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    Laurel Falls Trailhead

    4.6 (118 reviews)

    Laurel Falls Trailhead Photos

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    Nick M.

    Great experience. This is not an easy trek. Yeah, it's a paved trail, but don't bring grandma on a scooter. We literally saw that, and I'm not sure how they got over the tree that had fallen over the cement trail. Get there early or park far away. Simple choices. We got there at noon and parked one mile away according to the GPS. We had a great time, and we 're all so glad we did it. I recommend it, but only if you're in decent shape. Want an honest review? Here it is.

    Picture of closures

    Trailhead was closed during our late August visit. If you're visiting the Smokey Mountains it's advisable to check ahead of time for trail and road closures.

    Joy S.

    I have to give the visitors of Smokey Mountain, and National Forest Rangers so many props. It doesn't matter which trail went on, They were all clean, including the roads. The only complaint I have about this trail is that it is partially paved/partially not; enough room for one 1/2 passerby's, not making it easy to have someone walk next to you or others to pass by. This is for the entire path going from parking lot to Falls. The path was completely shaded and beautiful as always.

    Ashley D.

    This was absolutely beautiful and worth the hike. Be very careful with young children as there are some slightly narrow paths. Not super narrow, but narrow enough. Gorgeous scenery.

    Spirited R.

    I've seen the reviews for this place and everyone like it's nice and easy. I couldn't disagree 100%. Let's talk about the parking. It's extremely difficult to park near the entrance. Each side of the road has about 10 parking spots and a few areas on the shoulder of the road. If you want to park, be prepared to wait in the parking lot until someone leaves to capture their parking spot, else be prepared to walk anywhere from 1/2 - 1 mile up hill. That's what we had to do after driving back and fourth, at once thought we'd have to walk 1.5 mile up hill to the park. But lucked out and only 1/2 mile. We started to walk the trail and it states that it's 1.3 miles to the waterfall, you can go beyond 3.7 miles to another tourist spot. If you are like me 6-7, 285 pounds and bad knees, when I say bad knees, I'm talking bone on bone from years of basketball slowly destroying my knees by the time I turned 41 years of age. One thing I learned early from my orthopedic is to stay away from hard surfaces(kind of difficult to do that), but uneven pavement is a must. Apparently this trail was paved but in 1939 and you can easily tell that over the years water and other issues have destroyed the pavement. It's uneven and quite dangerous at times. They have 0 guardrails on the trail. It's also a constant up hill. I believe it's peak is 1,800 feet, but that's a lot of uphill. Once you come to the sign that I posted in my photos about people falling to their deaths, they're not kidding, it's very narrow and broken pavement. You must be very careful when navigating along this part of the trail. I had to stop a number of times, but remember my size and bad knees. I was out of breath a bit but knew if it's wasn't the knees I could make it up quicker, if I probably was in better shape and had the best of the best of knees like my 18 year old son did. Once you make it to the top the waterfalls aren't much to look at. Is it worth the hike? 100% absolutely not, I had seen no bears nor any wildlife along my walk. I'd highly recommend considering the hike that you must make, the wear and tear to the trail, understanding that the trail isn't made for parties going up and parties going down. I was able to walk down the hill much better. I didn't stop a single time, the 1.3 miles isn't like walking on a flat surface. I walk two-three miles daily but on a flat surface and not up hill. Down hill was much better, I was able to walk the 1.3 and then 1/2 mile to my vehicle in a much quicker time span. I've read many reviews people saying this hike was fairly easy is a bold face lie, I'm sorry for the person who said that but maybe if your 18 and spry. My wife who doesn't have bad knees exercises multiple times per day and is in great shape had a difficult time climbing this trail. This is good for a intermediate to advanced hiker.

    Rattlesnake
    Ariel W.

    The Laurel Falls and the trail that takes you there is named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub found along the trail and next to the falls in May. It is one of the most popular trails in the park. Part of the trail is paved and it was originally built to allow fire crews access to the Cove Mountain area in case of a fire. The trail was completed in 1932 at a cost of $590. A fire tower was completed three years later. The roundtrip to the waterfall is 2.6 miles and takes about two hours to complete. It is all steep uphill to the waterfall so the trail is classified as moderate. Once you reach the falls you can appreciate the beautiful view. Laurel Falls is 80 feet high and it has an upper and lower section divided by a walkway. You are advised not to swim in the falls but it was ignored by almost everyone who made the hike. People were in the water in both the lower and upper sections. The rocks are slippery because of the algae and through the years several people have suffered serious death and injury from falling. In 2012 a father and son, Dwight F. Cope, 42, and Dagan Cope, 15, both of Breaux Bridge, La drowned in the lower pool of the falls. A woman visiting from Florida had to be carried out in 2018 after becoming injured at the falls. The National Park Service would like everyone to know not to feed the wildlife. This trail is well known for bear sightings. In 2010 a bear had to be euthanized after biting a hiker on the foot who had stopped to take its picture. People on the trail had been feeding the bear who lost its fear of humans. Any bear that attacks a person will be put down by the NPS. The incident was very upsetting for everyone involved so it is up to everyone who hikes the park to protect the bears by not interacting with them. I saw a rattlesnake on my way up which was very cool. I just walked past him and let him be. Respect animals by picking up your litter, not feeding them, and keeping your distance. Take nothing, leave only footprints, and have a wonderful hike.

