Top 5 Waterfall Hikes in the Smokies! Beat the Heat and Hike to a Smoky Mountain Waterfall!

Beat the heat this summer and take a hike to a refreshing Smoky Mountain waterfall! The abundant streams of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are the lifeblood of this International Biosphere Reserve and the waterfalls found within are some of the most extraordinary hiking destinations year-round. When the heat of summer is upon us, there is no better place to be than enjoying a cool, misty breeze near a lush waterfall in the Smokies! We’ve got the Top 5 Waterfall Hikes in the Smokies for you!

The fine mist is so refreshing that after only a few moments you may be ready to step back into the sunlight and warm up a bit. Along the trails to the waterfalls there are often quiet, sun-dappled pools in the streams that are perfect for soaking your hiking feet. It is unsafe to swim beneath the waterfalls; just standing near one is really all you need to do to cool down.

Here are a few of our top waterfall hikes in the Smokies when the weather is warm and we’re looking for a favorite place to chill! You’ll find some of the Top 5 Waterfall Hikes are just a short walk from your vehicle, while others offer more time to explore the beautiful summertime scenery. No matter what section of the National Park you’re visiting, you’re sure to find a wondrous waterfall!

CHEROKEE / OCONALUFTEE 
 #1 Mingo Falls
Mingo Falls is actually located on the Qualla Boundary (Cherokee Indian Reservation) and is considered an easy hike at 0.4 miles in length but don’t let that fool you. There are over 200 steps to climb to reach the base of the falls but it is well worth it. Mingo Falls is one of the tallest in the region at 120 feet high and the cooling mist that swirls around its base makes all that “stair mastering” a distant memory.

To reach the Mingo Falls trailhead travel south from Oconaluftee Visitor Center on US-441 toward  Cherokee and turn left on Big Cove Road. Turn left at the first stop sign and drive 4.5 miles to the Mingo Falls Campground and the trailhead. No special permits are required for access to the reservation.

CADES COVE 
 #2 Abrams Falls
Abrams Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with most hikers reaching it via the Abrams Falls Trail in Cades Cove. From here the hike is 2.5 miles one-way and is considered moderate in difficulty. HeySmokies recommends sturdy footwear (not flip flops) to traverse the rocky terrain encountered on the trail. (For more info on suggested hiking essentials visit our 10 Essentials for Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains)

Abrams Falls is a mere 20 feet high but the volume of water funneling through earns it the unofficial moniker of the “Little Niagara of the Smokies.” The inviting pool beneath the falls can be deadly; swimmers have drowned here due to strong undercurrents and an undertow. Don’t be the next victim, enjoy the falls and its cooling mist from a safe distance. Abrams Falls is named for Cherokee Chief Abram who once lived a few miles below the falls near Abrams Creek Campground.

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The Smokemont Experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Smokemont Experience in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one that features an abundance of spring and summer wildflowers, and the pristine waters of the Bradley Fork of the Oconaluftee River. Bradley Fork is known for its healthy population of rainbow trout; and in the fall, fishing the Fork is especially rewarding when large brown trout make their way upstream from the River. Smokemont offers year-round camping, hiking trails and equestrian activities.

Smokemont is nestled at 2,200′ above sea level near the southern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is flanked by Bradley Fork on its north and west side.

Year-Round Camping in Smokemont
With 142 campsites Smokemont Campground is large and great for families. The campground accommodates trailers up to 35′ and motor homes up to 40′. There are no water, sewer or electricity hook-ups and generator use is restricted to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. A tent pad, picnic table, grill, and lantern pole are provided at each site. Restroom facilities provide flush toilets and cold water. Although there are no showers available at Smokemont, they are available at several campgrounds in Cherokee. Smokemont Campground reservations may be obtained at recreation.gov along with important information on firewood restrictions, etc. during season; otherwise, the campground is open on a first-come, first-serve basis. Be sure to bring your bikes because the spacious campground is fun to bike, and that’s a good thing since bikes are off-limits on park trails.

Smokemont Campground is located 3.5 miles north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC on Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) and 27 miles south of the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN.

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Bicycle Mornings in Cades Cove begin May 11th! Passing on your left!

