This hike is beautiful and the scenery all throughout this hike is great! You can even walk behind…read morethe 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!

Grotto Falls is a beautiful hike and definitely worth seeing. Walking behind the waterfall is a…read moreunique 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.

I wasn't expecting the 5.6 mile hike to Rainbow Falls to be strenuous, but it was. The 2.7 mile…read moretrail winds 1500' up the mountains and is rocky and root covered. In spots, the trail was muddy and slippery. We forded two creeks along the trail and saw several small waterfalls before siting Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls is beautiful, falling 75' over an impressive cliff. Huge rocks offer great photos. We did not see the "rainbow" from the mist, but the sun was low in the sky. Along the trail were blooming spring wild flowers, rhododendrons, hemlock and fern starting to emerge. The trail follows a lovely creek. The hike took us three hours up and two hours back down. We were traveling with a five year old that wanted to be carried most of the way up. We stopped several times to take breaks. Fortunately, the day was cool and clear. The air gets thin the higher you climb and it is easy to get winded. I recommend bringing a walking stick, good hiking books and water. We did not encounter bugs, but maybe later in the season, hikers need bug spray. Parking is inadequate for the number of hikers. We circled several times before finding a spot. Parking passes are required for parking. There is a rustic restroom near the parking lot and that is the only facility along the trail. Like most of the Park, there is no mobile phone reception, so purchasing a Park map is useful. Despite being sore the next day, Rainbow Falls will be one of my best memories of my visit to Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

This was a great hike and the scenery was amazing! LOVED this one…read more The hike is about 6.5 miles roundtrip and is mostly uphill all the way up, so plan on that. All the rocks on the ground were slippery and there were a ton of those, so watch where you are walking. This one is more of a moderately hard hike for the elevation and the rocks throughout. Parking was hard to find when we came, so plan accordingly. There are multiple lots and both were full. We ended up parking a mile a way and walking to this trailhead. There is a bathroom at the trailhead.

Great hiking trail for all ages. About a mile and a half up to the historic barn attraction…read more Great views of the mountain stream that runs alongside the trail. This is one of my favorite easy, family friendly trails to hike on.

This was probably one of our favorite hikes during our vacation to GSMNP. The trail itself is…read morelocated in Greenbrier at the end of a long gravel road. What this means for you, is that this trail isn't as crowded as most others in the park! Porters Creek is about 4 miles roundtrip with Fern Branch Falls being the turn around point. You can continue on the trail another 1.5-2 miles after that but it just leads you to a campground. The trail is rated as moderate but we found the first mile to be fairly easy. The second mile was more uphill and rocky with a lot of tree roots to compete with. The first mile of the hike runs along Porters Creek and the gravel/dirt trail is wide. Along the way you will see several historic points of interest. First stop is The Owenby Cemetery which dates from the early 20th century. You will also pass the John Messer Barn built in 1875 and the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Cabin built around 1934. If you do this hike, take some time to explore these places. They were pretty cool! During the second mile, the trail narrows some as you start heading uphill. The forest becomes a little more dense and you really have to start watching your footing. At the turn around point, you'll see Fern Branch Falls. This waterfall is about 40-50 feet up from the trail and it was pretty cool watching it trickle down the side of the mountain. It's no where as big as say Abrams Falls but it is still impressive in its own right. Porters Creek trail was a nice change of pace. If you are looking to get away from the crowds, this might be the perfect trail for you. We saw maybe a total of 10 people during our 4 mile hike. Beautiful hike!

Will make it brief: this is a lovely hike, slippery when wet (which is often, it rains a lot) -…read moretake your time so you don't slip (I did, and it HURT). There are a LOT of stairs, and when it's humid you will need to stop for breaks along the way. The final view is closed from fires but they have a reconstructed viewpoint near the end that is gorgeous - the views of the mountainside are stunning. Overall - would do again, but it's a relatively difficult hike because of the uphill climb so come prepared!

This is a busy trail. Go early to avoid crowds. It is short but steep so if you don't normally…read moreworkout or hike it may be difficult. The view is pretty. It's an out and back not a loop.

At 6643 feet, Clingmans Dome, now known by its Cherokee name, Kuwohi, is the highest point in the…read moreGreat Smoky Mountains National Park. My visit to Kuwohi was a highlight of my visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive up to the summit is breathtaking. There are several overlooks along the way to stop and enjoy the views. When we arrived, it was about 20 degrees colder than in Gatlinburg and it was very windy. Fortunately, we had dressed warm for the hike. The half mile trail is paved and accessible, however, the climb is straight up and was very difficult for some people. At the top of the trail we passed the Appalachian Trail. Then we found a fantastic Mid Century concrete spiral structure to climb. At the top, is an observation deck with placards describing the magnificent views of Tennessee and North Carolina. The modern observation deck was completed in 1960, replacing a wooden structure. Thomas Lanier Clingman was one of the early explorers that mapped the region in the 1850's. Kuwohi was (and still is) a sacred mountain of the Cherokee people. The mountain held Magic Lake that is believed to have healing powers for those who value the earth and its people. Parking permits are required to park in the large lot. Permits can be purchased on site for $5/day. Restroom facilities are available, but no running water. A nearby Visitors Center sells maps, shirts and other hiking gear. Kuwohi is a must visit on a trip to SMNP. Bring warm clothes (gloves, hat, etc). Cell tower reception is poor, so maps are helpful.

