The 8 Best Great Smoky Mountain Hikes

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the USA. After visiting the Smokies, I can now see why. This park is filled with so many wonderful waterfalls, rolling mountains that seem to go on forever, and fog that looks so magical and mystical. I fell in love with this national park, and its stunning views. Being able to spend a weekend exploring the Great Smoky Mountain hikes was such a treat! Take a look below at all the excellent hikes I was able to explore in this one of a kind national park.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

Best Time To Visit Smoky Mountains National Park

• Spring: The weather is unpredictable this time of year. There can be snow, rain, or sunshine. May is probably the best time to visit during the spring.
• Summer: Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common. There is humidity and heat. The summertime is very crowded.
• Fall: Fall is the best time to visit weather-wise. The days are warm while the nights are cold. This is also the driest period, so there is only an occasional rain shower. The Fall time is probably one of the most crowded times to visit.
•  Winter: There are no crowds, but there is snow. The lower elevation might not have snow, but the mountains probably do.

Where Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park Located

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located between North Carolina and Tennessee. You can fly into any of these airports to get to the national park:

• Nashville International Airport: 3 hours, 188 miles
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport: 2 hours and 40 minutes, 145 miles
• McGhee Tyson Airport (Knoxville): 40 minutes, 25 miles

Map Of Great Smoky Mountain Hiking Trails

Below I have a google map of all the hikes in this blog post. You can also view the official Smoky Mountains trails map here.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Campgrounds

There are ten campgrounds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. All campgrounds include restrooms, flush toilets, fire grates, and picnic tables. There are no showers, electrical or water hookups in the park. You can make advance reservations here on some sites, which is highly recommended. You can find more information on all the sites here. Here is the name of the ten sites:

• Abrams Creek
• Balsam Mountain
• Big Creek
• Cades Cove
• Cataloochee
• Cosby
• Deep Creek
• Elkmont
• Look Rock
• Smokemont

Hotels Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

There are no hotels in Great Smoky Mountains National Park other than LeConte Lodge. LeConte Lodge is located on top of the LeConte Mountain and can only be accessed by foot. I only recommend staying here if you have experience backpacking. You can find more information here.

• Courtyard by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown: This is the hotel we stayed at, and we enjoyed it. The hotel was modern and the staff was friendly. The hotel was a walk away from the main street. I highly recommend staying here. >Book Your Stay Here
  The Appy Lodge: This hotel has more of a lodge, cozy, homey type of feel. This hotel is super kid-friendly with an outdoor swimming pool with a slide! >Book Your Stay Here
  Gatlinburg Inn: This is a rustic, cozy lodge located a minute walk from the Sugarlands Distilling Company. >Book Your Stay Here

Read More: Best Places to Stay in the Smoky Mountains | 13 Great Spots

What To Pack For Great Smoky Mountains National Park

When hiking Smoky Mountain National Park, you have to be prepared. I have listed all the equipment and clothing you can bring with you.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park Hiking

1. Sunscreen: One of the ten hiking essentials, so make sure to pack this for safety. >Buy Sunscreen
2. Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
3. Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps you prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. I also love how they now have pink socks too 🙂 >Buy Hiking Socks
4. Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent me from getting dehydrated while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have the plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
5. Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
6. Sunglasses: It can get sunny so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
7. Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, energy bars. Clif Bars are great for hiking.
8. Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
9. First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
10. Day Pack to carry all your things: The REI bag I have linked, we have had for seven years now, and it is still going strong! >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
11. Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
12. Leggings or Hiking Pants: I always wear leggings while hiking because it is what I feel most comfortable with! >Click For My Favorite Hiking Leggings
13. Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
14. Sweater: I wore this in the fall when the hikes were very easy, and it was a little chilly. >Check Out My Sweater Here
15. Sports Bra: For women.
16. Jacket: In case you get chilly at night. This is also a good idea in the Spring and Fall.  >Buy My Favorite Jacket
17. Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
18. Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here

Camping

1. Everything in the Day trip List Above and,
2. Tent: REI’s tents are one of my favorite tents. I love the good quality and how packable they are. >Buy The REI Half Dome Tent
3. Sleeping Pad: A sleeping pad is pretty much a small, packable inflatable mattress. I have tried many types of sleeping pads (cheap ones, light ones, comfortable ones), and the one I have linked is probably the best one I have tried. It is my husband’s sleeping pad. >Check Out My All-Time Favorite Sleeping Pad
4. Spork: A spoon and fork in one. >Buy A Spork Now
5. Pillows: Pillows can take a lot of room, so I recommend buying an inflatable one. The one I have linked, I have had for six years now, and it is STILL going strong. >Buy The EXTREMELY Packable Inflatable Pillows
6. Sleeping Bag: One of the most critical aspects of getting a good nights sleep! Bringing a sleeping bag is a must. >Look At Prices
7. Sandals: I hate wearing my hiking shoes when I am hanging around the campsite, so bringing some sandals for leisure is a must for me. I just bought these, and they are super comfortable. Perfect for camping. >Check Out These Sandals
8. Trash Bags: Everything you pack in, you must pack out. Bring a few trash bags with you.
9. Printed Campsite Reservation: Just in case the rangers ask for it.
10. Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Medicine & Toiletries
11. Fire Starter: If you want to start a fire, this is an easier way.>Buy This Cool No Match Needed Fire Starter
12. Stove: Love this stove that we got for Christmas. Don’t forget to buy propane. (Note: Do not bring this on a plane with you, as it can get confiscated). >Buy Stove Here
13. Cookware Set: Love how packable my cookware set is. I can easily take it anywhere with me. We have used this countless times. >Buy My Cute Cookware Set

Best Great Smoky Mountain Hikes

Clingmans Dome

• Distance: 1.3 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 331 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

Clingman’s Dome is probably the hike that EVERYONE does. So be aware that it will be crowded if you get here on the weekend. We had to wait 2 hours to get to the parking lot. This isn’t an exaggeration. It was not fun. I recommend getting here on a weekday, not on the weekend during peak season.

