Grotto Falls was such a fun family adventure! We hiked it with our three kids, and everyone had a great time. The trail was beautiful, the waterfall was awesome, and the kids did surprisingly well on the hike! And we got a bonus Smoky Mountain experience before we even reached the trailhead and we saw a mama bear with her cubs along the drive! Talk about setting the tone for the day! Beautiful scenery, a fun hike, and memories the whole family will be talking about. Definitely one of our favorite adventures in the Smokies! read more

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Grotto Falls is a beautiful hike and definitely worth seeing. Walking behind the waterfall is a unique experience, and the trail is shaded with gorgeous scenery along the way. The biggest challenge is getting there. There are only about 10 parking spots on a one-way road, with very few pull-off areas along the entire route. We actually drove there twice and couldn't find parking either time. We ended up having one person drop us off and pick us up later at an agreed-upon time since cell phone reception on the trail was very spotty. The hike to the falls is mostly uphill for about 1 mile, and I had to take several breaks. I wouldn't consider it toddler-friendly. The hike back is much easier since it's downhill, but you still need to be careful. The trail is full of roots, rocks, and slippery terrain that blend into the dirt, making it easy to slip, trip, or twist an ankle. One member of our group was injured, so I highly recommend wearing quality hiking boots with good traction and ankle support. Despite the parking challenges and moderately difficult hike, the waterfall is beautiful and worth the effort if you're prepared and arrive early. read more

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This hike is beautiful and the scenery all throughout this hike is great! You can even walk behind the falls; so cool! The trail is about 3 miles roundtrip and is pretty easy with a bit of an incline/hill. Should be manageable for all ages and levels. Enjoy the beauty! read more

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This was our second hike on a trip. We were looking forward to exploring the waterfall trail. It wasn't as long as yesterday's hike, but there was still a notable elevation. We arrived early in order to beat the crowd. It was raining off and on, so the rocks were slippery. That's why we use hiking poles. All in all it was wonderful. We did see bears before and after this hike. Fortunately, we were in our vehicles. We made enough noise so that they didn't come around- this of course as their home. We had an excellent time. Parking is sparse near the trailhead. read more

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Wow!!! I asked on the way up this 1.3 mile hike (2.6 total) if the hike was worth the view, and on the way down others asked me the same. The beauty of these falls in the Smokey's are breath taking. The views are the same. There is plenty of shade, so even on a hot day, it seems much cooler on the mountain. We didn't see any bears and it was totally worth it. Slow and steady wins the race!!! It is hard to find parking so expect to walk. But again, the walk is worth it. Take food/snack/lunch and plenty of water. There are areas to walk in the water a bit. Along the drive there are plenty of spots to stop and check out the views read more

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This trail is about 2.5 miles total. There are quite a few stairs, it can be wet and slippery but It's a fun trail and worth the view. read more

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This is an absolute gem of a hike! In my opinion, it is more scenic end enjoyable than the signature Laurel Falls Hike. Highly recommend for all healthy individuals! It should be manageable for all ages and family members. Just be sure to plan ahead! Tips for your best experience... -Arrive early! There is very limited parking at the trail head and it fills quickly. I arrived at 8:30 and all of the marked spaces were taken. I was able to park on a nearby pull-out but even those were filling quickly. -Sunscreen, snacks, and water! You'll be glad to have these things handy. -Wear sneakers or hiking boots that you won't mind getting muddy. While most of the trail was dry, the picturesque falls at the summit was a bit muddy from the pouring waters. Just take note. -Be bear aware! Very important to note that bears have been frequently sighted on this trail. There was a sighting while I was hiking. If you are unsure of what to do in the presence of bears, definitely talk w a ranger. Minor risk of course, but safety first! Have fun if you do decide to partake! Less crowded than Laurel and unpaved pathway. Has a more rugged hike feel to it. The view is so lovely and peaceful. read more

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I drove 2 hours up a narrow one lane road to find a parking lot with approximately 20 spots. Drove 2 hours home.

Beautiful trail at Roaring Fork Motor Trail. From the parking lot to falls is about 1.5 miles. Round trip is 3 mile. The trail is easy and can be your own schedule to get there. To get there, you need to drive the Cherokee Orchard Road to the end and join the Roaring Fork Motor trail. From the begin of the motor trail, it is about two mile to the Trillium Gap Trail entrance. Parking can be found near trillium gap trail entrance. The parking is limited at Motor Trail. Once you miss it you have to drive the motor trail to town and redo the motor trail again because motor trail is one way. I would suggest get there before 8 am to have a better chance to find a parking space. The Grotto Falls is beautiful. You can go behind the falls and take pictures. Many stay behind the fall with water curtain in front. The many angle to take the falls picture. If you continue the trail it can take you to rainbow falls. read more

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Hiked up on a Saturday, absolutely beautiful and worth it. There's a bunch of people on the trail going up and down so it makes you feel more comfortable you're not by yourself. The reason for my 4 stars is the parking. If you aren't there bright and early get ready to walk a mile to the entry for it. Oh and don't forget about the parking pass $5 a day at any visiting center you can get them at, THEY DO TICKET! Took my husband and I an hour and a half to get through not too tough of terrain, let's just say you go up the entire time so coming down is easier. Kid friendly saw a bunch of littles doing it! read more

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The Grotto Falls hike is a great little hike with fantastic views after about 1.5 miles. The trail is pretty mild, with easy walking. It takes about 30 minutes to hike if you're a moderate walker. The terrain is not very rocky at all. It's mostly a relaxed dirt path, so it's easy to navigate even if you have bad knees or if someone is elderly. Bonus, even in the midst of summer, it feels like the AC is on by the falls due to the water. This is a well frequented path and destination. You can't expect quiet or seclusion. It's a perfect short hike with a spectacular view if you have other plans for the day to fit in! read more

Grotto Falls - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

This was a beautiful hike! Definitely worth the trip! I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to do a hike that isn't too difficult and not extremely long. We had a large group that were all different ages and experience levels. So it took our group about an hour to hike to the falls and about 45 minutes to hike back to the parking lot. It's also a beautiful drive. read more

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Pro tip: if you're going to do this hike, be the first one there. Just wake up and book it up to the parking area. It'll be packed by late morning - and then it's nearly impossible to get a spot. After that, it's an awesome little hike! We saw bears on the drive in and well as lots of other wildlife and large insects on the hike. If you're up for more adventure after this, there are some great historical cabins / sites on the way back down the mountain. read more

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This is another must do when visiting the Great Smoky Mountain Park. Getting to this fall is different than most. You have to travel through downtown Gatlinburg to get to this side of the park. The roads to the falls are very narrow. Perhaps a little uncomfortable for uncertain drivers. There isn't a lot of parking here. So you may have to fight for a spot. There is a small restroom facility available. There is a small hike to get to the trail head. The first part of the trail is steep and creates some heavy breathing. The trail base is a good solid base of compacted dirt and stone. There are a lot of tree roots that stick up that you need to watch. The trail is wide but no rails. This isn't a trail for a stroller. I personally wouldn't take small kids on this trek. There are several places were you have to step from large rock to large rock as you cross a small water fall. All said...the long journey is worth the effort. The falls at the top are beautiful. You can walk underneath the falls without getting wet. Makes for excellent photo ops! read more

My absolute favorite hike! My savvy hike planner companion knew that two or three times a week llamas make the trek up the Trillium Gap Trail carrying supplies to LeConte Lodge near the summit of Mount LeConte. If you hit the trail early enough (ie before daylight), you can see the llamas being offloaded from their trailer in the parking lot and beat them to Grotto Falls. Then, you can watch from various vantage points as they make the journey behind the falls and continue on-a very cool thing that few hikers get to see. Only the first few hundred yards were actually in the dark. We used flashlights and tread carefully, watching for the first peeks of pink daylight in skies. It didn't take long and we were able to see some pretty awesome views along the way. The trail crosses streams in a couple of places; we crossed the streams on rocks. Going up there is a steep dropoff on the left, a steep mountain on the right and a well-worn path to follow. The grade is fairly gentle, making it a fairly easy 1.25 mile hike in. We did it with an 18-month old in a hiking pack and 3 and 5 year olds walking on their own (full disclosure: they had been "in training" a few weeks ahead of time!) The wide, plentiful rocks in front of the falls provides the perfect setting for a breakfast picnic. We snacked on trail mix, fruit and granola bars. We had the place entirely to ourselves after the llamas left. We dipped our hands in the cool, clear water and even took a sip before heading back down the trail. Along the way we met plenty of other hikers, some of who looked surprised to see us headed down so arly. A few asked if we had seen the llamas. I think they had a bit of hiker envy when we said yes! read more

A must see! Beautiful waterfall. My favorite part was being able to go behind it. A nice beautiful hike to get there. Parking lot is small. My suggestion is to go early. There were a few people there when I got there. If you chose to go past the waterfall and head up to Mt Leconte it is a long but peaceful hike. Take lots of water. read more

Grotto Falls - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

The Grotto Falls trail is a relatively easy hike with a gorgeous waterfall that you can walk behind. I've hiked it twice and the only thing is that it can get a little slippery in spots if there has been rain. I highly highly recommend getting there early because the parking for Grotto Falls off the Roaring Forks Motor Trail is incredibly limited. read more

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Great hike! I liked this better than Laurel Falls because this was not paved. The trails were wide and very family friendly. I also enjoyed this more than Laurel Falls because it was less crowded at the falls. We found a nice place to sit and watch the falls. Going under the falls was a very neat experience. The parking wasn't as good as Laurel falls. Small parking lot, and the side of the road parking was pretty filled up. We had to park about a quarter mile down the road from the trail entrance but that wasn't too bad. Also, the drive up was super super scenic, a little better than Laurel Falls read more

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Good hike! The falls are stunning, and the hike is easy. If you go when the road is closed park at the rainbow falls parking lot and walk in. We didn't see anyone on our hike till about 10 minutes after having the falls to ourselves read more

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Great hiking trail with water falls! Overall short trail, good picture opportunities. read more

Our family of 6 (this includes 4 kids ages 9, 7, 5, 3) wanted to explore a waterfall on our vacation and it was hard to choose which path would be best for our group! I couldn't have been more excited about doing this path and waterfall! This 1.5 mile uphill hike was very doable for all of us. (our 3 y/o was piggybacked a few times). There were a few little babbling brooks on the way up(could be a heavier stream with more rainfall) that our kids were so excited to explore while they cooled off in the fresh water. Once you reach the falls, you know it was worth the hike! You follow the stone stairs to the very top and walk right behind the falls! Along the stairs are little pools to frolic in and cool off. We spent quite a bit of time there! This is a great nature activity for the family, plus a break from the crowded tourist places! ***PLEASE BE AWARE*** It is posted at the beginning of the trailhead of bear activity in the area and is always possible to encounter bears on the path. We didn't see any on our hike, but did pass several people that did. Just be prepared for this possibility. Also, it's good to note that to drive to the trailhead, you need to drive a very narrow one way road to get there. Will definitely do this again when we visit. read more

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In our time at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park we visited 3 Falls: Laurel, Rainbow, and Grotto, and of the three I have to say that Grotto Falls was my favorite. The hike up to the falls was punctuated with some smaller creeks/tiny falls. There is some really great scenery along the trail, very plush & green. The trail itself was not as even as the one at Laurel Falls (that one is paved), but not as rocky or difficult as the one to Rainbow Falls. I liked that leading up to the falls there are a number of places near the foot of the falls where you can get different views. It was fun walking around and behind the falls and discovering different rocks to climb and get new views. We also saw a few salamanders here! read more

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Gorgeous trail!!! Beware that most sites says it's an hour fifteen to hike it round trip, and it's in actuality -especially if you haven't been before- about a two and a half hour ordeal. The drive up to the parking lot is also pretty scenic but very curvy. Bring a few bottles of water for this one, and make sure that your prepared for a completely uphill climb with no plateaus for the first 45 minutes. Def worth it tho! read more

It was a nice, relatively easy hike that leads to a stream & mini waterfall. The hike is a great chance to see animals I wouldn't normally see. However, there is very limited parking which will most likely add an additional .5-1 mile as you walk to the actual trail. There is an incline and you do have to cross rocks that may be slippery so I would not recommend this trail for people who may use a wheelchair or stroller. read more

very quick hike but with beautiful sites! We were able to see the llamas stop for water. On your way to the trip in your car there was a stop where we got to see the overview! Then the hike to the waterfall was about 3 miles? Very fun little trip! read more

Grotto Falls - The waterfall - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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Easy hike (about 1.4 miles) to the falls in early October. Great time of the year for a hike -- not hot like the summer and not too chilly. Leaves are starting to change colors. Calming babbling creek on the way up. The falls are beautiful! read more

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This was very cool and pretty! I'm glad I did it but IT IS A 1.4 MILE HIKE UP A GOANT MOUNTAIN! For this girl, that took about an hour. I'm glad it was cooler because I was not prepared for this level lol. That being said it is beautiful and if you are a hiker it will be easy. read more

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Great moderate hike with a Gorgeous waterfall you can walk behind! Trail can be slick with mud after a good rain. read more

Grotto Falls - Grotto trail waterfall - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Beautiful easy to moderate hike. In my opinion, anyone in reasonably good health should be able to have no problems with this trail. The trail goes uphill all the way to the falls, but the incline is not particularly steep. I would recommend wearing sturdy shoes, the trail isn't paved but compared to other trails in the area, it's well maintained and not too rocky. We loved this waterfall because you can walk behind it. Great picture opportunity! The whole Roaring Fork Motor Drive area is simply gorgeous, creeks, waterfalls of all sizes and lush green forest everywhere. The parking lot is small, like at most trailheads in SMNP and located across the street from the trailhead. To avoid large crowds, we went late in the afternoon, after a thunder shower. The path was almost deserted and we were at the falls all by ourselves, which added to the magic of the experience. read more

Grotto Falls - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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Not necessarily kid friendly! We chose this hike because it was listed as "easy" and "kid friendly" on the Smoky Mountain website. However, we have younger kids and the trail was exceptionally uneven, rocky, and covered in tree roots and overgrowth. It was all uphill on the way there which was hard on the little ones. I think ages 10+ would be best. Just thought I would mention that for families thinking of going. That being said, the falls are beautiful. We didn't see any wildlife at all, which was kinda disappointing. Not even a bird! Not sure if it's due to recent fires but I joked I have more wildlife in my yard at home. We didn't even see a squirrel. Kinda eerie. Lots of water, mud, and slippery rocks so I recommend a rain jacket and hard sole shoes. read more

Grotto Falls - Grotto Falls - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous - nice little hike with a steady moderate incline! Wasn't too busy this morning which was perfect! Got to the waterfall - breathtaking truly. The park ranger told us this was one of the best views and they were right! People of all ages and abilities can make this hike. The views were so cool as you could see the fog on top of the mountains as you walked up to the top. Was about 1 1/2 miles up and then you could spend as much time at the fall as you liked. From there you could continue on another trail or head back down. We had some other things to do so we headed back around 11:30 am and it was definitely getting busier around then. One of the highlights of the weekend for sure! read more

Grotto Falls - You can walk underneath the waterfall! Amazing - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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Beautiful hike for all ages and skill levels. Not too long of a hike but moderately strenuous. The grotto itself is gorgeous and majestic. 100% worth the effort! read more

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This 1.4 mile trail is considerably easy to hike and you would see a beautiful Falls at the end of the 1.4 mile trail. This trail isn't a loop, so you would hike 1.4 mile out and come back so totaling of 2.8 mile. We had with our three kids (15 months, 3 years old and 8 years old) and we spent about a total of 2 hours to finish the trail. (The 15 months was in the baby carrier, he did not hike at all) The path wasn't paved, so you would not be able to push the stroller on the path like how other people did in the Laurel Falls in the Great Smoky Mountain. Be sure to wear comfy sneakers / hiking shoes as there are a few points that are very slippery on the way up. Be sure to watch young children as one side of the path has no fence and kids may fall down to the woods. The trail is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday until November, so try to go early as it starts to get crowded at around 11 am. read more

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First we'll address the hike to Grotto Falls. It's not treacherous or severely physically demanding, but it's not a cake walk either. Its almost 2 miles of constant incline with a TON of tangled roots on the path. You're going to have to carry small kids (under 4 or so). Obviously the trip back is MUCH easier downhill. You don't get a lot of vistas on the way, because you're watching your step. The Grotto itself is beautiful, with slate like stone, cool and clear water, and a little pool under the falls. The trail takes you under (behind) the falling water, which is neat and makes a great photo op. We sat on yhe rock read more

This is a great waterfall hike!!! Although it is rated moderate... many, many small children were along the trail today and had little to no problem completing the 3 miles round trip from the parking area. Best to wear old sneakers, because the trail is muddy in spots and full of tripping hazzards. Today a young adolescent Black Bear had crowds of people gathering to watch him as he meandered through the woods like a kid with nothing to do. This would NOT normally be advisable, but he was waaaaaay down hill and a good distance from the trail. It was evident that bears had been on the trail earlier that day from the amount of fresh droppings we encountered. Still, it's always exciting to see nature. The trail is all uphill on the way to the waterfall, which makes walking back very easy. Grotto Fall is a real sight to see, because you can actually walk behind it or dip your feet and body in the shallow pool of water at its base. Great photo opportunities, but I would advise you go early if it's the weekend or a holiday break because the viewing area can get really crowded quickly! DIRECTIONS: Turn at Traffic light #8 in Gatlinburg and follow it to Roaring Forks Road. Keep right and stay on Roaring Fork past the Rainbow Falls parking area. Follow the signs towards Grotto Falls. Another great reason to go early is because parking spaces are limited. Once parked, go right along the concrete walkway which points straight toward the trail head. read more

Grotto Falls - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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Great little day hike - challenging without being overwhelming. And the waterfall waiting for you at the end is stunning. Lots of cool stuff along the way as well, of course. But nothing worse then walking 3 miles and going...that's it? Definitely not the case here and there's even some rocks to sit on and refresh before hiking back. read more

Grotto Falls - Panoramic view of the river before approaching the falls - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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A friend and I hiked here after we say that you could go behind a waterfall. This was something I had never done so I was really excited to get here. The trail isn't too long, only 1.6 miles to the Falls. The hike there is all uphill, mostly covered by trees, and INSANELY GORGEOUS. We got hit with a bit of rain, so by the time we reached the falls, it wasn't too crowded, a lot of people had turned around and left. You can walk out behind the falls on the rocks so be careful. The walk back was much easier as it it now obviously down hill. Go here, see nature, fall in love with the Smokies! read more

Grotto Falls - Hiking Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

We went early in the morning, which I recommend especially if you want to take pictures at the top, otherwise you'll be waiting in line. If you're not in shape it may be a hard hike, stepping over several streams, but you can do it we did. Bring your walking stick and good walking boots. Drinking Water if it's hot out. I would recommend it. read more

The drive along Roaring Fork to get to the trailhead is part of the beauty. We had to park about 10 minutes downhill as the parking lot was full. This was a beautiful hike and the waterfall was beautiful!! As a side note, if the parking lot is full, the trail will be crowded. Luckily, most hikers I have encountered are chill and know how to take turns taking pictures at the waterfall. read more

An okay hike, but far from the best waterfall hike in the Smokies. Middle Prong is better and so are the various waterfall hikes near Bryson City. They don't have the massive crowds like Grotto. This is a good hike for children and families. It was not muddy or covered with roots as some descriptions inaccurately claim. The trail is wide, fast and smooth. The biggest issue is parking. There is not much of it near the trailhead and you will likely have to hike to the hike. So take that into account. The roundtrip to the falls is 2.6 miles. I hiked to Mt. Brushy for great views in addition to taking in the falls. That is 6 miles roundtrip and I recommend it as you get great mountain views (including LeConte) in addition to the falls. read more