Best Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Smoky Mountains hikes at a glance

The table lists 11 hikes in rough order of effort. Distances are round trip and come from NPS trail pages. The NPS publishes elevation gain for only a few of these hikes, so the other figures come from Hiking Project and East Coast Hiker GPS data and are rounded; treat them as close estimates. Times are typical for a steady hiking pace with short stops.

Difficulty in the Smokies is mostly about steepness, roots and rock steps rather than altitude. A 3.5-mile hike like Chimney Tops can feel harder than a flat 5-mile walk, so look at the gain column before you pick.

Before you go: parking tags, crowds and closures

There is no entrance fee, but any vehicle parked in the park for more than 15 minutes must display a parking tag: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. That covers every trailhead in this guide. Buy and print a daily or weekly tag on Recreation.gov before you arrive, since cell service is poor in most of the park, or buy one at a visitor center or park tag machine. A tag does not reserve a parking space.

The NPS warns of extreme crowding and limited parking at Alum Cave, Chimney Tops, Rainbow Falls, Ramsey Cascades, Andrews Bald and Kuwohi. Arrive before about 8 a.m. on summer and October weekends, or hike on a weekday. The NPS lists authorized commercial hiker shuttles on its shuttles page; most run March through October, and park staff cannot book them for you.

Laurel Falls Trail, normally the park's most popular waterfall walk, has been closed since January 6, 2025, from the Fighting Creek Gap Road trailhead to the Little Greenbrier and Cove Mountain trail junction. The original estimate was about 18 months, but as of October 2026 the NPS says it anticipates reopening sometime in 2027. The lower Sugarlands Mountain Trail from the same trailhead is also closed.

• Bullhead Trail (one route up Mount LeConte) is closed Monday through Thursday, except federal holidays, through November 19, 2026, for rehabilitation work.
• Caldwell Fork, Gunter Fork and Swallow Fork trails are closed because of Hurricane Helene damage, and Big Creek Trail is open only for its first 2 miles, to Mouse Creek Falls.
• Carlos Campbell Overlook on Newfound Gap Road is temporarily closed while crews assess cracked pavement.
• Check the NPS Closures and Alerts page on the morning of your hike; conditions change after storms.

Easy hikes for families

The Oconaluftee River Trail is the flattest walk in this list: 3 miles round trip on a wide gravel path from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center along the river toward Cherokee. It is one of only two park trails that allow leashed dogs and bicycles, and elk often graze in the fields near the visitor center.

Grotto Falls is a 2.6-mile round trip on the Trillium Gap Trail to a 25-foot waterfall that the trail passes behind. The NPS rates it moderate because of rocky footing, but children who are used to walking can usually manage it. The trailhead is on the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which is open April 17 to November 29 in 2026 and does not allow buses, trailers or motor homes. Parking at the trailhead is limited.

The Kuwohi tower walk, covered below, is short but steep and rounds out the easy options.

Alum Cave Trail and Mount LeConte

Alum Cave Trail is the most popular route in the park, and for good reason. It starts on Newfound Gap Road (US 441) about 6.8 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center, follows a creek through rhododendron, then climbs through Arch Rock, a natural tunnel with stone steps. Turning around at Arch Rock makes an easy 2.8-mile outing.

Past Arch Rock the trail gets much steeper. Alum Cave Bluffs, 2.3 miles in (4.6 miles round trip, about 1,100 feet of gain), is a sandy overhang that rises 75 feet above the trail. In cold weather the NPS warns of ice on the trail and falling icicles from the bluff, and recommends microspikes in winter.

Strong hikers continue to the summit of Mount LeConte (6,593 feet), 10 miles round trip with roughly 2,800 feet of gain. The NPS describes the upper trail as steep and rocky, with stairs and bridges. LeConte Lodge sits near the top; it is reached only on foot and needs advance reservations (see the camping guide). Other routes to the summit are Rainbow Falls, Bullhead and Trillium Gap trails.

The trailhead lots fill early. Pets are not allowed, and the restroom at the trailhead is a seasonal pit toilet.

Chimney Tops and Charlies Bunion

Chimney Tops Trail starts on Newfound Gap Road about 7 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center. It is only 3.5 miles round trip, but it gains about 1,400 feet, most of it on stone and timber steps in the upper half. The NPS describes steep inclines, early bridge crossings and stairs.

A November 2016 wildfire burned the summit area. The trail now ends at an observation point with a close view of the rock pinnacles, and the route beyond to the bare summit is closed. Do not go past the closed sign and gate; the burned slopes are unstable and prone to erosion.

Charlies Bunion is an 8-mile round trip on the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap, gaining about 1,600 feet. The trailhead is at the far end of the Newfound Gap parking area on the left. The route follows the state line ridge to a rocky outcrop with open views over the Tennessee side. The outcrop has sheer drop-offs, so keep children close and stay back from the edge. Newfound Gap Road can close in snow and ice, and the NPS recommends microspikes in winter.

Kuwohi and Andrews Bald

Kuwohi Observation Tower is a 1-mile round trip on a paved path from the Kuwohi parking area to the tower on the park's highest summit (6,643 feet). The path climbs about 330 feet and is steep the whole way. Pets are not allowed on this trail.