We decided to do it during sunset, and the colorful silhouettes of the mountains were spectacular! I still highly recommend even with the crowds. Just try your best to avoid them by visiting during the weekday.

Hint: Before getting to Clingmans Dome Parking lot, stop at Newfound Gap for a great overlook. It is on the way. The Appalachian Trail crosses through here.

Laurel Falls Trail

• Distance: 2.4 mile roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 396 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link

If you are looking for an easy waterfall hike, then this is you! It is a great spot to experience the colorful fall leaves. I will warn you that on weekends it will be busy. Try to do this hike early in the morning or on a weekday to avoid the millions of people.

Andrews Bald Trail

• Distance: 3.6 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 875 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

Sadly due to the traffic, we were not able to complete this hike. We would have been hiking through the night with no views. If you want to do Andrews Bald, then Clingmans Dome for sunset (which I highly recommend), get here early because traffic killed our itinerary. But I am still going to recommend it because this area is such a beautiful place.

The first mile is pretty rocky and goes downhill through woods. What is critical for making this trail as easy as possible is good hiking shoes. But if you don’t have those, take your time and be careful not to slip.

When you get to the bald, you get panoramic views of the southern half of the park, including Fontana Lake. Please note that going back up to the parking lot is going to be a lot harder than when you hiked down.

Cades Cove

I know this isn’t an official hike, but I still listed this because I loved exploring this area. My husband and I would stop at various parking lots and walk around in the beautiful morning mist/fog.

There are a bunch of cute cabins scattered all around to explore and to take pictures. It was probably one of my favorite experiences in the national park.

I will say that you have to get there at sunrise to fully enjoy this area. The atmosphere during sunset is on another level of beautiful. The fog surrounds you with the rays of the sun trying to seep through the thick fog. It is absolutely stunning. Cades Cove is the definition of the Smoky Mountains, and I loved it!

We did do an official hike in this area, which is listed below (Abrams Falls), and after we got back from the hike the mist was gone along with the mysterious atmosphere. Cades Coves was still beautiful, but not as it was in the early morning. Get up early and experience this beautiful place.

Rainbow Falls Trail

• Distance: 5.1 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 1,617 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

This trail is great if you want to experience wildlife, but keep in mind that the trail is more difficult than it appears. The views are stunning throughout, from the beginning to the end. Even though the trail is moderate, it is highly trafficked. But with the views throughout and the waterfall, in the end, the elevation gain is worth it!

Mount LeConte and Alum Cave Trail Smoky Mountains

• Distance: 11 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 3,061 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link

This was probably my favorite Smoky Mountains trail that we did on our trip. It is a long and grueling hike, but oh so worth it! You start next to a winding river. This area is a great place to take pictures and stroll around. If you are looking for a relaxed family stroll, I recommend exploring this part of the trail. There will eventually be a cave, and that is when the trail becomes more difficult.

At 1.3 miles, you will get to Arch Rock. I loved stopping in this area. It had such great geological features. It is a perfect spot to take a rest on this long trail. This is also a great spot to turn around if you don’t want to do the whole 10.5 miles.

At 2 miles you will arrive at Inspiration Point and be rewarded with views of Little Duck Hawk Ridge, The Eye of the Needle, and Myrtle Point on Mt. LeConte.

When you get to the peak, you can immediately spot the lodge where they have restrooms and drinks. As I mentioned above, it is the only lodge located in the national park. I didn’t even know about it until we were at the peak.

There are some signs stating where the viewpoint is. Follow them, and you will get stunning views of all the surrounding mountains.

Abrams Falls Trail

• Distance: 5.5 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 629 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

Abrams Falls is located in the Cades Cove area. You hike next to a winding river throughout the trail. I loved this trail because it felt like the perfect length. Not too long and not too difficult. We ended up starting this trail early in the morning, so the crowds weren’t too bad. We had the trail to ourselves for the most part.

The waterfall is so beautiful. It is also easy to take a picture right next to it. This is a great hike, and if I had to pick between this or Laurel Falls, I would choose this hike.

Chimney Tops Trail

• Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,289 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link

One of the most popular trails on this list is the Chimney Tops Trail. The first section of the trail follows the Road Prong Creek, and there are many bridges throughout the first mile. When the trail hits the junction the terrain becomes steep. Please note that due to a fire, the main viewpoint has been closed due to hiker safety. But there is still another great view before you get to the viewpoint closure. It has views of Mount LeConte and the Pinnacles.

Final Thoughts On Hiking in Smoky Mountain National Park

Thanks for reading this article on the best hiking in Smoky Mountains National Park. Happy trails! If you want more information on other national parks, please check out these other blog posts:

• Best Things To Do In Acadia National Park
• Best Hikes In Shenandoah National Park
• Best Hikes In Big Bend National Park
• The 12 Best National Parks on the East Coast
• Best USA National Parks To Visit In The Spring

Pin For Later: Hiking Trails Smoky Mountians