Waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountain
As if the Great Smoky Mountains weren’t enough,
waterfalls line the foliage in the midst of the animals,
trees, and landscape. Waterfalls trickle through almost
every stream in the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Whether you enjoy listening to the cool waters splashing
over the rocks or observing the wildflowers, forests and
scenes from the hike, the Smokies offers it all. Three
waterfalls are even visible from the roads! Talk about a
convenience—you don’t even have to get out of your car!
All the other waterfalls require hiking, and range from
easy to strenuous.
There are sixteen main waterfalls (with names included)
that draw most of the attention in the park.
Abrams Falls is a five mile round trip hike that is easy
to moderate leading to the 20 foot high waterfall. It
offers the park's largest volume of water and the most
photogenic waterfall and hike. The trail begins at the
Abrams Falls parking lot at the west end of Cades Cove
Loop Road.
An easier trail with only half the walk of Abrams Falls
is Grotto Falls. Grotto Falls is distinctive as the only
waterfall in the park one can walk behind. It offers a
cool, shady, moist retreat for summer hikers and
visitors. It’s located at pull off number five on
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
Mingo Falls has a moderate hike to get there, but offers
a spectacular drop of about 120 feet. The trailhead is
located on the Cherokee Reservation, south of the park,
on Pigeon Creek Trail outside the Mingo Falls
Campground. Mingo Falls has the largest cascade of any
of the falls in the park.
Lastly, The Sinks is located off of the Little River
Road, almost 12 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor
Center. Viewing areas are right off the parking lot.
This area is a huge tourist attraction in the summer and
local residents use this as their swimming hole.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is filled with
waterfalls, so bring your camera and family along for a
great trip in the mountains! But first call Cabins For
You to reserve one of our
cabin rentals in Gatlinburg after your trip to the
National Park. You will need a place to rest after your
day of hiking, bird watching, and wading in the water,
so call rent a great Gatlinburg cabin in the Great Smoky
Mountains! |
