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Tennessee and North Carolina share the Great Smoky Mountain Range. Part of the International Biosphere Reserve, the range is home to an estimated 187,000 acres of old-growth forest and follows the Appalachian Trail.
The Smokies offer some of the most stunning vistas in the southeastern United States. And hiking is a great way to see and experience these mountains’ majestic splendor.
Hikes don’t always have to be challenging to have fun. The best thing about short and basic trails is that they allow a hiker to enjoy the hidden wonders along the way, including endangered species of animals and plants and rediscovered insects long thought extinct.
Over 500 named trailheads and miles of paths crisscross the Great Smoky Mountains. These trails are administered and maintained by the National Park Service. The routes range from leisurely casual strolls to moderately complex to highly rocky and challenging. But regardless of the complexity, all routes have their rewards.
Easy Trails
The Gatlinburg Trail
The Gatlinburg Trail is a beginner trail and a perfect way to start Smoky Mountain hiking. The trail head starts near Gatlinburg, TN.
The Sugarlands Visitor Center marks the beginning of this 3.9-mile roundtrip hike. With an easy slope, the elevation gain is a mere 235-feet. And the 21-minute loop of Cataract Falls is only a half-mile away.
You can hike, walk, bike, and even bring your pet along on these trails. Once back at the Visitor Center, there are picnic areas where hikers can sit and refresh.
Laurel Falls
Also located near Gatlinburg, Laurel Falls’s 2.3-mile back and forth hike gently rises to about 314 feet, and is considered one of the best waterfall trails in the Smoky Mountains. The walk takes just about an hour, but an 80-foot waterfall awaits at the top making the journey worth the time. This trail is extremely popular in May when the Mountain Laurel blooms, and parking may be an issue.
Deep Creek Waterfall Loop
Deep Creek Waterfall Loop is a 2.4-mile loop trail near Bryson City, North Carolina. It is a well-loved path for day hikes and is best visited from April through September. An accessible route that takes a little over an hour to complete.
Little River Trail
The 12-mile loop at Little River Trail starts with a wide paved path near the Elkmont Campground in Gatlinburg. It passes by old homestead cabins and through expansive meadows. Little River Trail takes an average of five hours to complete, gaining only 412-feet in elevation.
The Little River Trail is popular with families, but dogs are not allowed. Open year-round, the trail passes a 20-foot waterfall cascades into the river below. The trail area is also home to the famous “synchronous fireflies.”
Oconaluftee River Trail
With an elevation gain of roughly 70 feet, Oconaluftee Trail is one of the short trails in the Smoky Mountains. This trail is in Cherokee, NC. It’s a well-traveled route for hiking, road biking, and trail running that takes about an hour to complete. The Mountain Farm Museum marks the beginning of this three-mile round trip trail.
As you walk alongside the river, monuments provide historical context, and over 40 species of wildflowers are identified on this year-round route.
Dogs are welcome on a leash.
Elkmont Nature Trail
The Elkmont Nature Trail is one of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains if you only have an hour. A .8-mile loop near Gatlinburg takes 20 minutes to complete.
The beautiful tree cover is home to dozens of bird species. Not overly crowded, this loop has an elevation gain of 95 feet. The trail is open year-round, but dogs need to stay home.
Big Creek & Mouse Creek Falls
Perfect for all skill levels, the Big Creek & Mouse Creek Falls trail is rocky terrain that takes about two hours to hike. The 4.0-mile roundtrip trail near Hartford, Tennessee, also welcomes horses. The elevation gain is moderate at 605-feet, but the
A 25-foot waterfall and river views make the trek worth the time. Along the trail is the infamous swimming hideaway – the Midnight Hole. And while horses are welcome, dogs should stay at home.
Medium Trails
Indian Flat Falls
Indian Flat Falls and Middle Prong Trails is a 7.8-mile trail near Townsend, Tennessee. With an elevation gain of 1772, it takes an average of three and a half hours to complete. A favorite area for camping, fishing, and hiking, area enthusiasts find the waterfalls and extensive wildflowers to help pass the time.
Abrams Falls
Abram Falls is the epitome of a scenic nature hike in Townsend, TN. The trail’s waterfall is a 25-foot arc of water cascading over a rocky cliff into the pool below. This 5.2-mile roundtrip trail takes over two hours to complete and gains 675-feet in elevation. Abram Falls is a popular hiking trail with significant traffic during certain times.
Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls is another hike with a waterfall surprise in Gatlinburg. If you follow the Trillium Gap Trailhead, you will glimpse the 25-foot waterfall. Only moderately tricky, this 2.6 miles round trip hike gains 585 feet of elevation and takes about 90 minutes to complete. A popular attraction, dogs, are best left at home.
Baskins Creek Falls
The Baskins Creek Falls trailhead is part of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and is considered halfway between easy and moderate. This 3-mile round trip hike takes about two hours to complete and includes an elevation gain of 953 feet, but the 40-foot, two-tiered waterfall is worth the climb.
