The Smoky Mountains are great for green, waterfall filled hiking along with amazing summit views. Narrowing down what to do and see can be overwhelming, so here is a list of 15 best day hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These range from easy to strenuous, some being family friendly, while others are great for the adventure seekers. Pick your hike based on your preference and enjoy the beautiful summits, waterfalls and unique landmarks the Smokies has to offer. Pick 1 or all, here is the list of the 15 Best Day Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Alum Cave Bluffs Trail – A favorite day hike in GSMNP that can be shortened with kids!
- Difficulty: Moderate, around 1,200 ft elevation gain.
- Family-friendly: Yes, with caution once further up due to following a ridge with drop offs. Park placed water crossings with 1 rail.
- Length and type: 5 miles (out and back), gravel and dirt trail.
- Notable locations: Alum Cave Bluffs, Arch Rock, and stunning views of the Smoky Mountains.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Gatlinburg, drive 8.6 miles south on Newfound Gap Road to the Alum Cave Trailhead. Parking lots are available at the trailhead, but do fill quickly.
Good to know: This trail can be shortened just to Arch Rock especially for families. I think even as adults, this was one of our favorite hikes in the park! Stream crossings and a staircase through a huge rock, who wouldn’t love exploring this trail!
Mount LeConte via Alum Cave – Day hike OR overnight hike! There’s even a lodge!
- Difficulty: Strenuous, around 3,000 ft elevation gain.
- Family-friendly: No, not suitable for young children.
- Length and type: 11 miles (out and back), dirt and rocky trail with drop offs.
- Notable locations: Alum Cave Bluffs, stunning views from the summit of Mount LeConte. This is the shortest, but steepest route to the summit of Mount LeConte.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Gatlinburg, drive 8.6 miles south on Newfound Gap Road to the Alum Cave Trailhead. Park at Alum Cave Trail, multiple lots that fill quickly.
Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail – A Steep and short trail with AMAZING views!
- Difficulty: Moderate, paved but steep trail.
- Family-friendly: Yes.
- Length and type: 1 mile (out and back), paved trail.
- Notable locations: Clingmans Dome Observation Tower, highest point in the park and in Tennessee.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: Located off Clingmans Dome Road, accessible via Newfound Gap Road. Seasonal road closures. Park at Clingmans Dome Parking area.
Good to know: This is sometimes marked as wheelchair accessible, but due to the steep short incline I wouldn’t recommend it.
Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail – A longer day hike with views you can’t pass up!
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. About 1,600 ft elevation change.
- Family-friendly: Yes, for older children. Firmly packed trail with some exposed cliffs.
- Length and type: 8 miles (out and back), dirt and rocky trail.
- Notable locations: Charlies Bunion rock outcrop, panoramic views of the Smokies.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: Newfound Gap parking area, the trailhead is to the left of the overlook, at the end of the parking lot near the restrooms.
Laurel Falls Trail – One of the most popular day hikes to see a lovely waterfall!
- Difficulty: Easy with about 400 ft elevation gain.
- Family-friendly: Yes.
- Length and type: 2.6 miles (out and back), “rough” paved trail
- Notable locations: Laurel Falls, one of the most popular waterfalls in the park. Expect some crowds even in off season.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Sugarlands Visitor Center, drive 3.5 miles towards Cades Cove to the Laurel Falls Trailhead. This lot fills VERY quick.
Good to know: You may see this spot marked as wheelchair or stroller accessible, but we witnessed many people not being able to make it to the top due to the roughness of the “paved” portion. Many with stroller abandoned them mid way during our visit. This is kid friendly, but there are some drop offs, so always supervise children.
Grotto Falls Trail – A day hike with a WATERFALL you can walk behind!
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate, around 550 ft elevation gain.
- Family-friendly: Yes, supervise children due to slippery rocks and wildlife.
- Length and type: 2.6 miles (out and back), dirt and rocky trail.
- Notable locations: Grotto Falls, only waterfall in the park where you can walk behind the waterfall.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Gatlinburg, take the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail for 3.8 miles to the Grotto Falls Trailhead. There is a parking lot at the Grotto Falls trailhead.
Rainbow Falls Trail – Time this hike right to catch a beautiful rainbow, hence the name!
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. Estimated 1,500 ft elevation gain.
- Family-friendly: Yes, for older children. Supervise all children due to rocky terrain, slippery rocks and active wildlife.
- Length and type: 5.4 miles (out and back), dirt and rocky trail.
- Notable locations: Rainbow Falls, an 80 foot single drop waterfall. On sunny afternoons, a rainbow may be seen.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Gatlinburg, turn at traffic light 8 and follow Historic Nature Trail into the park. Continue to the clearly signed Rainbow Falls parking area. Park at the Rainbow Falls trailhead parking lot.
Abrams Falls Trail – If you have one day to hike, add this waterfall if you go to Cades Cove!
- Difficulty: Moderate, estimated elevation gain of 340 ft.
- Family-friendly: Yes, but supervise all children due to rocky terrain, slippery rocks, strong currents/undertow, and wildlife.
- Length and type: 5 miles (out and back), dirt and rocky trail.
- Notable locations: Abrams Falls, picturesque waterfall with a large pool at the base (swimming here is NOT recommended).
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Cades Cove Loop Road, turn onto the Abrams Falls Trailhead Road. Park at the Abrams Falls lot.
Andrews Bald – Adventure and maybe pick some snacks on this Smoky Mountains hike!