Andrews Bald is a grassy mountain meadow reached by the Forney Ridge Trail, which starts at the same parking area. The 3.6-mile round trip drops about 800 feet on the way out, so the return is the uphill half; the NPS calls it a relatively strenuous climb back. Flame azaleas and rhododendron bloom on the bald in early summer.

Both hikes depend on Kuwohi Road, which in 2026 is open April 1 to November 29 and closes in winter. Temperatures here are often 10 to 20 degrees cooler than in Gatlinburg, so bring a warm layer.

Waterfall hikes: Abrams Falls, Rainbow Falls and Ramsey Cascades

Abrams Falls is a 5-mile round trip from the Abrams Falls Trailhead, about halfway around the one-way Cades Cove Loop Road between signposts 10 and 11. The NPS says it takes about 3 to 4 hours to hike, and you should also allow 3 to 4 hours to drive the 11-mile loop in heavy traffic. The trail crosses three narrow log bridges and ends at a short, powerful waterfall with a large pool.

Do not swim here. The NPS strongly discourages swimming at Abrams Falls because of slippery rocks and a deadly undertow, and several people have died at the falls over the years. Cades Cove Loop Road is open sunrise to sunset and typically closes to vehicles on Wednesdays from May through September, so plan a different day if you want to drive to the trailhead in summer.

Rainbow Falls Trail starts on Cherokee Orchard Road just outside Gatlinburg and climbs about 1,500 feet in 2.8 miles to the falls (5.6 miles round trip). The NPS calls it relatively steep and rocky, and notes that the trail is often icy in winter. Parts of the route pass through areas burned in 2016.

Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in the park. The hike is 8 miles round trip from the end of Ramsey Prong Road in the Greenbrier area, and the NPS says it gains more than 2,000 feet, with steep sections, roots and rocks near the top. The upper part passes through old-growth forest. Do not climb on the cascades; the NPS warns that the rocks around the top of the falls are muddy and slippery. Parking at the end of the road is limited.

Hiking safety, bears and what to bring

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the park, and the NPS does not recommend swimming or wading. Never climb on or near the edge of waterfalls; wet rock covered in mist and algae is extremely slippery. After heavy rain, streams rise fast, so do not cross a flooded stream. Turn back or wait for the water to drop.

Weather changes quickly, and hypothermia is possible even in summer when it is cool, wet and windy. Wear layers, avoid cotton and carry a rain jacket. Cell coverage is extremely limited, so tell someone your plan, and consider a personal locator beacon for long hikes. Treat stream water before drinking; the NPS recommends boiling for one minute or using a filter rated to 1 micron.

About 1,900 black bears live in the park. It is illegal to willfully approach within 50 yards (150 feet) of a bear, or any distance that disturbs it. Feeding wildlife is prohibited, and violations can bring fines up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail.

If a bear approaches or follows you, change direction. If it keeps coming, stand your ground, never run, and shout and act aggressively; if it attacks, fight back rather than playing dead. You may carry EPA-registered bear spray, and the NPS says to use it only when a bear is within about 20 yards. Report unusual bear behavior to a ranger or call 865-436-1230. Give elk a wide berth as well, especially near Oconaluftee and Cataloochee.

• A printed parking tag for every day you park.
• Water (1 liter per 2 hours) and a filter or tablets for longer hikes.
• Rain jacket and a warm layer, even in summer.
• Sturdy shoes with good grip; sandals are a bad idea on rocky trails.
• A headlamp; the NPS says your phone does not count as a light.
• A paper map such as the free NPS trail map, since phones often have no signal.
• Microspikes from late fall to early spring on high trails like Alum Cave and Charlies Bunion.
• Snacks, first aid kit and sun protection.

Permits, pets and accessible trails

Day hikes need no permit or reservation, only a parking tag. Any overnight stay in the backcountry needs a permit, which since April 30, 2026 is issued through Recreation.gov. Permits cost $8 per person per night plus a $6 non-refundable permit fee. Details are in our Smokies camping guide.

Dogs are allowed on only two park trails: the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. They must stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

No major trail in this list is fully ADA accessible. The Oconaluftee River Trail is flat, wide and graveled, and the NPS describes it as wheelchair, stroller and bike friendly. The Gatlinburg Trail, about 4 miles round trip from Sugarlands Visitor Center, is wide and mostly level with a couple of steeper sections, and GRIT Freedom Chairs (all-terrain wheelchairs) can be borrowed there for free on a first-come basis. The Kuwohi path is paved but very steep.

More Great Smoky Mountains guides

• Best Time to Visit Great Smoky Mountains National ParkWhen to visit the Great Smokies: April wildflowers, the May firefly lottery, summer crowds, October color by elevation and winter road closures.
• Great Smoky Mountains Parking Tag Guide (Park It Forward)Great Smoky Mountains has no entrance fee, but parking over 15 minutes needs a tag: $5 a day, $15 a week, $40 a year. Who needs one, where to buy, exemptions.
• Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Campgrounds, Reservations and TipsAll 10 Smoky Mountains campgrounds compared: sites, seasons, $30 fees, RV limits and 6-month Recreation.gov booking, plus backcountry permits and LeConte Lodge.