    Beautiful view from the trail.
    alexandria p.

    A steep climb with rough terrain. It is paved.. but it's pretty beat up; not wide enough for a stroller... However I did pass a family with one, and it looked challenging. There are some stunning taking views half way up the path, of the mountains and valleys. The water fall is beautiful. There were some kids playing in the water. You can get up close to the waterfall and cool down. A lot of rocks to sit and relax. It was pretty busy when we went. But still a nice little hike with some amazing views.

    Amber N.

    Parking can be difficult, but it seemed like people could park along the sides when spaces were gone. We went on a Saturday and it was very busy. We were lucky enough to find a space as someone left when we arrived. The trail is very hilly going towards the falls. The pathway is small so you have to single file when others are around. Going during a busy time with Covid-19 around was a little nerve-racking. I am not an athlete; I usually go for light walks. If you're like me, I would suggest wearing a disposable, paper mask that is lighter than the cloth masks to make it easier to breathe during the hike. Most of the path is paved so the walk was not difficult. There are a few places to sit along the way for breaks. My favorite part of the trail was how encouraging everyone was. As we were hiking toward the falls, many people on their back, said things like: "it's worth it" "keep going" "you're almost there" It is like you become part of a special cool community as you hike. We made sure to do the same for others on our way down.

    Brittany K.

    This is a lovely hike for practically everyone! It's definitely moderate in terms of difficulty but it's got a nicely paved trail. There are some cracks and minor gaps to watch for but overall, healthy individuals can definitely tackle this! Now that you've decided to hike Laurel, here are your tips for a great adventure: -Arrive early! Parking at the trailhead gets quite busy and the sun will start warming the trail as the day progresses. If you start at 8am, you can park seamlessly and enjoy pleasant temperatures. -Bring water, a snack, and sunscreen! These are essentials. -Wear sneakers or hiking boots. The trail is definitely uphill and you will know it immediately. Wear shoes with good traction as you'll need to be prepared in some cases for slick areas, cracks, and gaps. -Be bear aware! There have been lots of bear sighting on this trail. If you are unsure of how to behave in the presence of bears, speak w a park ranger. The risk is low but safety first! -Encourage fellow hikers on the trail and be sure to offer to take their picture at the top! You might need the favor exchanged. Have fun.

    Richard R.

    9 years ago I was first to review Laurel and several other waterfall trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. It was a different time on yelp, when very few people wrote about the great outdoors. As a matter of fact, I'll never forget getting a private message or two from other yelpers scolding me for "using yelp the wrong way." Yet 95 reviews later I get the satisfaction of knowing sometimes the crowd needs just one penguin to dive in first... which is why of all my yelp badges, MAVERICK is my favorite. So I feel a responsibility to update my original review with deep disappointment on the lack of maintenance the trail has received. It has eroded so badly that it is no longer wheel chair or stroller friendly, especially closer to the falls. Thankfully, as of 2021 there is a committee in the planning stages of refurbishing the trail surface and infrastructure, improving the viewing area and addressing the parking limits and safety issues of the massive amount of visitors who park and walk dangerously along the roadside to the trailhead when all other parking areas are at capacity. I was extremely pleased to read about this on the National Park Services website and hope they don't delay in making speedy and much needed improvements as quickly as possible. [ INTERESTING FACTS ] * The official height of the falls is 80 feet, but the trail crosses it around its midpoint, making it seem shorter. The waterfall trail is practically impassable after heavy rains as the water washes over the trail, making it dangerous to continue to the Fire Tower. * The trail was originally built to allow fire crews access to the Cove Mountain area. * It was completed in 1932 at a cost of approximately $590. * The trail is actually 4.2 miles long (one way) and continues past the falls (located @ the 1.3 mile mark) to Cove Mountain Fire Tower. * It was reconditioned, graded, and paved to halt erosion in 1963. * It is the longest of four paved trails in the park. ----- My Top 10 favorite waterfalls (in order) in the Gatlinburg area are as follows: 1) ABRAM FALLS for both the beauty of the waterfall as well as the fun factor of staying a while to play in its pool of water. It is also located in Cades Cove, so there is more to do than just hiking to the falls. 2) SPRUCE FLATS FALLS is underrated. It's one of the most visually gorgeous of all the falls and relatively short in terms of hiking. 3) RAMSEY CASCADES is probably the hardest of all the waterfall hikes, but is one of the prettiest in the Smoky Mountains. 4) LAUREL FALLS 5) THE SINKS 6) HEN WALLOW FALLS 7) GROTTO FALLS 8) MEIG'S FALLS 9) BASKIN CREEK FALLS 10) RAINBOW FALLS (depends heavily on recent rainfall, otherwise it's just a trickle). [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Laurel Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the Gatlinburg area for good reason. It is not only beautiful, but is one of the most family friendly hikes and one of the most convenient to reach, BUT be sure to get here as early as possible to avoid the late morning and afternoon crowds. I've literally seen 50-60 passenger tour buses pull up loaded with people ready to hike the trail. I'll return my rating to 5 stars once the trail repairs have been made and erosion has been once again halted. In the mean time... ENJOY!!! 2022 / 87

