Best trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
4.4·208,351 reviews·United States: #10 of 60 national parks
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Trail reviews for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The road to nowhere has been on my list of places to hike for a while. I haven’t been here since I was a kid and that was a long time ago. A beautiful place to hike and it’s part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
One of the most scenic and popular hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with a mix of unique geological features, challenging sections, and rewarding views. We Loved - -Scenic Variety:The trail offers an evolving landscape, starting with lush forest along a river and passing through features like small waterfalls, Arch Rock, and Alum Cave Bluff—a massive overhanging cliff rather than a true cave. As you ascend, the environment shifts to exposed ridges with expansive views of the Smokies, especially at spots like Inspiration Point and Cliff Tops near the summit. Challenges: Limited Parking. As this is a popular trail, parking can be a headache. Despite arriving at 8:30 AM on a Saturday, we had to park about 0.6 miles away from the trailhead, adding to the overall hiking distance. It’s best to arrive early or plan for overflow parking on busy weekends
Took on Laurel Falls today in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It started off all innocent—easy path, no worries—then boom, the incline hits, and suddenly it’s like a surprise leg day. You’re huffing, puffing, and questioning your life choices, but then you catch a glimpse of the lush forest, hear the birds, and the distant sound of water. Just enough to keep you going… or maybe it’s just the hope that there’s an ice-cold waterfall waiting to cool you off!
First time to the Great Smoky Mountains and this is a great trail to start with to get a feel for the terrain. Easy to slightly moderate due to the rock scramble during the elevation changes and a few small stream crossings. The larger creek that runs along the trail, take a detour over and enjoy the sounds....amazing. Pulled into the parking lot a little before 10am and their was inly one car. Heading back to the car, there were more vehicles, so the earlier the better. WWear appropriate footwear as the ground is damp and the rocks can be slippery if you are watching your footing and there are a number of tree roots.
The paved trail is unapologetically steep as it begins its half mile climb to the top of the Great Smoky Mountains NP. What it dishes out is well worth the views. Very fun and challenging short trail.
One of the best trails in Great Smoky Mountains!