The Great Smoky Mountains are known for having beautiful natural scenery. In addition to breathtaking mountain views, another popular feature visitors love to see is a waterfall. The Smoky Mountains are full of many amazing waterfalls, some of which you can hike to and others that can be seen from your car. Here’s a list of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains that you should try to find.
1. Grotto Falls
One of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains is also one of the most unique. Grotto Falls is about 25 feet tall and is the only waterfall in the Smokies that you can walk behind. This special feature makes it a popular waterfall for visitors. You can reach Grotto Falls by hiking the Trillium Gap Trail on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The trail is only 2.6 miles round trip and is generally considered moderate in difficulty.
2. Abrams Falls
Though only 20 feet tall, Abrams Falls makes the list as one of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains because of the high volume of water that continually rushes over the falls. This waterfall is the most voluminous waterfall in the Smokies. The water flows down a rock face and outcroppings into a deep, picturesque pool at the base of the falls. You can find Abrams Falls at the end of the Abrams Falls Trail in Cades Cove. This out-and-back trail is 5 miles round trip and is considered moderate in difficulty.
3. Ramsey Cascades
Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall inside the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, standing at a towering 100 feet tall. This is considered one of the most spectacular waterfalls to see in the Smoky Mountains. Water flows down over numerous rock outcroppings then collects in a small pool at the bottom. Ramsey Cascades can be reached from the Ramsey Cascades Trail, which is one of the most difficult waterfall hikes in the Smokies. You’ll hike a total of 8 miles round trip on this strenuous trail, but the magnificent waterfall will make the hike worth it.
4. Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is considered one of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains because it is the tallest single-drop waterfall in the Smokies. This waterfall is 80 feet tall and gets its name from the rainbow created by light reflecting off the mist in the afternoon. This is a truly impressive waterfall to see. It can be found on the Rainbow Falls Trail along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This hiking trail has a roundtrip length of 5.4 miles and is generally considered moderate in difficulty.
5. Mingo Falls
Just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Qualla Boundary is Mingo Falls. Standing at 120 feet tall, this is one of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains because it’s one of the tallest and most impressive in the entire southern Appalachian area. You can find Mingo Falls after just a 0.4 mile hike on the Pigeon Creek Trail located just a few miles away from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The hike primarily consists of climbing a few stories of stairs up to the waterfall, and the waterfall view is well worth the climb!
Explore the Best Waterfall Hikes in the Smoky Mountains
These are some of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains. There are even more hiking trails with waterfalls than those listed above. Check out these Smoky Mountain hiking trails with incredible waterfalls to find even more waterfalls to explore!
