Hiking Trails in Gatlinburg TN and the Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg, Tennessee are not only known for its hugh industry of Gatlinburg cabin rentals, but also for the many hiking trails in the area. One of the main reasons why hiking is so popular in the area is because it is an activity than can be done all year. The Smoky Mountain National Park has well over 150 hiking trails and over 800 miles for you to enjoy. With every season change in the Smoky Mountain National Park new flowers and scenery evolve. With so many trails in the Smoky Mountain National Park they range from easy to difficult and vary greatly in length. For the more experienced hikers you can hike a trail up to about 13 miles and for those who want just a quick look at the beauty you can hike a trail that’s a half of a mile. Also, the Smoky Mountain National Park have wheel-chair accessible paved trails so everyone can enjoy the pure beauty of nature. The Smoky Mountain National Park has many trails to choose from, including hikes to see old forest growths, riverside hikes, waterfall hikes, loop hikes, and hikes that let you enjoy the view of the splendid Smoky Mountains. So, at the Smoky Mountain National Park it doesn’t matter which trail you pick because you know you’ll always be amazed. Some of the most popular are listed below so you can either make your own hike, you pick one from the list.

The Alum Cave Bluff Trail starts at the Sugarlands Visitor Center and you’ll drive 8.6 miles on Newfoundland Gap Road. Soon you will find some parking areas and there’s going to be a gravel pathway that leads to a hiking trail known as The Grassy Patch, which is the beginning of a 2.3 mile hike. The Alum Cave hiking trail is seen as moderately difficult is about 4.6 miles for a year round trip or a 5.1 mile trip to LeConte Lodge. The trip will last anywhere from 2 and ½ hours to 3 and ½ hours, depending on how far you will hike. The Alum Cave Trail is the most popular in the area and is well-known for it’s route to Mt. LeCounte.

The Cades Cove Hiking Trails include hikes to Abrams Falls, Ace Gap, Anthony reek Trail, Beard Cane, Bote Mountain, Cades Cove Nature Trail, Cane Creek, Cooper Road, Crib Gap Trail, the Gregory Bald Hiking Trail, the Gregory Ridge Hiking Trail, Hannah Mountain, Hatcher Mountain, Indian Grave Gap, Little Bottoms, Rabbit Creek Hiking Trail, Rich Mountain Loop Trail, the Russell Field, Scott Mountain and the Wet Bottom horse trail.

The Gatlinburg Trail is an easy 3.8 mile round-trip starting at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Also, the trail in the park allows bicycles and dogs that are on a leash.
The Laurel Falls Trail is described as being in between easy and difficult. The hike is going to be abut 4 miles to one of the most famous waterfalls in the park. This trail is known as one of the busiest ones in the summer time and on weekends all year.

The Rainbow Falls Trail is considered to be pretty challenging, if you can complete it to Mt. LeConte. Allow at least an hour and a half to Rainbow Falls and at least four hours to get to Mt. LeConte. By the time you reach Mt. Leconte you’ll be at an elevation of at almost 4,000 feet. When hiking this trail you’ll leave from Cherokee Orchard Road. Along the way to Mt. LeConte you will see Rainbow Falls, the Alum Cave Trail and the LeConte Lodge.

The Roaring Fork Area is a five-mile one way hike close to Gatlinburg and it is referred to as a motorized nature trail. There are some walking and hiking trails close by. In this area of the Smoky Mountains you will see mountain streams, an old-growth forest, historic log cabins, and a grist mill.

Before hiking make sure to stop by the Gatlinburg Welcome Center or the Sugarlands Visitor Center to get a hiking map. The maps they give you can also provide you with information about the trails in the park, like brief descriptions, distance, degree of difficulty, and location. The maps are also full of safety information to help you. So, not only do the maps keep you from getting lost in the beautiful Smoky Mountain National Park but they provide you with safety too.

Located close by are hundreds of Gatlinburg Cabins. Please feel free to contact Cabins For You to book your cabin in Gatlinburg. We offer several luxurious cabins at great prices. We can be reached at 1.800.684.6875.