Beautiful and scenic. A bit more strenuous than I'd thought it would be. Still, quite lovely and…read morecool

Laurel Falls is a great starter trail for Families that are introducing their children to hiking in…read moreGatlinburg. There are plenty of interesting facts to be shared, different types of plants and wildlife along the trail. This time we didn't see many animals but the trail was a bit more crowded that day. I would not recommend taking a stroller or wheelchair on this trail. It is barely paved and there are many roots. Parts of it are very steep as well. It's a great place to practice mindfulness on the way up. There are enough roots and rocks on the path to force you to focus on being present and walking carefully. It's a peaceful trail that gives you a great view of the forest. The falls are still there but not as deep as they used to be. The rocks are very slippery! I definitely recommend water shoes if you have them. The way down is a bit harder than the way up. If you have issues with your legs or balance, I recommend using a support of some kind. There are no benches but you should be able to find large boulders to rest on.

Today was our second time back to Alum Cave Trail, and we did the 2.3 miles to Alum Cave Bluff and…read morethen turned back, for a total of 4.6 miles. You can go on for a total of five miles to reach Mt. Leconte, but since the weather was turning and it was starting to rain we cut our hike short. Like others, I suggest getting to this trail head early, as at 7:30 am half the parking lot was full!! We love this trail in particular for its endless water features, lots of scenic spots to take pictures, unique bridges, and the breathtaking view from the top. Even with the bad weather today, it was something spectacular watching the fog lift above the golden trees. If you haven't been, this trail is definitely worth your time and attention. You will want to wear some sturdy walking shoes for this one and maybe even bring a walking stick!!

Gorgeous trail with diverse beauty. We did the medium length hike to the bluff and loved it. Once…read moreyou pass the cave the whole hike is pretty much going uphill so come prepared to get a workout in and wear proper shoes and bring some water. The views are great from the bluff and totally worth it. We came during the week around noon and parking lot was full so we had to park further out and walk about a half mile or so to the trail so be prepared for that or plan your time. Totally worth it! One of my favorite hikes that we did in the area. Loved being by the creek, the log crossings, the cave, the moss, the trees, and the Mountain Views. the scenery was so pretty. There is a bathroom on-site at the start of the trail in case you are wondering.

Hike was great. It is not for everybody it is alot of up hill terrain and it is 2.5 miles there and…read more2.5 miles back. Hike took about 3.5 hrs for the both of us. Some make sure you start early enough so it doesn't get dark on you. Well worth the hike but bring water and a snack because it will take a bit.

This is an absolutely gorgeous trail even in November we had a sunny day and stunning views along…read morethe trail.

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!

Bring good footwear. This is not a loop. It's 2.5 miles in and 2.5 miles back. If we were prepared…read morewe would have loved it even more. We wish we had brought more water. It really is beautiful. The falls were pretty. The terrain was a challenge. It is what you make of it.

An absolutely beautiful hike! They don't allow pets on the trails so leave your pups at home. I've…read morebeen on this trail and seen bears before. The best part of the hike is when you get to the waterfalls. A great place for a picnic, or just to sit and hangout for a little bit. I highly recommend this hike in the Smokies!! Cheers & Enjoy!

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!

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.

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)