Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trails range from easy to hard and can be relatively short or long. You’ll also find there are trails full of wildflowers in the spring, waterfalls, historic buildings, and much more. Here are the top 5 hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains you should try:
1. Little Brier Gap Trail
If you love history, you should hike the Little Brier Gap Trail. This trail is considered easy and has a roundtrip length of 3.9 miles. The path follows a small stream, where you might see some fish and other creatures. Around the 1 mile mark, you’ll come across the side trail that leads to the Walker Sisters Place. The 5 sisters lived in this area until the 1960s. Their original home and other buildings are still on this land where you can explore them. As you’re making your way to their home, you will see lots of wildflowers in the spring and summer.
2. Laurel Falls
A very popular easy hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains is Laurel Falls. This trail is 2.6 miles roundtrip, and the path is paved, making it slightly easier than other trails. In the spring and summer, you will see why the trail is named Laurel Falls; there are a ton of mountain laurel all along the trail. Once you reach the end of the trail, you’ll see the 80-foot waterfall as water gushes over the rocks. The falls is so big that a footbridge sections it into an upper part and lower part.
3. Andrews Bald
If seeing beautiful mountain views on a hike is important to you, you should hike to Andrews Bald. This hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains is considered moderate and is 1.8 miles roundtrip. You’ll pass through a spruce and fir forest and even walk on rock stairs that make the path more walkable. When you reach the end, you’ll be at the bald. Many people like to hike here and have a picnic while enjoying the views!
4. Porters Creek Trail
If seeing wildflowers is important to you, you should hike Porters Creek Trail. This trail is 7 miles roundtrip and considered moderate. As you walk along the trail, you’ll see all kinds of flowers in the spring. Some of them include yellow trillium, wild geranium, and Jack-in-the-pulpits. Along the first mile, you can see an old farmstead. At around 2 miles, you will come up on Fern Branch Falls, a beautiful waterfall.
5. Ramsey Cascades
One of the hardest hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains is Ramsey Cascades, but it’s worth it. The roundtrip length is 8 miles. As you’re getting to the falls, you will cross over creeks on footbridges and see all kinds of native plants and trees. Once you get to the waterfall, you will see why it’s one of the most beautiful. It stands at 100 feet tall and has several tiers where water flows over rocks. It’s definitely worth the hard hike to get to Ramsey Cascades!
There’s nothing quite like hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. If you’re not ready to get out and explore on the trails but want to see the mountains, you should go on a scenic drive in the Smokies! Either way, you need a place to stay! Look through our cabins in the Smoky Mountains and book one for your next trip!
