If you love waterfall hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains, this guide covers the most scenic and accessible trails. I’ve rounded up my favorite waterfall hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains—each one beautiful, beginner-friendly, and completely worth your time. These four trails, Grotto Falls, Laurel Falls, Cataract Falls, and Spruce Flats Falls, offer the perfect mix of effort, reward, and wow factor.
If you’re planning a longer trip, see my Easy Hikes in the Smokies guide for more trail ideas.
Trail Overview
Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Gatlinburg, TN
Distance: 2.4 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: ~585 feet
Time to Complete: 1.5–2 hours at an easy pace
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Grotto Falls is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains—and for good reason. This is the only waterfall in the park you can actually walk behind, making it a must-do for first-time visitors. The trail winds through beautiful old-growth hemlock forest and ends at a 25-foot waterfall that feels straight out of a storybook.
Parking & Trailhead Info
Trailhead: Trillium Gap Trailhead on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Parking: Small lot that fills quickly, so arrive early (before 10 a.m. during peak season). I had to park about half a mile away—but I also didn’t get there until around noon because, well, sleep.
Cost: Free, though the Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires a parking tag ($5/day or $15/week).
Navigation Tip: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a one-way loop, so plan your route before heading up.
Difficulty & Accessibility
Easy to moderate. The trail is well-maintained but can be rocky and slick near the falls. It’s kid-friendly but not stroller-friendly, and dogs aren’t allowed.
Key Features & Highlights
The 25-foot Grotto Falls steals the show—you can walk right behind it for that perfect photo. You’ll also pass through lush hemlock forest with wildflowers in spring, and if you look closely, you might spot salamanders near the falls. There are small pools below the waterfall where you can cool off in summer.
Timing & Seasonality
Best early in the morning for cooler temps and fewer crowds. Open year-round, though the trail can get icy in winter. Weekdays and off-season months are ideal if you want more peace and quiet.
Navigation Tips
Follow the Trillium Gap Trail signs—it’s an easy route but can get muddy after rain. If you’re up for a longer adventure, this same trail continues all the way to Mount LeConte.
Facilities & Amenities
No bathrooms or water refill stations at the trailhead. Stop in Gatlinburg first. A few rocks and logs along the way make good rest stops.
What to Bring
Hiking shoes with traction, water, and a small snack. Bring a rain jacket or quick-dry layers if you plan to stand behind the falls, and bug spray in warmer months.
Safety & Things to Know
The rocks behind the waterfall are slippery—use caution. This is bear country, so keep your distance and never feed or approach wildlife. Cell service is limited, so download your map before you go.
My Experience
I loved this hike—it’s the perfect “reward to effort” ratio. The trail is long enough to feel like you did something but not so hard you need a recovery day. Walking behind the waterfall felt magical, and yes, my hair got damp, but totally worth it. By the time we got back, the parking lot was completely full, so starting early is definitely the way to go.
Trail Overview
Location: Near the Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Distance: 0.75 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Time to Complete: 20–30 minutes
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Cataract Falls is one of the easiest waterfall hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains, perfect for families or anyone wanting a short, peaceful walk.
Parking & Trailhead Info
Trailhead: Behind Sugarlands Visitor Center, just outside Gatlinburg
Parking: Large lot with plenty of space.
Cost: Free, though a GSMNP parking tag is required ($5/day or $15/week).
Navigation Tip: Follow the clearly marked path behind the Visitor Center—it’s simple to find and easy to follow.
Difficulty & Accessibility
Easy. Flat and shaded, this short trail suits almost all fitness levels. Not entirely stroller-friendly, but fine for kids.
Key Features & Highlights
Cataract Falls is a pretty 25-foot cascade tucked into the forest. The path follows Fighting Creek with bridges, streams, and lots of greenery—great for photos, especially in spring.
Timing & Seasonality
Open year-round. The forest is lush in spring and early summer, and the trail stays shaded on hot days.
Facilities & Amenities
Restrooms, water fountains, and park maps are available at Sugarlands Visitor Center before you start.
What to Bring
Just comfortable walking shoes and a camera.
Safety & Things to Know
Rocks near the waterfall can be slick. Keep an eye on kids near the water.
My Experience
This isn’t an all-day adventure, but it’s a great quick stop if you’re already near Sugarlands Visitor Center. The falls are small but lovely, and it’s an easy way to stretch your legs before heading deeper into the park.
Trail Overview
Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Gatlinburg, TN
Distance: 2.6 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: ~314 feet
Time to Complete: 1–1.5 hours at an easy pace
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Laurel Falls is one of the most famous waterfall hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains, known for its fully paved trail and beautiful 80-foot, two-tiered waterfall. It’s a great choice for families, couples, or anyone who wants a big payoff with minimal effort.
Parking & Trailhead Info
Trailhead: About 3.5 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center on Little River Road
Parking: Small lot with limited roadside parking—arrive early.
Cost: Free, though GSMNP requires a parking tag ($5/day or $15/week).
Navigation Tip: If the lot is full, drive a little farther for roadside parking and walk back carefully along Little River Road.
