The 10 Best Day Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has more than 800 miles of trails, so where do you start? These ten day hikes cover the best of the park — waterfalls, grassy balds, the highest summit and the famous bluffs — from an easy hour on arrival day to a full day on the Appalachian Trail.

At a glance

Hike	Round trip	Difficulty	Best for
Alum Cave Trail	4.6 mi (7.4 km)	Moderate	Variety
Chimney Tops Trail	3.5 mi (5.6 km)	Strenuous	A short, steep workout
Andrews Bald	3.6 mi (5.8 km)	Moderate	Sunsets and picnics
Rainbow Falls Trail	5.6 mi (9 km)	Moderate–strenuous	A tall waterfall
Grotto Falls	2.6 mi (4.2 km)	Easy–moderate	Walking behind a waterfall
Abrams Falls Trail	5 mi (8 km)	Moderate	Pairing with Cades Cove
Charlies Bunion	8 mi (12.9 km)	Moderate–strenuous	The Appalachian Trail
Ramsey Cascades Trail	8 mi (12.9 km)	Strenuous	Old-growth forest
Kuwohi Observation Tower	1 mi (1.6 km)	Easy–moderate	The highest point
Mouse Creek Falls	4 mi (6.4 km)	Easy–moderate	A quiet riverside walk

Round-trip distances are the National Park Service figures from nps.gov. Updated October 19, 2026: we corrected the distances for Andrews Bald, Charlies Bunion, Rainbow Falls, Chimney Tops, Abrams Falls, Ramsey Cascades and the Kuwohi tower to match the NPS, and added the 2026 seasonal road dates.

1. Alum Cave Trail — 4.6 miles, moderate

If you only do one hike in the Smokies, make it this one. It follows Alum Cave Creek through old-growth forest, climbs stone steps straight through Arch Rock, passes the Inspiration Point overlook and ends beneath a huge overhanging bluff with views across the valley.

Trailhead: Newfound Gap Road (US-441), about 8.6 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center. Both lots fill early, so arrive before 8 a.m. in summer and October.

Tip: The steps through Arch Rock are steep and often wet — use the cable. If you still have energy at the bluff, the trail continues 2.7 miles to Mount LeConte.

2. Chimney Tops Trail — 3.5 miles, strenuous

Short, steep and popular. It climbs hard from the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River to an observation point facing the rocky Chimney Tops pinnacles. Since the 2016 wildfire, the pinnacles themselves are closed, but the view from the platform is still one of the best payoffs for the distance in the park.

Tip: Most of the climb comes in the second half. Trekking poles make the descent much easier on the knees.

3. Andrews Bald — 3.6 miles, moderate

The Smokies' highest grassy bald: an open meadow at over 5,800 feet with views south over the North Carolina ridges. The Forney Ridge Trail drops from the Kuwohi parking area to the bald, so the harder half is the walk back up — the NPS calls the return a relatively strenuous climb.

Tip: Kuwohi Road closes in winter (in 2026 it is open April 1 to November 29). Go late in the day for sunset and bring a layer — it's 10–20°F colder up here than in Gatlinburg.

4. Rainbow Falls Trail — 5.6 miles, moderate–strenuous

A steady climb through hardwood forest to an 80-foot waterfall that throws a rainbow on sunny afternoons, with about 1,500 feet (457 m) of climbing.

Trailhead: Rainbow Falls parking on Cherokee Orchard Road, just outside Gatlinburg.

Tip: The rocks around the base are slick year-round, and in winter the falls can freeze into an ice column.

5. Grotto Falls — 2.6 miles, easy–moderate

The only waterfall in the park you can walk behind. The Trillium Gap Trail climbs gently through hemlock forest to the falls, a great family hike or first-day leg-stretcher.

Trailhead: On the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a one-way road that closes in winter (in 2026 it is open April 17 to November 29).

Tip: Llama teams resupply LeConte Lodge along this trail on some weekday mornings — step aside and let them pass.

6. Abrams Falls Trail — 5 miles, moderate

Only about 20 feet tall, but the volume of water makes up for it. The trail leaves Cades Cove and rolls along Abrams Creek.

Tip: Do not swim at the base — the currents are strong and people have drowned here. Plan it around your Cades Cove loop drive, and remember the loop is closed to cars on Wednesdays from early May to late September.

7. Charlies Bunion — 8 miles, moderate–strenuous

A full day on the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap to a rocky outcrop with sheer drops and some of the biggest views in the park. Expect steep sections, roots and rocks.

Tip: Weather on the ridge changes fast. Start early, carry a rain shell and turn around if storms build.

8. Ramsey Cascades Trail — 8 miles, strenuous

The tallest waterfall in the park, about 100 feet of cascading water at the end of a long climb through some of the Smokies' finest old-growth forest, including huge tulip trees.

Trailhead: Greenbrier, on the quieter northeast side of the park near Gatlinburg.

Tip: Stay off the rocks at the cascades. Several people have died climbing them.

9. Kuwohi Observation Tower — 1 mile, easy–moderate

A short but steep paved path to the observation tower on Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), the highest point in the park at 6,643 feet. On a clear day you can see for more than 100 miles.

Tip: The summit is often in cloud. Check the park webcam before driving up, and combine it with Andrews Bald from the same parking area.

10. Mouse Creek Falls — 4 miles, easy–moderate

A gentle walk on an old railroad grade along Big Creek to a waterfall that drops straight into the stream.

Tip: Big Creek is reached via I-40 near the state line. Check current I-40 conditions in the Pigeon River Gorge before you go.

Before you go

• Parking tags are required. There's no entrance fee, but any car parked for more than 15 minutes needs a tag: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. Tags must be printed and displayed.
• Start early. Popular trailheads fill by mid-morning in summer and October.
• Expect no signal. Cell coverage is patchy across the park. Download offline maps and your routes before you leave town.
• Respect bears. Stay at least 50 yards away and store food properly.

Hike them with GPS routes

We've turned all ten hikes into a Great Smoky Mountains GPX Route Collection: a GPX file for every trail that works offline in AllTrails, Gaia GPS or on your watch, plus a printable route guide with maps, elevation profiles and a trail passport to collect every hike.

Planning the whole trip? The Smokies Trip Planning Guide covers when to go, where to stay and 3, 5 and 7-day itineraries built around these ten hikes, and the Smokies Trip Pack bundles both for $19.99.

Conditions change. Always check current road and trail status on nps.gov/grsm before you go.

Cover photo: Oconaluftee Valley Overlook at sunrise, NPS / Thom McManus, public domain.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular hike in the Great Smoky Mountains?

Alum Cave Trail, 4.6 miles round trip to Arch Rock and the Alum Cave bluff (see #1 above).

Do you need a pass to hike in the Smoky Mountains?

No entrance fee, but you need a parking tag to park for more than 15 minutes (see Before you go).

What is the easiest waterfall hike in the Smokies?

Grotto Falls: 2.6 miles round trip on a gentle grade, ending behind the waterfall.

When is the best time to hike in the Great Smoky Mountains?

April to May for wildflowers and full waterfalls, mid-to-late October for fall color. Summer is busy and humid with afternoon storms; winter is quiet, but some roads close.

Is there cell service on Smoky Mountains trails?

Mostly no. Download offline maps before you leave town; your phone's GPS still works without signal.