This stop has been on my list for awhile, and I'm not really sure how I hadn't made it yet…read moreconsidering the amount of times I've road tripped to the Smokies... but here we are! Got to see a bear on the way coming from Oconaluftee, which meant the day was perfect no matter what else happened. The weather was a little rainy, scattered storms here and there, and the cloud cover wasn't great for a great view from the overlook, but.... The parking lot view was still excellent, and the overlook itself was cool to see, and there was a Passport stamp station and Visitor Center, loads of camp style restrooms, with plenty of parking, so, absolutely worth the stop!

We started out great with a black bear up the hill from us most of the trail on the way to the…read morewaterfall was not strenuous, there are a lot of roots in the path so don't trip!! Along with the bear we saw several turkey, squirrels, chipmunks and a rabbit so not a bad day for wildlife spotting! The fall is peaceful and nice but not a big one. We spent a few mins there and headed back out. Remember this is a "in & out" trail. The majority of the way back is incline walking a little tough at times. There is a trail off the main path to an old graveyard, we trigger way up a hill to see it. If your already tired at that point I don't recommend it. There a few places with great Mountain Views.

Baskins Creek Falls is a cool little waterfall that was said to have been commonly used as an…read moreoutdoor shower by the early settlers. The trail is kinda tricky to follow, so here are easy-to-follow hiking instructions. It may be difficult to get internet reception, so I would suggest you print these instructions and bring then with you: PARKING Find the trailhead by turning right onto Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (from Cherokee Orchard Road). Parking for the trailhead will be about 150 yards on the left. It's tiny, barely enough for two cars. However, this is not a popular trail like the others, so there may be room when you arrive. Otherwise, you can park off Cherokee Orchard and walk the 150 yards to the trailhead. THE HIKE While researching this hike, several websites listed this hike as easy and all downhill. That is incorrect. For the first 1/3 of a mile it's all uphill. About the time you get clear views of the nearby mountains the descent to the waterfall begins. Near the one mile you will cross a small creek. There is NO log bridge provided, so be careful when crossing over the loose stones and downed trees. The trail will begin to descent a little more rapidly past a cave-like stone outcrop. Next you will come to a split in the trail. To the left is a sign leading you towards a cemetery. Keep right to remain on the trail to the falls. Again you will cross a small creek and soon after arrive at a second split in the trail. Go left here for your final descent to the falls. This section of the trail is the steepest drop in elevation and definitely one of the trickiest to navigate. If you have small children, it would be a good idea to assist them here. When you round your final corner of the trail, the waterfall will be in plain view. Although total height of the falls seems to vary between websites, I think it's at least 45'. Length: 3 Miles round trip Total Elevation Gain: 953 Feet Trail Difficulty Rating: Moderate (I personally WOULD NOT recommend this trail for the elderly or children under the age of 6). FINAL THOUGHTS While the hike to the falls may be ranked on trail guides as easy, I'm not so sure they are considering the return hike back! It's a real booger of a hike in reverse. I need a rest break more than once! A beautiful small waterfall to be sure, but not in the same ranks of other nearby waterfalls like Grotto, Hen Wallow, Laurel or the two Mac Daddies of all Gatlinburg waterfall hikes.... Abram & Ramsey Cascades (8.5 miles round trip). Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a nap! I'm worn out!

About 140 steps to the top and you can view a beautiful waterfall. This is at most a 20 minute stop…read moreand well worth a visit.

Plenty of parking, port-a-potties and a very short hike to a spectacular waterfall. 0.2 miles to…read morefalls from parking lot.

We walked the entire trail from the head which started by the parking areas (Loop Dr.). It was an…read moreawesome hike there and the waterfall was beautiful at the end. It was long but well worth it. Beware, the hike back is mostly uphill and pretty steep to start. It may be challenging!

I really enjoyed the area, but the hike was very confusing…read more.. My boyfriend and I started out in one parking lot, and ended up in another hours later, without ever coming across Baskins Creek Falls! We didn't start out at the primary entrance, but still, I think things need to be more clearly marked if you are supposed to turn off the main trail! We hike very regularly, so we're far from newbies at this. The graveyard was very interesting. But there was a sign for the graveyard, that was pointing in the opposite way. It was horrible that some elderly couple possibly have had the same problem, as we had also experienced and saw. We went back in to help them, after retrieving them some water. Hikers beware, but very beautiful area! We even saw a few bears! :o)