Difficulty & Accessibility
Easy. This is one of the few paved trails in the park, making it accessible for strollers with sturdy wheels. The incline is steady but gentle. The pavement can get slippery when wet, so wear shoes with good grip.
Key Features & Highlights
Laurel Falls features a stunning 80-foot waterfall split into upper and lower sections with a footbridge crossing between them—perfect for photos. The trail is lined with mountain laurel, which blooms in late spring and gives the falls its name.
Timing & Seasonality
This trail is open year-round and busiest in spring and fall. Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds. Winter hikes can be beautiful but watch for icy patches.
Navigation Tips
The paved path makes this an easy trail to follow. Stay on the trail—there are steep drop-offs near the waterfall, and climbing on rocks is dangerous.
Facilities & Amenities
No bathrooms or water stations at the trailhead; the nearest are at Sugarlands Visitor Center.
What to Bring
Water, comfortable shoes with traction, and your camera for photos from the bridge.
Safety & Things to Know
Watch children closely near drop-offs, and avoid climbing past the bridge. Cell service is limited.
My Experience
Laurel Falls is the hike I always recommend to people who say they’re “not hikers.” It’s paved, short, and the view is incredible. Standing on the footbridge between the two tiers is the best spot for photos. It gets crowded, but it’s popular for a reason—quick, easy, and stunning.
Trail Overview
Location: Tremont area, near Townsend, TN
Distance: 1.8 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: ~400 feet
Time to Complete: 1–1.5 hours
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Spruce Flats Falls is one of the best hidden waterfall hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains, offering a peaceful setting and a beautiful waterfall without a long climb.
Parking & Trailhead Info
Trailhead: Lumber Ridge Trailhead, behind the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Parking: Small lot at the Institute (free but limited).
Cost: Free, but a GSMNP parking tag is required ($5/day or $15/week).
Navigation Tip: From the parking area, follow signs for Lumber Ridge Trail. The path isn’t marked as clearly as Laurel or Grotto, so watch for trail markers.
Difficulty & Accessibility
Easy to moderate. The trail is short but uneven with tree roots and rocks. Wear shoes with traction.
Key Features & Highlights
The waterfall is a stunning, multi-tiered cascade that drops about 30 feet over mossy rocks into a pool. It’s quieter than other Smoky Mountain waterfall hikes, which makes it feel extra special.
Timing & Seasonality
Open year-round, but especially beautiful in spring when wildflowers bloom and in fall with colorful foliage. The waterfall flows best after rain.
Facilities & Amenities
No bathrooms or water stations at the trailhead. Stop at the Tremont Visitor Center before your hike.
What to Bring
Sturdy shoes, water, and a camera.
Safety & Things to Know
The rocks around the waterfall are slippery. Avoid climbing on them.
My Experience
Spruce Flats Falls feels like one of those “locals know” places in the Smokies. The short hike and peaceful surroundings make it a perfect break from the busier trails. It’s one of those spots where you end up lingering a little longer, just listening to the water and soaking in the quiet.
Waterfall hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains combine everything that makes this park special—lush forests, mountain air, and scenic views that make every step worth it. Whether you’re chasing the mist behind Grotto Falls, admiring the height of Laurel Falls, or relaxing by the quiet pools of Spruce Flats, each of these trails shows off a different side of the Smokies.
If you only have time for one, make it Grotto or Laurel Falls. But honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Lace up your hiking shoes, pack a snack, and go chase a waterfall—or four.
For more trip ideas, see my Spend a Week in Gatlinburg and Sevierville, and Where to Eat in Gatlinburg guides.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Filing this one under “go now before it gets cold.” Bonneville Hot Springs is one of those trips where fall access is honestly the sweet spot the campground road is open, the hike in is short, and you skip the snow-and-gate situation we dealt with when we went in March.
September and early fall mean clearer trails, easier parking, and pools that are just as good without the extra mile of hiking to earn them. Fewer than 10 people out there when we visited, a rustic changing booth, zero amenities, and pools that range from “relax” to “actually scalding” until you move some rocks around and mix in river water. Small waterfalls feeding in, mountains in every direction, not polished, and that’s exactly the point.
Full breakdown on parking, what to pack, and timing it right is linked in my bio.
Summer’s not even over and I already have the itch. Fall hiking season is calling and I am answering.
Save this if you feel the itch too.🍁
Columbus hotel roundup because “just find something downtown” isn’t a strategy✈️
I stayed across the price spectrum on this one so I could actually compare notes. Hotel LeVeque is the splurge Art Deco lobby, marble bathrooms, and a restaurant (The Keep) worth visiting even if you don’t book a room. If you want to walk everywhere, Le Méridien puts you right in the Short North with murals and shops outside your door. And if budget’s the priority, Aloft gets you clean and modern near Ohio State without the markup.
Want a full escape from the city instead? Hocking Hills lodges and Gervasi Vineyard are both an easy drive out and worth the detour.
Not every hotel on this list is for every trip... that’s kind of the point. Full breakdown by neighborhood and budget, link in bio 🍂
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
