5 Best Surprisingly Easy Hiking Trails in the Smoky Mountains
There are several reasons you might be looking for easy hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains…
- You have small children
- You are new to hiking
- You have a physical condition that limits how far or long you can hike
- You did a hard hike yesterday, and you’re tired
All valid reasons. No shame.
So here are 5 surprisingly easy hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains that might be just what you’re looking for!
5 Surprisingly Easy Hikes – Smoky Mountains
Our criteria for choosing our “Surprisingly Easy Hikes” is surprisingly simple. Each hike must be…
- Short – Roundtrip distance less than
- Flat-ish – Elevation Gain less than
- Simple – Nothing technical or tricky
- Scenic – Who wants to go on a boring hike?
So…without further ado…
1. Oconaluftee River Trail
Oconaluftee River Trail begins conveniently at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center at the southern end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When you enter the park from Cherokee, NC, the visitors center is the first thing you will come to.
There is ample parking here, as well as a large restroom facility. The visitors center is also large and well-stocked, and you will find rangers and volunteers there to answer your questions.
(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge it.)
The trailhead to Oconaluftee River Trail is behind the visitors center. It is 3.1 miles out and back and is rated “Easy” by AllTrails.
The Oconaluftee River Trail is really a “tale of two trails”. One trail runs alongside the Oconaluftee River. It is flat, paved, and shaded. It makes for a beautiful, peaceful riverside stroll.
The other trail parallels the first trail off to your right. It is also very flat and very easy. Between the two trails are several historic structures from an old homestead, including cabins, barns, and…chickens! This “museum” is interesting – you’ll want to explore it a bit.
Pro Tip – This trail is both wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Pro Tip – Bring your dog along on this hike. It is one of only two hiking trails in the park that allow dogs. (Gatlinburg Trail is the other.) Dogs must remain leashed at all times.
Pro Tip – Elk can frequently be seen in the large field next to the visitors center, and a ranger is often there to answer your questions and ensure you are keeping a safe distance from the elk! Photo opp!
2. Deep Creek Trail
Like the Oconaluftee River Trail, the Deep Creek Trail is located in the southern section of the park, just outside Bryson City, NC. You will pass a campground and restrooms on your way to the trailhead. There is a large parking area here, but it tends to fill up noon, especially on weekends and holidays.
(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge it.)
The Deep Creek trail leads to three different waterfalls…
- Juney Whank Falls
- Tom Branch Falls
- Indian Creek Falls
(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge it.)
Juney Whank Falls Trail
Juney Whank Falls can be explored at the beginning of your hike, the end of your walk, or not at all. As you walk out of the parking lot towards the Deep Creek trailhead, the trailhead will be on your left. You can turn left to hike the Juney Whank Falls Trail or continue straight to begin Deep Creek Trail.
This is a pretty waterfall, with a short bridge leading over it. It cascades 40′ down to the bridge, then another 50′ below it, though most of this will be out of view. The waterfall itself is nice, but the hike, though short (a bit over a half mile), is steep on the ascent, and “gullied out” on the descent. It will dead end onto the Deep Creek Trail.
Turn left to continue on Deep Creek Trail to walk on to the other waterfalls, or right to go back to the parking lot.
We suggest you turn left. (Smile.)
Deep Creek Trail to Tom Branch Falls
Whether you begin on Deep Creek Trail, or join it at the end of Juney Whank, you will continue to follow Deep Creek (it will be on your right). The trail is an old roadbed and is flat, easy, shaded, and wide. You will arrive at Tom Branch Falls in 0.25 miles.
Tom Branch Falls is our favorite of these three waterfalls. The water spills for 80′ over five separate steps into Deep Creek. On the side of the trail directly across the creek from the falls, there are benches where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the view.
Deep Creek Trail to Indian Creek Falls
You’re not quite done yet. Continue on Deep Creek Trail for another 0.8 miles, turn right on Indian Creek Trail, and you’ll be just 100 yards from Indian Creek Falls.
Indian Creek Falls is 25′ high, with a run of 45′. It has a large pool at its base framed by trees and plants on the left and a stack of boulders on the right. The water here doesn’t so much fall over the edge as it seems to slide down the rock face.
This is where we turned around and hiked back to the parking lot. However, there are several other trails in this area, including Indian Creek Trail and Deep Creek Loop.
Pro Tip – Bring your swimsuit and go tubing down the creek. You will probably have a lot of company – this is a very popular spot for a very popular activity! You can rent innertubes at Deep Creek Tube Center and Campground.
3. Middle Prong Trail to Lynn Camp Cascade
The Middle Prong Trail is in the Tremont section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It takes just over an hour to drive from Gatlinburg, TN to the trailhead of Middle Prong Trail. From Gatlinburg, drive west on Highway 441 to the Sugarlands Visitor Center and turn right onto Fighting Creek Road. This will soon become Little River Gorge Rd. Continue traveling west on Little River Road for approximately 16 miles. Then turn left onto Tremont Road.
Continue past Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (on your left) for another 3.3 miles. (Unless you would like to stop! There is a small gift shop, vending machines, and restrooms here. The staff here is also very friendly. And there are no restrooms at the trailhead or on the trail…just sayin’…)
After traveling 3.3 miles on Tremont Road past Tremont Institute, you will dead end into the Middle Prong Trail parking area and trailhead. There is ample parking here.
The drive on Tremont Road is beautiful. It’s a gravel road that runs alongside the Middle Prong of the Little River. You’ll see people fishing, picnicking, hiking, biking on the road, or just sitting by the creek and reading. This is our favorite area of the entire park.
(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge it.)
