The 2.6-Mile Laurel Falls Trail Is A Beautiful And Easy Trail To Take In Tennessee
By Meghan Kraft|Updated on August 30, 2023(Originally published September 10, 2019)
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in the United States, boasting more than 800 miles of trails and innumerable beautiful vistas to boot. Finding a stunning trail to walk isn’t TOO difficult. But finding one of the best in the park? Well, you can leave that to us. Laurel Falls in the Smokies presents a perfect trek through the beauty of the park, and it’s one of the most popular hiking trails for a reason. If you haven’t been, you simply must. After hiking this stunning trail we would not only highly recommend it but insist that you put this at the top of your list when it comes to hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Laurel Falls Trail meanders through the gorgeous heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and out towards Cades Cove. The trailhead is roughly 3.5 miles from the visitor center, with parking on both sides of the road. Because this trail is one of the most popular trails in the park the parking lot fills up quickly so make sure you arrive early so you don't miss this one. If the parking lot is full, however, there are a couple of more places before and after where you can park but it will add some mileage to your hike.
The roundtrip hiking distance is roughly 2.6 miles. Considered to be fairly easy, most folks have reported it takes a little over an hour to get out to the waterfall and back.
Although pets are prohibited (For a trail that you can bring your furry companion on try The Gatlinburg Trail), a majority of the trail is paved. Keep in mind that it is still fairly rough and uneven, so watch your step! Kids should definitely be watched closely. In our experience the pavement was cracked and broken in several places but generally very easy to walk.
Having a paved path through the woods might seem a little strange but there is a reason for it. The Laurel Falls Trail was originally built for fire crews. Once considered an access road, it's since become a wildly popular hiking trail. Closer to the waterfall the path will give way to stunning overlooks of the surrounding forest. There is also a very steep drop off and we would advise watching small children in that section.
Laurel Falls itself is an 80-foot-high cascading waterfall that's split into upper and lower falls. Make sure to come during the week if you're looking for fewer crowds because this gorgeous waterfall is a must-see. You will want to take a break at the base of the falls because we haven't seen a waterfall quite as beautiful in the park.
Laurel Falls Trail isn't far from Gatlinburg and is popular for bird watchers, hikers, and those seeking just a quiet reprieve from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The out-and-back trail only gains 403 feet, so keep that in mind when planning your trip into the wilderness. What we loved about this hike was that the journey getting to the waterfall was just as good as the end destination and there was beauty hiding around every bend.
Laurel Falls is a gorgeous, if fairly busy, trail through the Great Smoky Mountains, and it offers up one of the most scenic treks through the park. We want to let you in on a little local secret about this trail. Right before the bridge that leads to the base of the upper falls, there is a barely visible path leading down to the lower falls. You will have to scramble down some steep rocks but you will be rewarded with stunning views of the lower falls. This area can be easily missed and will tend to have fewer crowds but something we highly recommend when you visit Laurel Falls. You can check out this trail in more detail by watching this Adventuring in the Moment video.
Have you ever been to Laurel Falls in the Smokies? We think it is one of the prettiest waterfalls in the park and well worth the visit. Plan ahead and make sure you check out the lower falls to get the complete experience. If you’re looking for more information, you’ll want to check out the National Park Service page on Laurel Falls.
Now this isn’t the only waterfall in the state with the same name so to clear it up here are two other incredible waterfalls in Tennessee with the same name but in totally different locations. Laurel Falls in Hampton and Laurel Falls in Savage Gulf State Park, I have been to both of them and I would highly recommend both!
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