Lace up your hiking boots and get ready to experience 10 of the best hiking destinations Gatlinburg has to offer. From epic climbs and stunning mountain vistas to serene waterfalls, there's something for every level of hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether you're looking for a challenging trek or a leisurely stroll, this guide will help you discover the best trails, falls and hidden gems. Plus, don't forget to check out the Top 12 Local Favorite Places to Eat in Gatlinburg, TN , there's nothing like a good hearty meal after an adventurous hike through the Smoky Mountains! View this post on Instagram A post shared by @maliceraven 1 | Cataract Falls Trail | The trail to Cataract Falls is one of the best-kept secrets in the Smoky Mountains. One of three that begin and end at Sugarlands Visitor Center, this trail is partially paved, partially gravel and an easy walk for all skill levels. It makes a great hike for kids because it's not too long to tire them out, they'll love the waterfall, and there are lots of interesting sights to discover. On the way to 25-foot-high Cataract Falls you'll discover the calmly flowing Fighting Creek, well-maintained bridges, dense vegetation, a beautiful canopy of foliage, plenty of hollowed out trees, and at the very end a beautiful waterfall. And even though the trail is less than two miles from downtown Gatlinburg, the crowds will seem a million miles away! Difficulty: Easy | Roundtrip Miles: .75 | Roundtrip Hours: 1 | Elevation Gain: 29 feet Check Out These Related Articles Top 12 Local Favorite Places to Eat in Gatlinburg, TN 12 Fun Fall Things to Do in Gatlinburg Top 12 Things To Do in Gatlinburg, TN During Spring Break View this post on Instagram A post shared by Florin N (@florin_i_n) 2 | Clingmans Dome Trail |If you walk only one trail during your trip, make it the Clingmans Dome Trail. This view will take your breath away. The trail is steep but it's paved the entire way and is barely over a mile out and back. You'll spend your time winding up a concrete path to reach a 360-degree-view observation tower above Clingmans Dome. At the summit, you'll marvel over the 100-mile views! Plus, the seven-mile stretch of winding road leading up to the Visitors Center offers views ranging from mountain valleys and sculpted ridges to woodland and scenic area pullouts for photo opps. At 6,643 feet above sea level, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Tennessee and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Difficulty: Easy | Roundtrip Miles: 1.0 | Roundtrip Hours: Varies | Elevation Gain: 331 feet View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jason Moermond (@cincyshark79) 3 | Laurel Falls Trail | Take a walk on the paved trail to Laurel Falls and you'll see why so many consider it to be the best waterfall hike in the Smokies. Accessible from Little River Road west of Newfound Gap Road and the Sugarlands Visitor Center, it's a short out-and-back hike to a stunning 80-foot-tall waterfall, located just over a mile in. The waterfall is named after a Smoky Mountain evergreen plant called mountain laurel. If you arrive in the early morning, you'll beat the crowds and be rewarded with perfect photography lighting. (It's also it's a great kid- and wheelchair-friendly hike.) Beyond the falls, the trail is no longer paved and you can ascend through peaceful virgin forest to the fire tower on Cove Mountain to lengthen this hike. Difficulty: Easy | Roundtrip Miles: 2.3 | Roundtrip Hours: 1 | Elevation Gain: 314 feet View this post on Instagram A post shared by Desarae bittle (@dbittle2010) 4 | Gatlinburg Trail | If you're looking for an easy stroll through the woods, Gatlinburg Trail is a breeze. The trailhead is accessible from Sugarlands Visitors Center and is the perfect family hike for those with little ones who might want to explore the river, or older guests who might not be as mobile as they once were. For fresh-air exercise and convenient access — plus some historical sites along the way — it's a great family-friendly option. The trail can be hiked in either direction and offers visitors easy terrain with lovely river views. Notable sights include remnants of an old homestead and rock structures, a bridge that goes over the river that makes a lovely photo-op, the historic park's headquarters, and the trailhead to Cataract Falls. Difficulty: Easy | Roundtrip Miles: 3.8 | Roundtrip Hours: 1 | Elevation Gain: 177 feet View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ricky Ricardo (@soyelrocketman) 5 | Grotto Falls Trail | Only at Grotto Falls can you actually walk behind a waterfall — one of the most unique views and photo opps in the park. Don't miss this opportunity to feel and hear the 25-foot waterfall's power and see the water cascading into the pool. A trip to beautiful Grotto Falls makes for a wonderful family hike. To get there, take the Roaring Fork Nature Trail and then follow the Trillium Gap trailhead to reach Grotto Falls. Along the way you'll enjoy a variety of vibrant foliage including large hemlock trees and lovely wildflowers. You'll enjoy the soothing sounds of the falling water and maybe catch sight of a salamander or two at this natural oasis. If you're lucky, you might even see some llamas on the trail! Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Roundtrip Miles: 2.6 | Roundtrip Hours: 2 | Elevation Gain: 585 feet View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brit Loch (@britanys.boots) 6 | Abrams Falls | You'll find the Abrams Falls Trailhead just past stop #10 on the Cades Cove Loop Road. One of the park's most popular and beautiful waterfall hikes, this trail follows Abrams Creek through a lush pine-oak forest. Along the way the trail winds parallel to the creek through hemlocks and foliage that includes beautiful rhododendron thickets. Your destination is a stunning 20-foot-tall waterfall that cascades over a sandstone cliff. Although it's not the tallest in the park it is the most voluminous, with more rushing water than any other in the Great Smoky Mountains. (Although it may be tempting, avoid swimming in the deep pool below which has strong currents and an undertow.) Difficulty: Moderate | Roundtrip Miles: 5.2 | Roundtrip Hours: 4 | Elevation Gain: 675 feet View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joella Doobrow (@rovingjo) 8 | Rainbow Falls Trail | Rainbow Falls Trail is one of the six trails leading to Mount LeConte, and it's also one of the most popular. The trailhead begins 2.4 miles up Cherokee Orchard Road and the waterfall is located about 2.7 miles from there. Rainbow Falls (your destination) sits at 4,000 feet in elevation and is the park's tallest single-drop waterfall. If your timing is right, you'll get to enjoy the calming sounds of LeConte Creek as well as the mist from Roaring Fork Creek's spill over the 80-foot ledge, which creates a rainbow during early afternoon. The falls hike is popular by itself but for the more adventurous, continuing on to the summit of Mount LeConte is also an option. (Keep in mind that fitting both into a one-day hike may be challenging.) Difficulty: Moderate | Roundtrip Miles: 5.4 | Roundtrip Hours: 3 | Elevation Gain: 1,685 feet View this post on Instagram A post shared by Norika (@norikamiki) 9 | Chimney Tops Trail | One of the most popular — and challenging — trails in the Smoky Mountains, Chimney Tops features a steep climb through a virgin forest culminating in a rock scramble to reach the Chimney Top pinnacles. On the first stretch of the trail, you'll follow the cascading waters of Road Prong Creek and then veer to the right at Beech Flats junction to continue on to your destination via Chimney Tops Trail. This is where it starts to get difficult, but the sights are well worth it. The summit gives an awesome view of the mountains out of the east, and you have the option of climbing to the top of the pinnacles! Be sure to have a camera on hand to snap photos of the outstanding views along the trail as well as the stunning vistas at the top, where you'll be at an elevation of 4,724 feet! Difficulty: Strenuous | Roundtrip Miles: 3.8 | Roundtrip Hours: 3 | Elevation Gain: 1,487 feet View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bill Foster (@knoxbill_photos) 10 | Ramsey Cascades Trail | With the highest waterfall accessible by trail in the park, Ramsey Cascades is one of the harder short hikes in the Smokies. But the prize at the end is worth it! The trail starts off with a moderate incline through the largest old-growth forest in the national park, gaining over 2,000 feet in elevation over its four-mile course. This is where large tulip trees, hemlocks, yellow birches, silver bells and big black cherries reside. You'll soon encounter Ramsey Prong, which will be your babbling and surging companion for most of the hike. After a pretty steep final climb, the trail ends at the real attraction — the stunning, 90-foot-tall Ramsey Cascades. There's even a large stone ledge nearby that's perfect for a picnic lunch! Difficulty: Strenuous | Roundtrip Miles: 8 | Roundtrip Hours: 5 | Elevation Gain: 2,190 feet Use This Map As Your Gatlinburg Hiking Guide Looking for the best hiking trails that Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer? Use this map to check out our top picks for the region's best hikes! From stunning waterfalls and mountain vistas to epic climbs, it's a well-rounded collection of the area's most popular trails and hidden gems. 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