Best Hiking Trails in the Great Smoky Mountains from Gatlinburg

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 800 miles of trails — more than enough for a lifetime of hiking. But you’ve got 4-5 days. Here are the trails worth your time, organized by difficulty.

Easy: Laurel Falls (2.6 miles round trip)

The most popular trail in the park for good reason — a paved path through hardwood forest to an 80-foot waterfall. Accessible for most fitness levels including older kids. The trail is wide and well-maintained. Go early morning to avoid crowds (by 10 AM on summer weekends, the parking lot is full). The falls are beautiful in every season — frozen in winter, surrounded by wildflowers in spring.

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Free Things to Do in Scottsdale — Desert Trails, Art & No-Cost Experiences

Free Things to Do in Scottsdale

Scottsdale’s desert landscape provides some of the best free outdoor experiences in the Southwest — and the art and culture scene has plenty of no-cost options too.

Desert Hiking (Free)

McDowell Sonoran Preserve — 30,500 acres of protected Sonoran Desert with 225+ miles of trails. Gateway trailhead is the main access point. Saguaro cacti, desert wildflowers (spring), and panoramic mountain views. Free. Bring water — lots of it.

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Outdoor Activities Near Las Vegas — Hiking, Biking & Desert Adventures

Outdoor Activities Near Las Vegas

Las Vegas sits in the Mojave Desert at the edge of some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West. Within an hour of the Strip you can hike through red rock canyons, kayak the Colorado River, mountain bike in desert terrain, or rock climb on world-class sandstone.

Hiking

Red Rock Canyon (30 min) — The go-to. Calico Tanks trail (moderate, 2.5 mi) ends at a natural rock tank with Strip views. Keystone Thrust (easy, 2 mi) shows 180-million-year geology. Ice Box Canyon (moderate, 2.6 mi) has a seasonal waterfall in a slot canyon.

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Waterfalls Near Gatlinburg — Laurel Falls, Grotto Falls & More

The Smoky Mountains get more rainfall than anywhere in the continental US outside the Pacific Northwest — which means waterfalls everywhere. Here are the best ones accessible from Gatlinburg.

Laurel Falls (2.6 miles round trip, easy)

The most visited waterfall in the park. An 80-foot cascade split into upper and lower sections, reached by a paved trail through hardwood forest. The pavement makes it accessible for families and older visitors, but it also means crowds — go before 9 AM or after 4 PM. The falls are beautiful year-round: surrounded by mountain laurel blooms in spring, lush green in summer, golden foliage in fall, and partially frozen in winter.