Gatlinburg Hiking Trails

Some of the best hiking in the Smoky Mountains can be found on the Gatlinburg hiking trails, which are just a short drive from Gatlinburg. These trails are so convenient if you’re staying in Gatlinburg—no driving to the other end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Go ahead—sleep in, enjoy a big breakfast—you’ll have plenty of time to drive to any of these trails. WooHoo!

Hiker stepping across a stream on stones

Let’s begin with the hiking trails closest to Gatlinburg and work our way out from there…

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The 5 Best Gatlinburg Hiking Trails

Gatlinburg Trail

Gatlinburg Trail is the closest trail to Gatlinburg…or the farthest, depending on where you start from. If you begin in Gatlinburg, the trailhead is on the southwest edge of town on River Road, less than a block off of Parkway. A public parking area at the intersection of Parkway and Ski Mountain Road is a one-block walk away.

(Click anywhere on the maps below to enlarge any of them.)

Map showing directions to the Gatlinburg Trail trailhead

But if you begin your hike at Sugarlands Visitors Center, at the other end of the trail, you can expect to drive 5-25 minutes from Gatlinburg, depending on where in Gatlinburg you begin from, and on traffic. That’s still a very short drive.

Map showing directions from Gatlinburg to Sugarlands Visitors Center

The parking at the visitors center will be free – unlike the Gatlinburg public parking. Follow the signs behind the visitors’ center to the trailhead.

Gatlinburg Trail is a flat, 3.8-mile roundtrip hike rated “Easy” by AllTrails. It is also one of only two trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park where you can bring your dog. (Remember, your dog must be kept on a leash at all times.)

You’ll see lots of different things on this trail, including wildflowers, ruins of old homesteads, and usually a lot of other people…with their dogs…, especially when you are closer to Gatlinburg. The trail is mostly shady and runs alongside the Little Pigeon River. A large bridge takes you across the river it at the halfway point of the hike.

Rainbow Falls Trail

Next up is Rainbow Falls Trail, located just four miles from Parkway (the main road through Gatlinburg). The trailhead is just before you reach the entrance to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Turn off Parkway onto Cherokee Orchard Rd, which runs up the side of the Anakeesta Theme Park parking lot. Then, just follow the signs to the Rainbow Falls trailhead.

There is a parking area here with a restroom. If the lot is full, there is a second parking area just a bit up the road.

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

Map showing directions from Gatlinburg to Rainbow Falls

The hike to Rainbow Falls is 5.1 miles roundtrip and is rated “Hard” by AllTrails, due to a 1,617′ elevation gain, all on the way to the falls. However, the grade (steepness) is only 4%, and we found it to be not too difficult. The good news – it’s downhill all the way back. The hike took us about 4 hours, including stopping for photos and visiting with other hikers at the falls.

We enjoyed the wildflowers on this trail. Galax (pictured below), ferns, mountain laurels, rhododendrons, dwarf iris, partridgeberry- there’s a lot of color to be seen on this hike.

Galax blooming along the trail to Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls with hikers scrambling on the rocks at its base

Rainbow Falls is the prize at the end of the hike. The Falls are tall – 75′ – and broaden to 15′-20′ at the base. There is ample space here to sit and rest or scramble on the rocks at the bottom of the falls.

Pro Tip – If you hike this trail on a cold day in winter, the falls may be frozen. Rare photo opp!

Baskins Creek Falls Trail

Just a couple of minutes past the Rainbow Falls Trailhead is the Baskins Creek Falls Trail. But if you’re already parked in the SECOND Rainbow Falls parking area – keep your parking spot there. Here’s why…

There is only ONE parking spot at the Baskins Creek Falls trailhead, a small pullout off Roaring Creek Motor Nature Trail. If you get that spot, great! But if it’s taken, you’ll have to drive the entire loop again, because this is a one-way road. Your safest option is to park (or remain parked) in the second Rainbow Falls parking lot if there is a spot available. Then walk out of the lot, turn right, walk a few more feet, turn right again (to stay on Roaring Fork Motor Trail), and walk the 0.2 miles up the road to the trailhead. Look for the trail sign on your left.

Pro Tip…

There is no restroom in the second Rainbow Falls parking lot, but there is in the first, so plan accordingly.

The Trail…

AllTrails rates this hike as “Moderate”. The hike is 3.2 miles roundtrip and took us about 3 hours. This is one of the few waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains that you hike down to, instead of up to. (Of course, that means you’re hiking uphill almost the whole way back…)

Baskins Creek Falls, one of the Gatlinburg waterfalls

The trail to Baskins Creek Falls can be a little “iffy”. Like most trails in the Smoky Mountains, it has its share of rocks and roots. But there are also sections of the trail made muddy and slippery by runoff from the creek. We both fell…TWICE! We recommend hiking boots for this one.