- Difficulty: Moderate, estimated 1,200 ft elevation gain on return.
- Family-friendly: Yes.
- Length and type: 3.6 miles (out and back), dirt and rocky trail.
- Notable locations: Andrews Bald, beautiful grassy bald with panoramic views. Blackberries, raspberries and wildflowers are common on this trail seasonally.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: Clingmans Dome Parking Area, there will be an access trail down to the left between the bulletin board and the paved trail to the tower.
Porters Creek Trail – Historic sites for families to explore on this hike!
- Difficulty: Moderate, estimated 1,500 ft elevation gain.
- Family-friendly: Yes, but some downed trees may be difficult for younger children to navigate.
- Length and type: 7 miles (out and back), dirt and gravel trail.
- Notable locations: Historic sites including the John Messer farmstead, Porters Creek, and Fern Branch Falls.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Gatlinburg, take US-321 east, then turn left onto Greenbrier Road. Park at Porters Creek Trailhead parking lot.
Ramsey Cascades Trail – The tallest waterfall in the park, is it worth the hike? You decide..
- Difficulty: Strenuous, elevation gain of 2,000 ft.
- Family-friendly: No, not suitable for young children.
- Length and type: 8 miles (out and back), dirt and rocky trail
- Notable locations: Ramsey Cascades, the tallest waterfall in the park dropping over 100 ft.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Gatlinburg, take US-321 east, then turn onto Greenbrier Road. Less than 5 miles to Ramsey Cascades Trailhead parking lot.
Chimney Tops Trail – Well known steep day hike offering amazing views!
- Difficulty: Strenuous, elevation gain of 1,400 ft in short distance.
- Family-friendly: No, not suitable for young children
- Length and type: 3.5 miles (out and back), steep and rocky trail.
- Notable locations: Chimney Tops, unique rock formations with panoramic views. Top is closed due to being unsafe from fire damage. Views of Mt. Le Conte from the ridge.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Gatlinburg, take Newfound Gap Road to the Chimney Tops Trailhead. Very popular trail so parking fills quick.
Mt. Cammerer via Low Gap Trail – A longer favorite day hike for those willing!
- Difficulty: Strenuous, 3,150 elevation gain almost entire route.
- Family-friendly: No, not suitable for young children.
- Length and type: 13 miles (loop), dirt and rocky trail.
- Notable locations: Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower, stunning 360-degree views with almost no crowds.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Cosby, take TN-32 South for 1.2 miles to Low Gap Trailhead and parking lot.
Cucumber Gap Loop Trail – A moderate loop day hike if you have extra time!
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate, elevation gain of about 800 ft.
- Family-friendly: Yes, for older children who can handle climbing trees and over rock.
- Length and type: 5.5 miles (loop), dirt and gravel trail.
- Notable locations: Cucumber Gap, Little River, and old homestead sites.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: Located at the Little River Trailhead near Elkmont. Park at Little River Trailhead lot.
Hen Wallow Falls Trail – A 90 ft waterfall surrounded by forest to explore.
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate, steep side trail to get to the waterfall.
- Family-friendly: Yes, supervise children due to slippery rocks and wildlife.
- Length and type: 4.4 miles (out and back), dirt and rocky trail.
- Notable locations: Hen Wallow Falls, 90-foot waterfall surrounded by lush forest – side trail off of Gabe’s Mountain Trail. Lots of salamanders near the base of the falls.
- Trailhead directions & Parking: From Gatlinburg, take US-321 east for 19 miles to Cosby, then turn onto Cosby Entrance Road. Park in the Cosby Picnic Area parking lot. The falls are a side trail off of Gabe’s Mountain Trail.
Get to know the park before hiking the 15 best trails, just a little more…
The MOST VISITED National Park in the country! Great Smoky Mountains National Park has on average 12 million visitors a year. It is a portion of the Appalachian mountain range that is located in both North Carolina and Tennessee, and has abundant rainfall every year. Known for its biodiversity, lush green forests, beautiful mountains, and abundant wildlife, it offers over 800 miles of trails to explore. The Great Smoky Mountains is well known for it’s waterfalls and historic landmarks, which contributes to it’s large amount of visitors each year. In order to make the most of your day hikes, start early or later in the day to beat the heat and the crowds. Parking lots do get full QUICK on these popular trails. To learn more check out the official NPS website.
My personal opinion on the best day hikes Great Smoky Mountain National Park has to offer
We are lovers all USA National Parks and enjoy getting off the main roads to explore the woods every chance we get. We tend to pick popular trails alongside many of the overlooked trails to gain the full experience. That is how I came up with the 15 Best Day Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park list you see here.
Two of my personal favorite trails from this list are Grotto Falls and Alum Cave Bluffs Trail. We really enjoyed both of them, and even though they were both considered “popular” we were easily able to find a place to relax when we wanted, took in the views, and enjoyed the scenery the entire way without feeling crowded or rushed.
Arch Rock along the way to Alum Cave Bluffs was a highlight of our trip, being able to walk through a rock on a spiral type staircase right after a log stream crossing was a fun little memory that my family will always remember. We also really enjoyed Grotto Falls and being able to walk behind the falls, feeling the chilly mist from the water on our hands. We loved all of the trails we have done in the area for the most part, but those two stick out as a great family memory and I’d highly recommend doing them at least once in your life if you are physically able.
As always while you’re enjoying the 15 best day hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, LEAVE NO TRACE and enjoy nature!
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