Discover the Magic of Abrams Falls Trail

Abrams Falls flowing into its large base pool, surrounded by colorful foliage

Abrams Falls Trail is in our Top Three Hikes in the Smoky Mountains because it leads to Abrams Falls, our favorite waterfall in the entire park! Of all the waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we believe this one is the best. This hike is mandatory!

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about this beautiful waterfall.

What's Inside This Post...

Directions to Abrams Falls

Abrams Falls Trail is located on the Cades Cove Scenic Drive. Cades Cove is approximately 28 miles from Gatlinburg, TN. Drive time, depending on the traffic, is about an hour.

From Gatlinburg, drive southwest on Highway 441 (Parkway) for about 2.5 miles, then turn right on Fighting Creek Rd at the Sugarlands Visitors Center. Fighting Creek Rd will soon become Little River Gorge Rd. Follow Little River Gorge Rd for 17 miles, where it will become Laurel Creek Rd. Continue straight for another 7.5 miles and you’ll be at the entrance to Cades Cove.

(Click on the map to enlarge the image.)

Map showing directions from Gatlinburg to the entrance of Cades Cove

And if you’re beginning in Pigeon Forge, TN, Cades Cove is a little closer, 26 miles away, a bit less than an hour’s drive, depending on traffic. Follow Parkway, the main road through Pigeon Forge, to Wears Valley Road, and turn left. Drive 15 miles on Wears Valley Road/Hwy 321 to E Lamar Alexander Parkway and turn left.

Drive 2.2 miles and you’ll be at the “triangle”. Turn right on Laurel Creek Road, drive 7.5 miles and you’ll be at the entrance to Cades Cove.

(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge the image.)

Map giving directions from Pigeon Forge, TN to Cades Cove

The Cades Cove Scenic Loop is approximately 11 miles long. You’ll see the turn-off to Abrams Falls after 5.6 miles on the drive.

Five Reasons You’ll Love Abrams Falls Trail

Here are five reasons why Abrams Fall Trail is the BEST!

The Parking and the Restroom

At this point of your drive around the scenic loop, you will have probably been driving for 1-2 hours. And if you’re like me, you’ll be looking for a restroom! Good news…there’s a restroom right in the center of the parking lot for Abrams Falls Trail. It’s not fancy, but it serves the purpose.

The parking area is large. You’ll have trouble finding a parking spot. Sometimes people “tailgate” here either before or after their hike. I support that idea!

The parking area loops around the restroom. The trailhead begins opposite the entrance to the parking area.

Hiking Abrams Falls Trail

Abrams Falls Trail is 5.0 out and back and rated “Moderate” by AllTrails due to 616′ of elevation gain along the way. The trail has some rocks and roots, but nothing to be concerned about.

Be sure to look for and follow the correct trail sign. There are several other hiking trailheads in this area, and you don’t want to take the wrong one! As you can see from the sign in the photo below, no pets are allowed on this trail. Sorry.

Your hike begins by crossing over the bridge over Abrams Creek and continues alongside the creek all the way to the falls. On the far side of the bridge the trail forks. The right fork will take you 0.5 miles to the old Elijah Oliver cabin. Take the left fork to continue to Abrams Falls.

Wooden bridge over a creek with autumn-colored trees in the background

Abrams Falls Trail is home to an abundance of wildflowers. Sweet Shrub, one of our favorites, can be found here. Look for the deep red flower petals. The Sweet Shrub is fragrant, so much so that the women who settled in this area used the petals as perfume. There is also a great deal of Mountain Laurel here.

The trail continues to meander alongside the creek for 2.5 miles. When you cross the log footbridge over Wilson Creek you are just about there!

Mary Ellen (author's wife) on a single bridge crossing a stream

The Most Beautiful Waterfall in the Park

With a vertical drop of 25′, Abrams Falls is not the highest waterfall in the park, but it is certainly one of the most powerful. A huge volume of water comes rushing over the edge of these falls, making for an impressive display.

The area is surrounded by trees and is especially pretty in the fall when the leaves turn red and gold.

All along the left side of the area are large rocks and boulders, perfect for sitting down on for a picnic lunch or scrambling on just for fun. You can even walk out to the boulder at the base of the waterfall (pictured below) where you can feel the spray from the falls. Just be careful – it can be a little slippery out there!

The Pool at the Base of Abrams Falls

The pool at the base of Abrams Falls is perhaps the largest natural pool in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is 100′ long and nearly that wide. It is a beautiful spot!

Pro Tip – This looks like a good place to go swimming, but DON’T! The pool is deep, and the waterfall produces a powerful current and undertow.

Pro Tip – Don’t forget your camera. Some of the nicest photos you’ll take in the Smoky Mountains will be right here.

Abrams Falls pouring into the very large plunge pool at its base

The Cades Cove Visitors Center

After your hike to Abrams Falls, you’ll continue on the Cades Cove Scenic Loop. But before going very far you’ll arrive at the Cades Cove Visitors Center. Might I make a suggestion? This is a great spot to stop and take a break.

The parking area here is quite large. There is also a large restroom facility. The Visitors Center itself is not large, but the surrounding area is. You’ll find an old, still operating gristmill here, as well as other historic structures. (There were also a couple of wild turkeys hanging out the last time we were there.)

Rangers regularly do talks here about a variety of subjects. On a recent visit, a ranger had a volunteer dressed up as a bear and was doing a talk on bear safety. Informative and entertaining!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just drive to Abrams Falls without hiking to it? Nope, sorry. To see Abrams Falls you’ll need to hike Abrams Falls Trail.
How busy is Abrams Falls? This is a popular spot, even more so on weekends and holidays. Try to go on a weekday morning for the least crowded time.
Can I take my dog on this hike? Nope, sorry. Pets are not allowed on Abrams Falls Trail
Is this a good hike for my kids? It is! The trail is not difficult, and they will love the waterfall and climbing on the rocks.
Will I see any bears on this trail? You might – there are 1,900 black bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you do encounter a bear, just give it plenty of space. (It’s fine to take photos…from a distance…5′ is not “a distance”.) Don’t harass it, and DON’T TRY TO PET IT OR FEED IT.

The Verdict – Abrams Falls Trail

There is nothing to dislike about this hiking trail. It’s not difficult. The trail is covered with wildflowers. It follows a creek most of the way. And it ends at the most beautiful waterfall in the park.

So put on those hiking boots and get going!

Happy Hiking!

The Gateway Arch, the Rocky Mountains in the clouds, and Indian Flats Falls in the Smoky Mountains