Beginning Wednesday, May 11, 2016 Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to motor vehicles until 10:00 a.m. on both Wednesday and Saturday mornings to allow bicyclists, runners, and walkers time to enjoy the cove without having to worry about heavy traffic. This special experience on the 11-mile paved loop road will last until late September.

During the season, bicycles can be rented at the Cades Cove Campground Store. For pricing info, give them a call at 865.448.9034. Of course, you can bring your own bikes and helmets to enjoy the scenic ride through this historic landscape. Be mindful that Tennessee law requires cyclists under the age of 16 to wear a helmet. HeySmokies and the GSMNP recommend anyone of any age wear protective head gear…just sayin’!

You won’t find any mountain biking trails within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are only 3 trails in the National Park that allow bicycles:

Gatlinburg Trail
Begins at Sugarlands Visitor Center and travels 1.9 miles one-way toward the outskirts of Gatlinburg along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail.

Oconaluftee River Trail
Begins at Oconaluftee Visitor Center and travels 1.5 miles one-way toward the outskirts of Cherokee along the Oconaluftee River. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail.

Deep Creek and Indian Creek Trails
From the Deep Creek Campground, cyclists can access both Deep Creek and Indian Creek Trails. Bicycles are allowed on both trails until the point where the old roadbed ends and the hiking trails begin. Pets are not allowed on this trail.

Bicycles are allowed on most roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so drivers need to be alert of cyclists when driving through the park.

For more information on bicycling in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and adjacent National Forests, please visit NPS.gov.

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park April 19-23! Online Tickets Available Now!

Make plans for the 66th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park April 19-23, 2016. Tickets are now available online and there are some great free programs too! The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is held at one of the most incredible times of the year to be in the Smokies. Be sure to put this pilgrimage on your 2016 Bucket List!

The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is a fabulous five-day event celebrating springtime in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As an International Biosphere Reserve, the Smokies’ lush, one-of-a-kind forest really springs to life in April!

Most of the programs for the pilgrimage are held out on the trails with expertly guided hikes exploring the park’s gorgeous display of wildflowers, abundant wildlife, cultural curiosities and natural history. Hikes are available for all skill levels.

All programs will be held rain or shine; worry not, there are plenty of motorcade trips with short walks and lots of outstanding indoor programs and workshops available at Mills Conference Center in downtown Gatlinburg and nearby Sugarlands Visitor Center Training Room.

Some of the free events that are open to the public with no registration required are:

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Artist-of-the-Year Reception @ Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 @ 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Nelson Zieglar’s painting “Roaring Fork” was selected for this year’s pilgrimage brochure and commorative t-shirt. His artwork will be exhibited in the Wolpert Gallery on Arrowmont’s campus until April 24, 2016.

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Have your Fantasy Spring or Summer Wedding in the Heart of the Smokies! Here are 10 of the Top Wedding Venues in the Smoky Mountains!

While wildflowers begin to explode with the joys of springtime over mountains and into valleys, the heart of the Smokies is bustling and alive with activity.  Over every hill and dale, nearly, a team of event planners is getting someone’s special day ready. Let yours be next!

Have your fantasy spring or summer wedding in the heart of the Smokies! A Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge or surrounding area wedding will bring together the elements of scenery, style and fun in an event you and your guests will remember for a lifetime. The astonishing array of venues and diverse and talented community of wedding professionals up in these hills means that you can spend as much or as little as you choose and still have a one-of-a-kind wedding in a very special place.

The Lodge at Brother’s Cove in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is one of the most popular spots year round. In the spring and summer, this venue offers stunning vistas of the lush, green springtime glory of the Smoky Mountains. Most weddings celebrated there take place outdoors, making full use of a gazebo site with sweeping mountain views, something the lodge, which is located on a mountain ridge, is legendary for. If you are imagining wedding photos with a heavenly backdrop, you are correct!  Most brides opt to move the party into the lodge after the ceremony, which can accommodate up to 300 guests (depending on set-up) after the ceremony. The lodge itself has panoramic views and provides a very nice rain option for the ceremony as well. The resort offers two options; a “Consulting Package,” which means that the bride simply rents the facilities and plans and carries out her own wedding, with an event team member on hand to offer professional suggestions, and a “Full Service Turn Key Package,” which delivers a dream wedding planned and delivered by the event team at the Lodge.

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