    Laurel Falls
    Renae L.

    Beautiful paved trail. We enjoyed the hike up and were able to hike down and sit near the falls off the trail. We had carried snacks and water with us and we enjoyed these while sitting on the rocks. This is not a stroller friendly trail. Steep drop off on one side but beautiful. Make sure you buy a parking pass. We had to park two lots away and walk a trail to get to the trail. We parked along the grassy island in the parking lot so not an actual spot and had a sticker on our window when we returned informing us we had illegally parked.

    People "hiking" in a line
    Carol H.

    Very very very busy. If you want to hike in a line on a narrow path to a "viewing" area and waterfall filled with kids and parents, then this is the hike for you.

    And this is the "reality" shot...
    Elise B.

    Beautiful falls and easy walk. I hesitate to even call it a hike, it was a steep walk up! Paved and pretty simple 2.6 miles round trip- uphill there, downhill back. Opens out to the falls at the top with a small footbridge and lots of rocks. When we went there was a park employee at the base and the falls, but it was a very busy day so I don't know if that's normal. When we went it was VERY busy. Like, annoyingly so. Hard to get decent photos, hard to keep a decent pace. I get it since it's a short trail to a high waterfall and it was in October. But wow! We are more seasoned hikers I guess, but were short on time and chose this one so we could see some waterfalls on our trip. I think next time we'd choose a more strenuous waterfall hike to hopefully thin the crowd.

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    2 years ago

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    1 month ago

    Beautiful very easy to walk trail. More like a walk actually, close to the main entrance in the Smoky Mountains National Park

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    Great hike! Buy a parking pass. You'll have to park on the side of the road. The hike is a beautiful easy hike.

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    Ask the Community - Laurel Falls Trailhead

    Are we allowed dogs on the trail?

    No there are only two trails in the smokies that allow dogs.

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    Review Highlights - Laurel Falls Trailhead

    The paved trail is nice, however it's in need of some serious maintenance/repair in many places.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Mushroom

    Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    4.7(430 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Stunning. The Great…read moreSmoky Mountains National Park officially ties with Yosemite as my two favorite national parks in the US. I love everything about this beautiful area of our country. We were there in early spring and enjoyed stunning weather, blooming wild flowers, and bear sightings a-plenty. We also were there when the dogwoods were blooming and there are dogwood trees throughout the park--it was stunning. We enjoyed driving around the park, hiking, and stopping at various points of interest. We were also able to take an accessible hike up a paved trail to the highest point in the park, which was amazing. My eyes seriously just could not get enough of all the gorgeous nature to be enjoyed here. Top notch. Get to it!

    Great Smoky Mountain National Park has been on my bucket list for many years. I was hoping that…read morespring break would be down season at the Park, but the Park was busy!!! We had a fabulous visit to this vast natural wonder. We learned that Park is the largest natural habitat in the continental U.S. The signature "smoky" appearance of the mountains is caused by an evaporation of organic rich moisture released by the vegetation within the Park. We started our visit by stopping at the visitors center to pick up a parking permit ($5/day) and maps ($1). I was glad we picked up maps because there is very little internet connectivity in the park, so we lost our navigation tools. The leaves were not on the trees yet (April) so we had magnificent uninterrupted views of the mountains and skylines. Spring wild flowers were in bloom. And we actually saw a mother bear with two cubs crossing the road. Each day during our visit we explored a different part of the park. We hiked to waterfalls and enjoyed scenic overlooks. We enjoyed exploring historic cabins and cemeteries. Popular sites were crowded and sometimes we had to wait for parking. Plan to arrive early. The park is filled with parking areas to pull off and enjoy the views or hike. Rest areas are available at many of the major sites. Leased dogs are only allowed in camping and parking areas and on two of the many trails. Bring good walking shoes, a hiking stick is helpful, water and sun glasses. You probably need to bring snacks, but keep those secure from wildlife.

    Photos
    Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Babbling brooks

    Babbling brooks

    Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Sugarlands Visitor Center

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    Sugarlands Visitor Center

    Patriot Park

    Patriot Park

    4.0(14 reviews)
    8.0 mi

    This park is cute and has a nice walk area and grass area. Loved the Smoky the Bear statue and a…read morefew of the Pigeon Forge statues here too. Located real close to the transit center, this is a great place to park for free and use the tram to go into town. Overall, the park is on the small side, but the location makes this a nice stop. It's super close to the Old Mill, so a pleasant area for a walk through and around town and the Old Mill area where parking is sometimes scarce.

    Patriot Park is a perfect starting point for exploring Pigeon Forge--especially on a sunny day…read more Free parking alone makes this spot a win, and it's conveniently located next to the Pigeon Forge Trolley stop, which is affordable, easy to use, and connect you directly to Dollywood and most of the city's major attractions. The park itself is clean, well maintained, and has centrally located restrooms (always appreciated). From here, you're steps away from Old Mill Avenue and the historic Old Mill district, one of the most charming areas in Pigeon Forge. Highlights include the Old Mill Pottery House Cafe and Pigeon River Pottery, where you can watch local artisans at work, plus plenty of unique gifts and souvenirs. Old Mill Square feels like the heart of the original Pigeon Forge, with its preserved charm and walkable cluster of shops and eateries. Favorites include Iron Mountain Metal Craft, Old Forge Distillery (they have the best prices in town for moonshine, whiskeys and all) Old Mill Restaurant, Creamery, Candy Kitchen, General Store, Farmhouse Kitchen, and more--there's truly something for everyone. This area beautifully maintains its historic ambiance while offering great food, shopping, and family-friendly fun. Ideal for all ages, Patriot Park and the Old Mill district are absolutely worth dedicating a full day to--and a must-stop on any Pigeon Forge visit.

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    Patriot Park - Nice, dog friendly park.

    Nice, dog friendly park.

    Patriot Park
    Patriot Park - Small park with its old charm

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    Small park with its old charm

    Metcalf Bottoms - Little Greenbrier School, a step back in time

    Metcalf Bottoms

    5.0(2 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Step back in time as you visit this 19th century one-room schoolhouse. The blackboards are still…read morethere, as are the student desks, well-worn wood polished smooth by countless children who were educated here for more than 50 years. The schoolhouse served the Little Greenbrier community as both school and church beginning in 1882 when it was built. There is a small cemetary across from the school at the edge of the small parking area. A marker with a picture of students and teacher at the entrance to the school yard gives a brief history. We reached the schoolhouse easily enough by taking the narrow, one-lane Little Greenbrier Road from the Metcalf Bottoms picnic and trailhead area. Do not attempt this road in a large vehicle. There is a portapotty at the edge of the parking area. Visting the school itself is cool, but making the experience even better is the hike up the road on the Little Brier Gap Trail to the Walker Sisters place. This is a farily easy, approximately 1.5 mile hike which crosses a small stream via a narrow footbridge just before reaching the Walker's. The Walker house and outbuildings are the last remnants of the Little Greenbrier Community. The 5 Walker sisters lived there within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park until the last sister died in 1960. We opted to visit and hike after lunch. It made for a perfect afternoon. As one of the "less advertised" spots to visit in the park, we saw a handful of folks at the schoolhouse and met a few people on their way back from the Walkers but for the most part, we were alone on the trail and felt like we had the place to ourselves. What a treat!

    Amazing bison burger! Food was great. Atmosphere kinda close to other tables and crowded but well…read moreworth it. Got a table fairly quickly and server was awesome

    Photos
    Metcalf Bottoms - Walker Sisters barn, last remnants of the Greenbrier Community

    Walker Sisters barn, last remnants of the Greenbrier Community

    Metcalf Bottoms - Student desks Inside the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse

    Student desks Inside the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse

    Metcalf Bottoms - Walker Sisters, 5 sisters lived here within the park until the 1960s

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    Walker Sisters, 5 sisters lived here within the park until the 1960s

    Laurel Falls Trailhead - hiking - Updated May 2026

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