Gatlinburg is the most effective place to remain in Tennessee for those who take pleasure in chasing waterfalls. Virtually a dozen waterfalls are inside a 30-minute drive of the mountain city. It’s greater than sufficient to maintain you busy for per week or extra – or a number of journeys.
All of the waterfalls close to Gatlinburg are within the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. This provides a layer of problem in visiting the waterfalls. You’ll must buy a parking tag, plan your journey round peak tourism instances, and hunt for parking on the trailheads.
It’s not mission inconceivable – nevertheless it’s not a cakewalk.
Use this information to the waterfalls in Gatlinburg to study concerning the waterfalls, the place to park, the climbing trails to the falls, and the most effective instances to go to.
Word | The waterfalls on this information are listed from east to west to make it simpler to search out on the map.
Lacking Waterfalls
It’s possible you’ll learn this information and instantly, “What about Abrams Falls? How may he overlook this waterfall?!”
I didn’t overlook. I left them off this record. And for good motive.
Abrams Falls is likely one of the finest waterfalls within the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. However the trailhead to the waterfall is on the far finish of Cades Cove. On a superb day, driving from Gatlinburg to the Abrams Falls Trailhead takes over an hour. And on a busy day, it could possibly take 2-3 hours – every approach.
If you wish to go to Abrams Falls, I like to recommend spending two nights in Townsend. It’s a quiet city that capitalizes on mountain peacefulness.
There are 17 waterfalls within the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. And in North Carolina, there are a couple of waterfalls outdoors the park in Cherokee. Generally, the most effective place to remain to chase waterfalls is Townsend, Bryson Metropolis, or Cherokee.
Map of Waterfalls in Gatlinburg
use this map | Click on the icon within the top-left nook to open the Map Legend, then click on on any of the legend gadgets to show extra info. When you have a Google account, click on the (very faint) star on the finish of the map’s title to save lots of this map to your account, then entry the map out of your smartphone throughout your journey.
Greatest Time to Go to Waterfalls
Spring is all the time the most effective time to go to waterfalls, and there’s no exception in Gatlinburg. March is the wettest month of the yr with 4” of rainfall. However April and Could are shut seconds with 3.9” and three.6”, respectively.
All this rain is superb for visiting waterfalls. Some waterfalls, like Abrams Creek, have sufficient water quantity to be nice all yr. However different waterfalls, like Grotto Falls and the Place of a Thousand Drips, are higher to see after heavy rainfall.
The very best time to go to most waterfalls close to Gatlinburg is April or Could. The worst time to go to any of the waterfalls is October. Though the spectacular fall colours are a shocking addition to the surroundings, it’s the driest month of the yr, and lots of waterfalls are decreased to a trickle.
One other issue to contemplate is the site visitors within the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. June, July, and October are the busiest months of the yr, totaling almost 6 million guests – nearly half the annual guests. However Could is a part of the shoulder season with barely half as many guests because the extra fashionable months.
Ramsey Cascades
Ramsay Cascades will not be the most well-liked waterfall. It’s not even within the prime 5 hottest in Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. However it’s the tallest.
The 100-foot cascading waterfall is situated close to the Greenbrier space, about half an hour from Gatlinburg. The 8-mile roundtrip hike on the Ramsey Cascades begins at a small parking zone on the finish of the grime street. The path follows the creek upstream to the waterfall with a gradual 2,185-foot ascent.
Learn Extra: AllTrails App Overview – Why AllTrails is the Greatest Mountaineering App
It’s a reasonably strenuous hike with a gentle climb to the waterfall. However it’s a downhill trek again to the automobile after seeing the spectacular waterfall. A small pool on the backside is ideal for getting your ft moist. It takes about 5-7 hours to finish the path.
Fern Department Falls
After a mild stroll alongside the Porters Creek Path, the cascading 35-foot Fern Department Falls is a deal with. It’s one of many least visited waterfalls within the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park and infrequently seems in journey guides or maps. I discovered it accidentally after studying a few CCC cabin alongside the path – I missed the cabin however discovered the waterfall.
The 7-mile roundtrip hike on the Porters Creek Path is likely one of the best within the nationwide park. The path has a gradual 1,500-foot ascent from the parking space, following an previous logging street that’s flat and well-maintained.
Fern Department Falls is on the suitable facet of the path, about 1.7 miles from the parking space. It takes about half-hour to hike to the waterfall casually. And it’s a downhill hike on the best way again.
Place of a Thousand Drips
The Place of a Thousand Drips is a curious waterfall. On most days, particularly in late spring and autumn, the waterfall is decreased to dozens of tiny streams and a whole bunch of drips.
However after heavy rainfall, greater than a dozen streams of water cascade alongside the jagged rocks and clean boulders.
The Locations of a Thousand Drips is close to the tip of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path, a one-lane, one-way scenic drive close to Gatlinburg. There may be restricted parking across the waterfall. Drive previous the waterfall for a couple of pull-off parking spots alongside the street and stroll again to see it.
However most individuals cease within the street for a second to admire the waterfall – it’s one in every of solely two waterfalls within the nationwide park viewable from the automobile.
Baskins Creek Falls
Baskins Creek Falls is a 40-foot cascading waterfall within the heart of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path. It’s grown in recognition just lately as different waterfalls have turn into overcrowded.
Baskins Creek Path crosses from one facet of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path to the opposite, offering two methods to hike to Baskin Creek Falls.
Learn Extra | Journey Information to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path at Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park
The primary trailhead is a couple of hundred ft from the place the one-lane, one-way street begins. However you don’t should decide to the auto touring route. You may park on the Rainbow Falls Overflow Lot on Cherokee Orchard Highway earlier than turning onto the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path after which stroll alongside the street to the trailhead.
From this trailhead, the waterfall is about 1.4 miles into the rugged terrain. It’s a reasonably simple hike with a mild elevation acquire.
Professional Journey Tip | The very best place to park to hike this path in the summertime is the Rainbow Falls Overflow Parking – and early within the day. The one-lane, one-way scenic street is commonly overcrowded with bumper-to-bumper site visitors in the summertime and in October.
The second trailhead is on the alternative facet of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path close to the Alex Cole Cabin. From right here, the 1.3-mile hike to the waterfall is barely tougher.
- Greatest Time to Go to | April or Could, or simply after dawn in the summertime.
- Deal with & Map | Baskins Creek Path, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
- Parking | Pull-off parking alongside the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path at both the trailhead or the Rainbow Falls Overflow Parking on Cherokee Orchard Highway.
Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls is tiny, nevertheless it’s spectacular. The 25-foot-tall waterfall spills over a rocky outcropping right into a shallow pool. It’s a well-liked waterfall situated on a well-liked climbing path with a number of locations, so it could possibly turn into a busy place through the prime season.
The waterfall’s trailhead is situated on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path, a 5-mile one-lane, one-way scenic drive in Gatlinburg. Start on Historic Nature Path after which proceed onto Cherokee Orchard Highway to the gate at the start of the one-lane portion of the scenic drive. Proceed to a parking space alongside the street. There are few marked parking areas close to the 2 trailheads, however you’ll discover extra as you proceed alongside the street. A privy restroom is on the market between the 2 trailheads.
The hike to Grotto Falls follows a 2.6-mile roundtrip journey on the Trillium Hole Path. It’s a reasonably tough hike with a 544-foot ascent to the waterfall – however fortuitously, it’s downhill coming again. The hike takes about 2-3 hours.
Learn Extra: AllTrails App Overview – Why AllTrails is the Greatest Mountaineering App
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is likely one of the hottest waterfalls in Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park, routinely competing with Laurel Falls and Abrams Falls for many guests. The 80-foot freefalling waterfall crashes right into a shallow pool after which trickles by way of a sequence of small crevasses within the rock-strewn stream under.
The trailhead is on Cherokee Orchard Highway earlier than getting into the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Path, which is why it’s a well-liked climbing path. There are two massive parking tons – one situated on the trailhead and the opposite beside the doorway to the motor nature path. There are additionally a couple of pull-off parking spots alongside the street. There’s a privy restroom within the first parking zone.
The 5.1-mile roundtrip hike on the Rainbow Falls is reasonably tough, with a mild 1,600-foot ascent. It’s a gentle upward climb alongside LeConte Creek to the waterfall – so it’s a nice downhill trek on the best way again. The hike takes about 2-3 hours to complete.
- Greatest Time to Go to | April or Could, or mid-week in the summertime or October.
- AllTrails | Rainbow Falls Path
- Deal with & Map | Rainbow Falls Path, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
- Parking | There are dozens of parking areas alongside the street earlier than and after the trailhead and an overflow parking zone two minutes previous the trailhead.
Cataract Falls
Cataract Falls is likely one of the least spectacular waterfalls within the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. However the trailhead begins at the most well-liked customer heart and is an easy hike.
The 25-foot cascading waterfall is usually decreased to skinny streams of water softly falling right into a shallow pool. However, after heavy rainfall, the waterfall incorporates a great water movement.
The path begins between the Sugarlands Customer Heart and restrooms. Observe the indicators as a result of a number of trails intersect and department off in several instructions. It takes about 20 minutes to stroll the 1.1-mile path casually.
Huskey Department Falls
There are quite a lot of issues to do within the Elkmont Historic District. You could possibly discover the restored cabins in Daisy City. Take a stroll alongside Millionaires’ Row. Or go for a nice hike to Huskey Department Falls.
I believe the Little River Path is likely one of the finest climbing trails within the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. The path follows the course of the small river, offering hikers with a continuing hum of speeding water.
Professional Journey Tip | You’ll discover restrooms on the Elkmont Campground. It’s finest to go to the restrooms earlier than parking close to the trailhead.
The 4.3-mile out-and-back hike on the Little River Path incorporates a gradual ascent of about 350 ft. It takes about 90 minutes to hike the path however give your self time to benefit from the surroundings alongside the best way.
One of many causes I like this path is the fascinating remnants of earlier cabins and the troll bridge! A stone fire is all that is still of a cabin, stubbornly standing in the course of the forest. The Troll Bridge is a beautiful stone bridge the place the Little River Path crosses a creek.
- Greatest Time to Go to | April or Could
- AllTrails | Little River Path
- Deal with & Map | 603 Little River Trl, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
- Parking | Just a few parking areas on the trailhead close to the Spence Cabin. If these areas are taken, proceed driving across the nook to a bigger parking zone on the Jakes Creek Trailhead.
Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is an exquisite 80-foot-tall cascading waterfall and one of the vital fashionable waterfall hikes in Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. The trailhead is just 6 miles from Gatlinburg – one of many main causes it’s such a well-liked path.
It’s a 2.6-mile roundtrip hike to the waterfall on the Laurel Falls and usually takes about two hours. The average path has a gradual ascent to the waterfall. It’s a deceiving path as a result of it begins paved, however the pavement rapidly succumbs to nature. The path is well-maintained however splendidly tough. Mountain streams cross the path in a number of locations.
Learn Extra: AllTrails App Overview – Why AllTrails is the Greatest Mountaineering App
The waterfall is split into an higher and decrease part. A walkway cuts throughout the center, permitting guests to get nearer to this waterfall than every other within the nationwide park. With overcrowding decreased, there’s loads of room to benefit from the spectacle for those who convey a light-weight camp chair or hammock.
The Sinks
Logging was the first trade within the Nice Smoky Mountains all through the 1800s. Earlier than the primary railroads had been constructed to haul the timber out of the forest, they had been floated alongside the Little River. However within the final years of floating logs, heavy rainfall left an enormous pile of a whole bunch of logs caught within the horseshoe bend of the river.
Employees determined to make use of dynamite to free the log jam. However the great explosion did greater than clear the caught logs on the river. It created a 30-foot-deep chasm within the riverbed and bridged two ends of the horseshoe bend, rerouting the river.
Learn Extra | The Fascinating Story of How Dynamite Created The Sinks at Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park
At the moment, the fascinating place is named The Sinks. It’s about ten miles from Townsend and fifteen miles from Gatlinburg on Little River Highway. A bridge crosses the turbulent rapids because the river gushes throughout the jagged rocks. It’s a well-liked place for fishing, however swimming is prohibited due to the highly effective river currents.
Meigs Falls
Meigs Falls is one in every of solely two Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park waterfalls that may be seen from the consolation of your automobile. Meigs Creek plummets right into a slim cove earlier than flowing into the Little River.
Though the waterfall is about 30 ft tall and 60 ft large, with a superb movement all year long, it’s tough to see. The waterfall is ready again from the freeway about 500 ft throughout the Little River. A pull-off parking space presents loads of room for automobiles – usually, folks inch alongside the parking space to benefit from the view from the automobile after which go away simply as rapidly as they arrived.
The waterfall is about 15 miles from Gatlinburg and seven miles from Townsend on Little River Highway. One of the simplest ways to see this waterfall is with a good pair of binoculars.
- Greatest Time to Go to | April or Could. However it’s additionally spectacular when frozen over within the winter.
- Deal with & Map | Townsend, TN 37882
- Parking | A number of pull-off parking areas on the waterfall facet of the two-lane street.
