high, but there is a large volume of water flowing over the falls with a long, deep, picturesque pool at the base. The hike to the falls and back will take about 3 to 4 hours. Keep in mind that there can be heavy traffic on the loop road during busy times of the year, so plan for extra time to drive into and out of Cades Cove.

Prepare For Your Great Smoky Mountains Waterfall Hike:

When you head out to visit a waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, be sure to bring plenty of drinking water and wear hiking shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are NOT recommended. Also, keep in mind that black bears may sometime be present along trails. For that reason, pets are not allowed on any of these trails.

What is your favorite waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram.