Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to an amazing variety of scenic wonders, including more than 100 waterfalls and cascades! These range from easily accessible roadside spots where you can pull the car over to remote destinations that require a bit of hiking! Some of the most popular waterfalls in the park include Abrams Falls and Rainbow Falls, but nearly every river and stream in the park features a waterfall! While there is never a bad time to visit, here are the 3 best times of the year to see the waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains:
1. Spring Months for Peak Flow
The Smoky Mountains have two essential ingredients for waterfalls, which are ample rainfall and an elevation gradient. In the higher elevations of the Smokies, more than 85 inches of rain fall on average each year. The mountain peaks like Mt. LeConte and Kuwohi can even receive over 8 feet of rain annually!
The spring months are a perfect time to see the waterfalls in action, especially roadside waterfalls like the Place of a Thousand Drips, as the seasonal rainfall and melting snow from the higher elevations create the most powerful water flows of the year. As a bonus, this is also an ideal time for taking photos due to the combination of high water volume and blooming wildflowers!
2. Winter for Frozen Landscapes
Another one of the best times of the year to see the waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains is during the winter for unique frozen landscapes! While you’ll need to bundle up when hitting the trails, you’ll be well rewarded with the sight of dramatic ice formations around the falls! It is rare to see fully frozen waterfalls, but this does occur about every 3 to 5 years in extended periods of frigid cold weather. Outside of the holiday season, the winter months are also a low period of visitation, where you can enjoy the waterfalls without the crowds!
3. Autumn for Scenic Backdrops
Autumn is one of the most popular times in Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to all of the spectacular fall foliage throughout the park and surrounding towns! While this is the park’s driest season and the water flow is typically much less than in spring or summer, the primary benefit is that the waterfalls are surrounded by the beautiful fall colors!
What About the Summer Months?
The summer is a fabulous time to see the waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains too, as there is never a bad time to explore the park! This is also the busiest and most humid time to visit, so consider a hike over to Grotto Falls, where the trail allows you to walk directly behind the 25-foot cascade to stay cool! Despite the higher temperatures, you’ll have longer days of sunshine to enjoy the beauty of the falls. In addition, high rainfall from frequent afternoon thunderstorms often keeps the falls running strong!
Explore the Best Waterfalls in the Smokies
Now that you know the best times of the year to see the waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains, you’re ready to plan your sightseeing adventure in the National Park! If you’re wondering which falls to explore during your visit, here are a few of the best Smoky Mountain waterfalls!
