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.