The Middle Prong Trail to the Falls
Starting the Hike to Lynn Camp Cascade
The trail begins at the far end of the parking lot at the end of Tremont Road. The first thing you will do is cross a bridge. Stop when you reach the middle of the bridge and look to your left – the Lynn Camp Prong is very pretty here. Photo opp!
Just after crossing the bridge, you will encounter a fork in the trail. The right fork takes you to Panther Creek Trail, Greenbriar Ridge Trail, and the AT. Don’t go right! You want to take the left fork to the Middle Prong Trail.
The Middle Prong Trail
The Middle Prong Trail runs alongside the Lynn Camp Prong, a beautiful section of creek. At the beginning of the hike, you are just a few steps away from it. There are many cascades in the creek, giving you plenty to great photo opps!
Look for wildflowers along the right side of the trail. You’ll see rhododendrons, mountain laurels, galax, asters, and ferns, just to name a few.
Perhaps the best time to hike this trail is in the fall when the colors of the leaves are amazing. We hiked by the sound of acorns falling all around us…and occasionally on us.
Since this trail is widely used, you’ll meet some interesting folks on your hike. On our most recent trip, we met a photographer dressed in a complete wetsuit, who had been in the water photographing fish! Wasn’t expecting that…
Lynn Camp Prong Cascades
About 10 minutes into the hike you will come to a bench overlooking Lynn Camp Prong Cascades. Stop and take in the view – it’s spectacular. Yet another photo opp! Look carefully at the photo below – you can walk out on that boulder at the top of the cascade from a little farther up the trail, but be very careful if you do!
About 100′ past the first bench you will come to a pair of benches with a view of more cascades. This is where you will turn around.
4. The Sinks
The Sinks is not technically a hike…it’s really just a short walk. But it is definitely something you should see.
From Gatlinburg, take Highway 441 southwest to the Sugarlands Visitors Center, and turn right on Fighting Creek Rd, which will quickly become Little River Gorge Rd. Stay on Little River Gorge for approximately 12 miles and The Sinks will be on your right. Watch carefully, because it will sneak up on you.
There is a parking area here, but alas, no restroom. The Sinks is immediately adjacent to the parking area.
(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge it.)
The Sinks refers to an area where the Little River “sinks” down several feet, forming a waterfall. While it is not especially tall, the Little River is 70′ wide at the top, so the force of the falling waterfall is a spectacular site.
The concrete and stone viewing platform is large and perfectly positioned for taking photos of The Sinks.
Pro Tip – DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLIMB DOWN TO THE BASE OF THE SINKS. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE DROWNED HERE.
Another Pro Tip – If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging, the trailhead for Meigs Falls is at the far end of the viewing platform.
And Yet Another Pro Tip – In all likelihood you are going to pass The Sinks on your way to another hike or waterfall, given that it is on one of the most-used roads in the park. You don’t need to make a special trip to see it – just add it on while you’re driving past it anyway.
5. Gatlinburg Trail
Gatlinburg Trail has much to recommend it. It is an easy, flat hike along the west prong of the Little Pigeon River. It is also the closest trail to Gatlinburg – you can begin the trail at the edge of town if you like.
Or…you can begin the trail at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, just a short drive west from Gatlinburg into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and its restroom facility is a sidewalk leading to the Fighting Creek Nature Trail. Follow this path to a fork, stay right, and walk 0.1 miles to Park Headquarters Road. Cross this road and turn left onto the footpath. You will walk by the road another 0.4 miles or so and the trailhead will be on your right.
The hike is 3.8 miles roundtrip. We recommend stopping to dangle your feet in the cool water. Also, be on the lookout for the ruins of old homesteads along the way. This hike is known for its abundant wildflowers.
Pro Tip – Bring your dog! Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail are the only two hiking trails in the park where dogs are allowed…and you’ll see a lot of them here…so please keep your dog leashed.
Two Bonus Easy Hiking Trails Suggestions…
Nature Trails
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 11 “nature trails”. All of these nature trail hikes are short, and some are flat and easy. In fact, these may be the easiest of the easy hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains! They are known for their natural beauty and/or history.
A good example is Sugarlands Valley Nature Trails, located 0.5 miles past Sugarlands Visitors Center on Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441). The hike is only 0.5 miles long. It is flat and shady, beautiful and peaceful. The wooded trail takes you past old homesteads, wildflowers, and the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.
And it is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
There is a small parking lot here. No restrooms, but they can be found 0.5 miles up Newfound Gap Road at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Other easy nature trail hikes we recommend are…
- Spruce Fir Nature Trail
- Noah “Bud” Ogle Nature Trail
- Fighting Creek Nature Trail
- Cosby Nature Trail
Quiet Walkways
As you drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, look for small signs reading “Quiet Walkways.” Several can be seen on Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441), though they are scattered throughout the park.
Quiet Walkways are just that – they are designed for short, quiet walks. You will usually be the only person(s) there. There is very little parking, often just one pullout spot. Keep your eyes open and you’re sure to spot one (or several) on your next trip to the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
- “What should I bring on my hiking adventure?” These are easy hikes, so you won’t need much. Good shoes or boots; water; hiking poles (if you use them); camera; hat
- “Are these trails safe?” Yes. Just stay on the trail; give any animals you might see plenty of space; never hike above your skill or physical level.
- “Can I bring my dog?” Why “yes” you can, at least on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee Trail. Dogs are prohibited on all other trails. Please remember to keep your dog leashed at all times.
- “Will my kids enjoy these trails?” If your kids like to waterfalls and hiking in the woods, they will love these trails!
The Verdict – 5 Best Surprisingly Easy Hiking Trails in the Smoky Mountains
I get it – you don’t want to climb Mount Everest every time you go hiking. Sometimes, you just want to take an easy hiking trail and enjoy the experience. These trails will allow you to do that.
So get out there and have fun!
Happy Hiking!
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