10 Great Smoky Mountains Nature Trails

Some of the best hiking trails in the Smokies are the Great Smoky Mountains nature trails. They are short—usually taking less than an hour—and somewhere between “Easy” and “Moderately” difficult. Several are located within park campgrounds. They are all self-guided and showcase something of natural or historical significance – sometimes both!

The national park boasts 11 such trails. We’ll describe 10 of them here. (This post will be updated after we visit the last one – Balsam Mountain Nature Trail.)

Published October 25, 2024/Updated November 12, 2024

Kuwohi Nature Trail

On September 18, 2024, Clingmans Dome was redesignated and changed to Kuwohi at the request of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The name change recognizes the area’s Cherokee heritage as it returns to its original name. The word “kuwohi” means “mulberry place.” The National Park Service strongly supported this name change.

Kuwohi is one of the busiest areas of the busiest national park in the US. Be prepared to drive in circles for a bit until a parking space opens up.

The observation tower at the end of the nature trail is the highest point in the park at 6,643′ high. The trail is paved, short, and STEEP!

But…

The views from the circular observation deck at the top of the tower are the best in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On a clear day, you can see as far as 100 miles! However, due to haze and air pollution, visibility is often limited to 20 miles. Placards positioned around the observation deck explain what you see.

The Specifics

• Distance – 1.0 mile out & back
• Duration – 1 hour, including time spent on the observation deck
• Difficulty – Moderate to Hard.
• Distinctives – Best views in the park; STEEP trail to the observation tower
• Directions – Turn off US 441/Newfound Gap Rd onto Kuwohi/Clingmans Dome Rd. Drive 6.8 miles to the parking lot
• Parking – Large parking lot; however, it is usually very busy and crowded
• Restrooms – Yes

Pro Tips

• The road to Kuwohi closes in the winter (December to April) due to hazardous driving conditions. However, you may hike or snowshoe in—a 14-mile roundtrip hike.
• Due to the elevation and steepness of this hike, you may quickly become out of breath. Take your time. There are benches along the trail. Use them.
• There is a small shop here where you can purchase souvenirs.

Cades Cove Nature Trail

Of all the Great Smoky Mountains nature trails, this may be my least favorite.

Cades Cove Nature Trail, also known as Pine Oak Nature Trail, is located in the Cades Cove Campground. The loop trail climbs a short distance to a ridge via a series of switchbacks and then descends back down to the trailhead.

There’s a reason it’s called “Pine Oak” Nature Trail. Lots of pines…lots of oaks…and lots of other species, as well. Some I was familiar with, like Chestnut Oak. Others, like Pignut Hickory, were new to me.

This was not a smooth trail. There were many rocks, roots, limbs, and downed trees to navigate. Fallen pine straw blanketed much of the trail, making it somewhat slippery, especially while walking downhill.

On the positive side, we did see a black bear!

The Specifics

• Distance – 0.75 mile loop
• Duration – 30-45 minutes
• Difficulty – Moderate
• Distinctives – Many species of trees, several of which are identified by small signs
• Directions – The nature trail is within Cades Cove Campground, just outside the entrance to Cades Cove.
• Parking – There is no designated parking for this trail. We parked in an empty campground space.
• Restrooms – Yes

Cosby Nature Trail

IMHO (in my humble opinion), the Cosby district of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of, if not THE, most well-maintained section of the park. Every time we have been there, the area is spotless! There’s a beautiful picnic area, and the restrooms are spotless.

The Cosby Nature Trail is equally well-maintained and a lot of fun!

The name of the game on the Cosby Nature Trail is creek crossings. I stopped counting after we had crossed our 12th bridge – after all, the trail was only one mile long.

The trail twists and turns through a beautiful, shady wooded area. The creek is almost always nearby. At one point, we turned a corner, and a family was playing in the creek—and having a wonderful time!

The Specifics

• Distance – 1.0 mile loop
• Duration – This hike took us 37 minutes
• Difficulty – Easy
• Distinctives – Lots and lots of bridge crossings
• Directions – The Cosby district is in the northeast corner of the park. Cosby Nature Trail is located inside the campground, just past the entrance booth
• Parking – There are several parking spots at the trailhead. A large parking lot is also located in front of the restrooms and picnic area
• Restrooms – Yes, in the lower parking lot

Cove Hardwood Nature Trail

Cove Hardwood Nature Trail is just inside the Chimneys Picnic Area. It’s on the right as you enter the area. As the name suggests, it has an abundance of hardwood trees.

I have two complaints about this trail. First, I was surprised at how steep it is. Half of the trail climbs an unforgiving mountain! (I thought these nature trails were supposed to be easy!)

