GUIDE TO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK HIKING

There are plenty of things to do in the Smoky Mountains but hiking is consistently one of the most popular. Great Smoky Mountains National Park features 150 trails that extend for over 800 miles, offering some of the best hikes near Gatlinburg thanks to the swathes of natural beauty. With so many trails, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a solid slice of what Tennessee hiking is all about. For more options, check out the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Trail map. Come enjoy some of the best hiking in Tennessee by visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Appalachian Trail in the Smoky Mountains

The Appalachian Trail runs from northern Georgia to central Maine with about 71 miles running through the center of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While the most daring can hike the entire Smoky Mountains section, there are smaller portions that are available for day hikes. Some of these include Charlies Bunion (8 miles), Icewater Spring Shelter (6 miles) and Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer Creek (3.3 miles). The trail runs along the top of the Smoky Mountains and offers fantastic views of both Tennessee and North Carolina.

Chimney Tops Trail

Length: 4.4 miles
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead: From the Sugarlands Visitor Center, drive 6.7 miles south on Newfound Gap Road. There is a large parking lot on the west side of the road.

Chimney Tops is one of the most popular hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It climbs 1,400 feet in 2 miles so hikers should prepare for a steep climb. There are portions of the trail that feature steep rock scrambles that can get wet or icy. Hikers will cross a stream three times before ascending the mountain, which offers some breathtaking views.

Chimney Tops Trail

Length: 4.4 miles
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead: From the Sugarlands Visitor Center, drive 6.7 miles south on Newfound Gap Road. There is a large parking lot on the west side of the road.

Alum Cave Trail

Length: 10 miles
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead: 8.6 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road. A sign and two large parking lots mark the trailhead.

Alum Cave Trail is one you can either hike in its entirety or in segments. To get to Alum Cave bluffs, it's 2.5 miles one way but the entirety of the hike is 5 miles one way to near the peak of Mt. Le Conte. The full trail sees a rise in elevation of 1,200 feet so expect a steep climb that follows the edge of the ridge in sections. The payoff is valley views amidst the mountains.

Laurel Falls Trail

Length: 2.6 miles
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Starting at Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road, following it for 3.5 miles. Trailhead features parking areas on both sides of the road.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is full of waterfalls and plenty of hikes to reach them. One of the easier ones is Laurel Falls. The trail is paved but pavement is uneven and rough in spots. There are short, steep sections that can be slippery at times. Laurel Falls stands at 80 feet and the trail brings hikers up close to the waterfall. Come see one of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains with the trail taking you to the upper and lower sections.

Laurel Falls Trail

Length: 2.6 miles
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Starting at Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road, following it for 3.5 miles. Trailhead features parking areas on both sides of the road.

Ramsey Cascades Trail

Length: 8 miles
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead: Take Highway 321 east for 6 miles from Gatlinburg and turn at the Greenbrier entrance of the park. Follow that road for 4.7 miles.

Another hiking trail that will take you to a Smoky Mountain waterfall. This strenuous hike features rocky portions of the trail, which runs alongside a creek. The overall trail rises 2,000 feet in elevation over 4 miles. The final half of the trail runs through old-growth cove hardwood forest that features a lot of unique fauna. Once hikers arrive at the falls, they can enjoy excellent views of the 100-foot waterfall.