On the positive side, wildflowers were abundant on the trail, and a black bear led us down the trail on the way back!

Wildflowers along the Baskins Creek Falls trail

Groundcover plants along the Baskins Creek Falls trail

The Waterfall…

Probably our favorite thing about Baskins Creek Falls is that we had it mostly to ourselves. The walk to the falls was peaceful and quiet. Since Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the national park system, this was both unexpected and welcome.

The 35′ waterfall has two levels, dropping from the top down to a ledge, before spilling out to a small pool at the base of the falls. A large boulder a few yards in front of the falls is suitable for climbing. It’s a great spot from which to take your photos!

Fun Fact – Baskins Creek Falls is not formed by Baskins Creek. It is instead formed by Falls Branch.

Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls

The Grotto Falls parking area is only 1.5 miles from the Baskins Creek Falls trailhead on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. It is just a 10-minute drive (depending on traffic).

There are lots of parking spaces here, plus a restroom. On our last trip there, a mother bear and her three cubs strolled down the sidewalk! (And a couple of Irish girls were in the US for the Country Music Awards—but that’s another story.)

Black Bear walking throught the parking lot at Grotto Falls

This waterfall hike is a lot of fun! We highly recommend it, especially if you have kids! The trail is short and easy, and the falls are cute, in a delightful sort of way.

The trail (Trillium Gap Trail) is 2.6 miles roundtrip. AllTrails rates it as “Moderate” due to some elevation gain on the way to the falls but it’s not too difficult. Plenty of little children had made it to the top. So had plenty of seniors, (including yours truly). The hike took us about 2 hours in total, with about half of that spent playing and taking photos at the falls.

Grotto Falls spilling into a small, shallow pool

Grotto Falls is not the largest waterfall in the Smokies – far from it. It only has a 25′ drop. And the volume of water spilling from it is not that impressive. What it does have is a grotto – a space where you can walk behind the falls to the other side. Lots of people (including me), were lining up to have their photos taken behind the falls.

At the base of the falls is a small, shallow “wading pool”, where small kids were playing. This waterfall brings out the “kid” in me!

Sugarlands Nature Trail

The National Park Service maintains 11 “nature trails” in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These trails are typically one mile or less and are designed to showcase natural beauty or have historical value. Sugarlands Nature Trail is one of these trails. It is also the easiest of the trails listed in this post.

Though Sugarlands Nature Trail (technically Sugarland Valley Nature Trail) is the trail in this list that is the farthest distance from Gatlinburg, it is still very close to town – only 10 minutes away. It is also easy to get to.

Just drive southwest out of Gatlinburg on Hwy 441 (Parkway) for a few minutes until you reach the Sugarlands Visitors Center, then continue on Hwy 441 a short distance to the trailhead. (This road is also known as Newfound Gap Road, which bisects the park from north to south.)

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

Map showing directions from Gatlinburg to Sugarlands Nature Trail

Sugarlands Nature Trail is really more of a stroll than a hike. It is paved, wooded, shady, filled with flowers, with benches all along the path. The loop trail is only 0.5 miles, but it is a beautiful, peaceful 0.5 miles. You’ll want to take your time here.

Along the way, you’ll walk by the side of the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. You’ll also discover the ruins of old homesteads from long ago.

Sugarlands Nature Trail leading off into the woods

The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River flowing down the side of Sugarlands Nature Trail

Ruins of the fireplace from an old homestead on Sugarlands Nature Trail

Questions…

Is there an entrance fee to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail? Nope, it’s free. Be aware that it is closed during the winter due to weather conditions.
If Roaring Fork is closed in the winter, how can I see Rainbow Falls when it is frozen over? The Rainbow Falls trailhead is just before the entrance to Roaring Fork.
Can I bring my dog hiking with me? Dogs are only allowed on two trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail. They must remain leashed at all times.
Which of these trails is the Easiest? Cataract Falls, at a flat 0.2 miles, is the easiest, followed by Fighting Creek Nature Trail and Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail. Trillium Gap to Grotto Falls is next. Baskins Creek Falls Trail and Rainbow Falls Trail are the most difficult of the Gatlinburg hiking trails.

The Verdict – Gatlinburg Hiking Trails – 5 of the Best

Our Verdict…

Our Favorite – Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls
The Most Peaceful – Sugarlands Nature Trail. Plus, the chances are you’ll be driving right by it anyway.
Biggest Bang for Your Buck—Rainbow Falls, Baskins Creek Falls, and Grotto Falls trails are all waterfall trails on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, just minutes away from each other.

Happy Hiking!