The Great Smoky Mountains have some of the most beautiful natural features in the world. A common feature people want to see in the national park is a waterfall. There are quite a few that are worth hiking to, and we want to share them with you! Check out these top 6 Smoky Mountain hiking trails with incredible waterfalls:
1. Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in the park. This Smoky Mountain hiking trail is paved, making it easier than other trails that have rocks and roots. This is a great trail for people who aren’t avid hikers. The roundtrip length is 2.6 miles. In the spring, you’ll see wildflowers along the trail. Once you reach the top, you’ll see the 80-foot-tall waterfall. Water gushes over 2 tiers, creating an upper section and a lower section.
2. Spruce Flats Falls
Spruce Flats Falls is technically not on the official Great Smoky Mountains National Park map, but plenty of people hike to it nonetheless. This trail is considered moderate with a roundtrip length of 1.8 miles roundtrip. At one of the junctions in the trail, the trail turns very steep, which is what makes it moderate. Then you will descend towards the falls. There are quite a few tiers, and the waterfall stands at 30 feet.
3. Grotto Falls
Another popular Smoky Mountain hiking trail with a waterfall is Grotto Falls. It is considered moderate at 2.6 miles roundtrip. There are quite a few wildflowers along the trail in the spring. Once you get to the falls, you’ll see why so many people love to hike there. It stands at 25 feet tall, and it’s one of the only falls in the park you can walk behind.
4. Baskins Creek Falls
To get to Baskins Creek Falls, you will hike the Baskins Creek Trail. It is 3 miles roundtrip and is considered moderate. You will have views of the mountains along the first portion of the trail, and then the second half, you will descend to get to the falls. This makes hiking back harder because it will be mostly uphill. Baskins Falls is 40 feet tall and has two tiers where water rushes over the rocks.
5. Rainbow Falls
Another popular Smoky Mountain hiking trail with a waterfall is Rainbow Falls. This trail is considered hard and has a roundtrip length of 5.4 miles. This 80-foot-tall waterfall is unique because it’s the tallest, single-drop waterfall in the Smokies. It also gets its name from the rainbow created by mist in the afternoon sun.
6. Ramsey Cascades
The largest waterfall in the Smoky Mountains is Ramsey Cascades. It’s one of the hardest waterfalls to get to due to the difficult climb to get there and the 8 mile roundtrip length. When you do get to the cascades, you’ll find the hike is worth it. The waterfall is 100 feet tall, and water gushes over multiple tiers of rocks.
You’ll want to go on all of these Smoky Mountain hiking trails with beautiful waterfalls. Want to know about even more hikes? Here are some of the best family friendly hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains!
