If you plan on hiking in Gatlinburg, you are in for a treat. The top destination to hike in is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which park offers more than 800 miles of trails, endless winding pathways, panoramic views, cascading waterfalls, and so much more to discover. In this slideshow, you can Check out our sampling of some top spots to hike.

1. Hiking in Gatlinburg:

2. If you plan on hiking in Gatlinburg, you are
in for a treat. The top destination to hike
in is the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park, which park offers more than 800
miles of trails, endless winding pathways,
panoramic views, cascading waterfalls,
and so much more to discover.
Check out our sampling of some top spots
to hike. Most of these hikes are free of
charge, so you don't have to shell out
even a penny to explore them; all you
need is a healthy body and strong
willpower, and you're ready to hit the
trail!

3. 1. Clingmans Dome Observation Tower
Trail
2. Alum Cave Trail
3. Abrams Falls Trail
4. Grotto Falls Hike
5. Laurel Falls Hike
6. Jakes Creek Trail
7. Gatlinburg Trail

4. CLINGMAN’S DOME OBSERVATION TOWER TRAIL
• Called the "Top of Old Smoky."
• Starting from the highest point in Tennessee,
Clingmans Dome trail takes you 6,443 feet
above sea level
• The entire trail is close to 23 miles; you can
drive up to the parking lot and just hike 7
miles from there.
• You can also take the half-mile steep climb to
reach the summit of the 45-foot-high
observation tower
• On a clear day, you can get a 360° view of approximately 100 miles from the top and see
parts of several states, including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Kentucky, and Virginia.

5. • Second only in terms of elevation, the Alum
Cave trail is one of the most fascinating trails
for hiking in Gatlinburg.
• A moderate-difficulty hike that makes you
cover an elevation of 1,125.
• One of the top sightings on the trail is Arch
Rock.
• 0.3 miles from Arch Rock is the crown jewel
of the trail, the Alum Cave Bluff
• Continuing on leads to the summit of
Mount LeConte, which offers some of the
best views you can imagine
ALUM CAVE TRAIL

6. ABRAMS FALLS TRAIL
• Abrams Falls Trail is a moderately strenuous
hike - a 5.2 miles loop and an elevation
gain of 675 feet.
• One of the most sought-after trails because
it is the only trail accessible from Cades
Cove Loop Road which is great for 4WD
vehicles
• The 20-foot high falls is lined with shady
oak trees, hemlock, and rhododendrons
• The falls has a vast 100 feet wide pool,
which is quite risky to swim in

7. • Follow the sign along the Trillium Gap Trail to
reach these 25-foot high falls
• The hike from Trillium Gap is somewhere
between easy and moderate and is only 2.6
miles long
• Along the trail you will pass by mountain
creeks lined with hemlock trees and
wildflowers , find some salamanders on the
rocks near water, or active black bears.
• Keeping all these caution elements aside,
Grotto Falls is uniquely impressive – the only
falls you can get behind of, and the pool
under it allows you to cool off from the hike.
GROTTO FALLS HIKE

8. LAUREL FALLS HIKE
• Your best bet for hiking in Gatlinburg if
traveling with family
• Situated close to Elkmont Campground, it’s
just a 7-mile drive from Gatlinburg with a
well-groomed trail 2.6 miles to and fro
• The hike is fairly easy but the falls are in no
way small with a towering height of 80 feet
• This is a paved trail so it is much easier to
hike on with family, except if you are
bringing strollers and wheelchairs

9. • Another perfect trail for families, this trail
takes you to Avent Cabin
• The trail is easy and covers 2.7 miles round
trip
• The trails run along a pretty creek and is
quite broad, making it family-friendly.
• Once at the cabin, you can take the kids for
open-forest walks, and on your way back,
you can even check out the colorful cottages
at Daisy Town
JAKES CREEK TRAIL

10. GATLINBURG TRAIL
• The most obvious trail in Gatlinburg, also
one of the only two walking trails in the
Smokies
• Start at the town's south end and walk
along the West Prong Little Pigeon River
• Perfect for exercising brisk walking,
running, and mountain biking, and for
taking your dog out for his daily walk
• Get to see historic homesite remnants
along the trail, and cross the Little Pigeon
River by a picturesque footbridge to reach
Park Headquarters Road

11. As mentioned at the beginning, hiking in
Gatlinburg is for everyone. Whether you
are an avid hiker, a family with young
children, a history and art lover, a wildlife
enthusiast, or just anyone who loves to
walk a little, Gatlinburg has a trail for you.
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