My other complaint is the trail itself. This area was heavily damaged by the wildfire in 2016 and is still recovering. The loss of trees led to erosion, which led to water and debris flowing downhill, often damaging the trail. There are numerous spots on the trail that look like the photo below. Crossing some of these spots can be a little tricky.

There are also two things I really like about this trail. First, the always kind and considerate National Park Service has placed benches at the top of every incline. The benches provide a great place to sit down and catch your breath.

And I’m not exaggerating – a bench can be found at the top of every incline!

Second, there are some seriously beautiful wildflowers all along this trail!

The Specifics

• Distance – 0.8 mile loop
• Duration – 30-45 minutes
• Difficulty – Moderate
• Distinctives – Flowers, Hardwoods
• Directions – Cove Hardwood Nature Trail is in the Chimneys Picnic Area, near the Chimney Tops Trailhead. Keep your eyes open – the entrance to the Chimneys Picnic Area is in a curve, and it “sneaks up on you.”
• Parking – There are about 10 parking spots in front of the trailhead.
• Restrooms – Yes

Pro Tip

• This is a beautiful picnic area. Bring along some sandwiches and enjoy your lunch at one of the many picnic tables.

Elkmont Nature Trail

You will find Elkmont Nature Trail just before you reach the registration station for Elkmont Campground. Look for the brown road sign on your left.

This nature trail is a pretty little walk along Mids Branch, a pretty little creek. The trail begins by crossing a small bridge over the branch and then loops around it. It is a winding, hilly trail surrounded by mountain laurels and rhododendrons.

The Specifics

• Distance – 0.8 mile loop
• Duration – 20-30 minutes
• Difficulty – Easy
• Distinctives – Flowers, Hardwoods, Pines, a small branch of the Little River
• Directions – Elkmont Nature Trail is in the Elkmont Campground area, just off Little River Road.
• Parking – There are only four parking spots in front of the trailhead. However, there is additional parking up the road a bit.
• Restrooms – Yes, in the Elkmont campground

Pro Tip

• Continue down the road past the Elkmont Nature Trail parking area for another 0.3 miles, and you will arrive at the parking area and trailhead for the Little River Trail. This is a beautiful hike that leads to Huskey Branch Falls.

Fighting Creek Nature Trail

Fighting Creek Nature Trail begins a few steps behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center, just outside of Gatlinburg. It’s a shady trail that runs alongside its namesake creek. Walk past the visitor center and under the breezeway between the restrooms and the vending machines. The trailhead will just ahead.

After crossing the bridge near the beginning of the trail, turn left. The hilly trail winds through the trees before circling around a log cabin and then looping back towards the trailhead.

The “nature” part of Fighting Creek Nature Trail is mostly about the wide variety of trees on the trail. Many species have been helpfully labeled—Mocker Nut Hickory, Sourwood, and Ironwood are a few I was less familiar with.

At the end of the nature trail, you can connect to Cove Mountain Trail and walk a short distance alongside Fighting Creek to Cataract Falls, a small but fun little waterfall.

The Specifics

• Distance – 1.4 mile loop
• Duration – 45-60 minutes
• Difficulty – Easy to Moderate
• Distinctives – Many species of trees are identified by small signs along the trail
• Directions – Behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center on US 441
• Parking – Large parking lots are located at Sugarlands Visitor Center
• Restrooms – Yes, at the visitor center

Pro Tips

• Take time to visit the Visitor Center. They have some very nice merchandise—tees, hoodies, hats, mugs, books, posters, etc. The restrooms are large, and there are several vending machines if you’re hungry or thirsty.

Noah “Bud” Ogle Nature Trail

This is Mary Ellen’s (my wife’s) favorite nature trail – and she has excellent taste!

Noah “Bud” Ogle and his family were among the first to settle in this area in the 1800s. He built several structures here, including a cabin and barn.

The cabin is the first thing you’ll see after you step on the trail. Take a little time to examine it – can you imagine what life might have been like for the Ogle family?

Walk past the right side of the cabin, and you’ll see the sign pointing you to the trailhead of the nature trail. The trail meanders through the shady woods until you come to a small open area on the shore of a small, slow-moving creek.

If you continue following the trail, you will come to a small mill powered by the creek’s water.

From here, simply continue on the trail until you arrive back at the Ogle cabin.

The Specifics

• Distance – 0.75 loop
• Duration – 15-30 minutes
• Difficulty – Easy
• Distinctives – Historic structures
• Directions – The Noah “Bud” Ogle place is on Cherokee Orchard Rd, on your way to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. It’s about 10 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg.
• Parking – There is a parking lot at the trailhead
• Restrooms – No, but there is a restroom ahead at the Rainbow Falls parking area.

