The 2.6-Mile Laurel Falls Trail Is A Beautiful And Easy Trail To Take In Tennessee
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 Trail 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.
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.
The roundtrip hiking distance is roughly 2.6 miles. Considered to be of moderate difficulty, most folks have reported it takes about two hours to get out to the waterfall and back.
Although pets are prohibited, 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.
Laurel Falls is actually one of the only 3 miles of trail in the park that's paved. There are over 800 miles of hiking trails in the park and only three of them - the Laurel Falls trail - are paved. The reason? The Laurel Falls Trail was originally built for fire crews. Once considered an access road, it's since become a wildly popular hiking trail.
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.
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 396 feet, so keep that in mind when planning your trip into the wilderness.
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. The trail is open every day beginning at 9 a.m. Address:
Laurel Falls Trail, Tennessee 37862
If you’re looking for more information, you’ll want to check out the National Park Service page on Laurel Falls.
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.