The trail is in bloom from the Spring through the Fall but floods quickly, and most hikers avoid the area after heavy rainfall. You can access this trail from Gatlinburg.
Rainbow Falls Trail
Rainbow Falls Trail is considered a moderately challenging route near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This scenic pathway combines river views and waterfalls with the quiet of forest groves. Rainbow Falls takes about three hours to complete the 5.1-mile roundtrip and achieve 1671 feet in elevation. The best times to visit this local favorite are March through November.
Andrews Bald
Moderately complex, the Andrews Bald trail has a roundtrip length of 3.6 miles near Bryson City, North Carolina. With an easy elevation gain of 899 feet, this two-hour hike allows hikers and walkers to experience the extensive wildflower species common in the Smoky Mountains. Andrews Bald is considered a kid-friendly trail.
Charlies Bunion
Newfound Gap Road leads directly to Charlies Bunion Trail, a well-used hiking route including Mount Ambler, Mount Kephart, and Masa Knob.
The craggy trails cover an eight-mile round trip with steep drop-offs. Charles Bunion begins at the Newfound Gap parking area and follows the Appalachian Trail – gaining 1,640 feet in elevation with a moderate incline. It takes about four hours to complete, starting in Gatlinburg. It is rare to walk alone on this popular trail.
Hard Trails
Alum Cave Trail – Mt Leconte
The trek to Mt Leconte is one of the more strenuous Smoky Mountain hiking trails — gaining 2,763 feet in elevation. Awe-inspiring, Mount Leconte is the Smoky Mountains’ third highest peak at 6,593 feet and can be reached through the Alum Cave Trail in Gatlinburg. This trail is an 11-mile, seven-hour adventure. After a leisurely start, the first attraction, at 1.3 miles, is Arch Rock. A mile later, hikers will reach another of the trail’s prominent landmarks – Inspiration Point. Additional highlights lead to Alum Cave Bluff and then the peak of Mount LeConte. At the top of the mountain, visitors will find LeConte Lodge, a rest point, or rustic overnight lodging.
Different trails lead to Mount Leconte. Hikers can choose between Alum Cave Trail, Boulevard Trail, Bullhead Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, and Trillium Gap Trail. The Alum Cave Trail sees the most foot traffic and is crowded from April through November out of all the options. Because of its popularity, the nearby parking lots fill up quickly.
Mount Cammerer
The hike to Mount Cammerer via the Low Gap Trail is pretty steep, with an elevation gain of 3,169 feet. This route is considered challenging, taking almost seven hours to finish. But the top of Mount Cammerer near Cosby, Tennessee, overlooks the Pigeon River Gorge, providing stunning views for those who complete the 11.1-mile hike.
Chimney Tops Trail
Chimney Tops Trail is a challenging out-and-back trail near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and one of the Smoky Mountains’ most popular hiking trails. The entire hike extends roughly 3.6 miles and averages two and a half hours to complete.
One of the few mountains with a bare rock summit, the trail’s elevation gain reaches 1,286 feet. An extremely steep hike, hikers should note that they have to climb more than 960 feet in the last mile to reach the summit.
Rocky Top from Lead Cove Trail
Rocky Top is a strenuous hike. And experienced hikers often take over seven and a half hours to complete the circuit. The Lead Cove Trail is located near Townsend, Tennessee, and extends roughly 13.9 miles with an elevation gain of 3,864 feet. The Rocky Top summit is part of the Appalachian Trail in its splendor, as are the other two rocky summits on Thunderhead Mountain.
Gregory Bald
Gregory Ridge Trail to Gregory Bald is an 11.6-mile out-and-back trail near Townsend, Tennessee. The route has an elevation gain of 3,359 feet, making this an extremely challenging trail hike — the roundtrip averages seven hours. The path is narrow and rocky at times, but the Gregory Bald is a world-renowned trail, regardless of its difficulty, because of the stunning azalea blooms in June and the summer wild blueberries that cover the area. The area is also famous for camping and backpacking.
Clingmans Dome Trail
Clingmans Dome Trail is a 17.4-mile roundtrip hike near Gatlinburg. This challenging route averages nine hours to complete and gains 4071 feet in elevation. Hikers can rest at the park’s Observation Tower and take in the awe-inspiring mountain views at the midpoint. The Observation Tower is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s highest point — at 6,643 feet.
Ramsey Cascades
Ramsey Cascades is a challenging 8-mile out-and-back trail open year-round, just an hour and a half from Asheville, North Carolina. The first 1.5 miles of the trail begin as a gradual climb following an abandoned logging route. It gets steeper and rockier the last mile to the Cascades. The 2,294 gain in elevation takes roughly five hours to complete. While considered a strenuous hike, the 100-foot-tiered waterfalls, flowers, and animals are worth the effort.
With this, you’re ready to hike to your heart’s content on your next getaway to the Smoky Mountains. Enjoy!
Featured Image Credit: Roni Ben Ishay