Smokemont Nature Trail

This is a fun little trail.

The trail begins on the back half of the Smokemont Campground. Look for the parking area and the trailhead sign.

Begin the trail by crossing the split log bridge over Bradley Fork. On the other side of the bridge, you may go either left or right – both ways will bring you back to the bridge. Both ways will first climb, then level out, and then descend.

FYI – The climb is a good workout!

Once at the top, you will follow the level trail through a stand of twisted mountain laurel. The trail itself tends to be covered with leaf litter from the surrounding trees, making it a bit slippery.

The Specifics

• Distance – 0.6 mile loop
• Duration – 20 minutes
• Difficulty – Moderate.
• Distinctives – Split log bridge crossing Bradley Creek
• Directions – Smokemont Nature Trail is on the far side of the Smokemont Campground loop.
• Parking – There is a parking area at the trailhead
• Restrooms – Yes, right across the road from the parking area

Spruce-Fir Nature Trail

Spruce-Fir Nature Trail is a bit like walking through Jurassic Park. Not only is it filled with large spruce and fir trees, but it is very lush and green. (I kept looking over my shoulder to see if I was being stalked by a raptor…)

This hike just feels different than the other Great Smoky Mountains nature trails.

Much of the trail is walked on a series of 2×12 planks, forming a boardwalk through the forest. The trail is flat and easy.

This is a great trail to hike on a hot summer day. Not only is it very shady – it’s just a little bit down the road from Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome), the highest point in the entire park. It’s always cooler here.

The Specifics

• Distance – 0.6 mile loop
• Duration – 20-30 minutes
• Difficulty – Easy
• Distinctives – Lush green foliage; cooler temperature; lots of spruce and fir trees
• Directions – Spruce-Fir Nature Trail is located on Kuwohi Rd (formerly Clingmans Dome Road), just 4.5 miles from Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome)
• Parking – Very little. There is a small pullout, large enough for (maybe) six cars
• Restrooms – Yes, 4.5 miles up the road in the Kuwohi parking lot

Pro Tips

• Kuwohi Rd is closed from December to April every year due to hazardous driving conditions. This means that Spruce-Fir Nature is inaccessible during this time.
• On our last visit to Spruce-Fir, we met Liz Domingue, a naturalist, wildlife biologist, and educator. She was leading a group of tourists on a field trip to look for salamanders. They were having a wonderful time! We’ll be joining one of her field trips on our next trip to the Smokies! Here’s her contact info if you’re interested…
  • Liz Domingue
  • www.justgetoutdoors.com
  • liz@justgetoutdoors.com
  • (865) 977- HIKE (4453)

Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail

Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is the “niceest” of the nature trails. It’s the trail I would take home to meet my parents!

The trail is flat, shady, and smooth. It’s surrounded by forest and flowers. There are benches along the path if you just want to sit quietly and take in the nature surrounding you. It’s a very peaceful, calm place.

The back half of the trail parallels the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. It’s a great place to jump in the water and cool off with your kids.

This area was once inhabited by settlers. As you continue down the trail, you will see the remains of homes from long ago.

The Specifics

• Distance – 0.5 mile loop
• Duration – 30 minutes
• Difficulty – Very easy
• Distinctives – Wooded; native plants; historic ruins
• Directions – Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is on US 441, less than a mile past the Sugarland Visitor Center.
• Parking – Yes, there are about a dozen parking spaces at the trailhead
• Restrooms – Yes, just up the road at the Sugarlands Visitor Center

Pro Tip

• Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is both wheelchair-accessible and stroller accessible.
• Stay on the trail – there is a good bit of poison ivy growing here.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How would you rank these nature trails? In my totally subjective opinion, from my favorite to my least favorite…
  • #1 – Spruce-Fir
  • #2 – Kuwohi
  • #3 – Cosby
  • #4 – Smokemont
  • #5 – Sugarlands Valley
  • #6 – Noah “Bud” Ogle
  • #7 – Elkmont
  • #8 – Fighting Creek
  • #9 – Cove Hardwood
  • #10 – Pine Oak/Cades Cove
• Can I take my dog on any of these nature trails? Sorry, no. Dogs are only allowed on two hiking trails in the park – the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.

The Wrap -Great Smoky Mountains Nature Trails

That’s a wrap! I’ve described ten of the eleven Great Smoky Mountains nature trails. (As soon as I can visit the other one – Balsam Mountain Nature Trail – I’ll add it to this post.)

Try some of them out the next time you’re in the national park. See if you agree with my rankings.

Happy Hiking!

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