Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a gorgeous mountain park boasting stunning vistas, waterfalls, and historical buildings. Hiking is a special way to experience the beauty of this national park, and this article is here to help you find the best easy hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains!
No matter your age, ability, or skill level, the Smokies offer you a range of hiking options. The best easy hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are the trails to Laurel Falls, Elijah Oliver Place, Oconaluftee River, Juney Whank Falls, and Clingmans Dome.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I think the best way to experience this park is via its many hiking trails, which is why I’m so excited to share the best easy hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains with you. Let’s talk about your options!
What are the Best Easy Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains NP?
Great Smoky Mountains has many easy hiking options, and each one provides a unique experience to see the gorgeous “smoky” mountain ranges, waterfalls, and historical buildings that make the park so popular.
This list of the five best easy hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains includes trails that are more like traditional hiking — trails where you’ll get some dirt in your shoes!
If a trail is less than three miles, doesn’t gain more than 400 feet of elevation, and is somewhere I take my own small children, it’s included in this list of the best easy hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is one of the best-known waterfalls in the park! You’ll love this beautiful hike through the trees as you make your way to this picturesque waterfall.
Laurel Falls Trail Information
Distance: 2.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 396 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: No
Pets Allowed: No
Laurel Falls is named for the mountain laurel, which is a May-blooming evergreen shrub found along the trail and near the falls. The trail includes a walkway across the stream itself, separating the upper and lower sections of the 80-foot high falls.
The Laurel Falls Trail climbs through the forest and provides stunning views of the trees and mountains. As you work your way up to the falls, you will encounter some steep dropoffs. If you’re hiking with kids, keep them close to ensure their safety.
Portions of this trail are paved, but the pavement is in bad repair and is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
This is a very popular trail, so keep in mind that parking may be limited at times, especially on the weekends and even during weekdays throughout the summer months.
{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include the Metcalf Bottoms Trail (leading to Little Green Brier School) and Grotto Falls.
Location
The Laurel Falls trailhead parking is located about 3.5 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Elijah Oliver Place
If you’re looking for a nice and easy trail in Cades Cove, the walk to the Elijah Oliver Place is a fabulous option. This short trail to a lovely cabin is a great way to immerse yourself in the beauty of Cades Cove.
Elijah Oliver Place Trail Information
Distance: 1.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 98 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: No
Pets Allowed: No
At just over a mile, the Elijah Oliver Place Trail is an easy out and back hike that can be completed in about 30-40 minutes. This trail is a nice and wide gravel path that travels through the trees to this historic homestead.
You can learn more about the homestead by picking up a Cades Cove Loop Road booklet at the beginning of your drive into Cades Cove!
The Elijah Oliver Place is popular given its ease and location in Cades Cove, so you’re likely to meet other walkers and hikers while you explore. However, many people don’t bother getting out and hiking while in Cades Cove, so this trail is a great way to lose some of the crowds if you’re looking for a little more solitude than you’ll find at other stops in the cove.
{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include the John Oliver Place, Cable Mill, and the Pine Oak Nature Trail.
Location
The Elijah Oliver Place Trail is located along the Cades Cove Loop Road, about 4.5 miles into the one-way loop.
BEAR SAFETY 101
You may encounter black bears while hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn how to prevent an encounter, what to do if you see a bear, and where to get bear spray so that you can be confident on the trail!
Oconaluftee River Trail
The Oconaluftee River Trail meanders next to the river and through the trees on the park’s quiet side. You’ll love the views as you hike or bike on this relaxing trail.
Oconaluftee River Trail Information
Distance: 3.1 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 52 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: Yes
The Oconaluftee River Trail is a great option for activities of all types near the town of Cherokee, NC. If you’re on this side of the park and have about 90 minutes to spare, you’ll love further exploring the beauty and history along this trail.
You can begin your hike from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and go as far as you want toward Cherokee. This trail is mostly flat, wheelchair-accessible, dog-friendly, and bike-friendly.
{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include the walkways around the Mountain Farm Museum, the Smokemont Nature Trail, and Mingus Mill.
Location
The Oconaluftee River Trail begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, about 3.5 miles north of Cherokee, NC.
Juney Whank Falls
Juney Whank Falls is a small but beautiful waterfall tucked into a lesser-known part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Juney Whank Falls Trail Information
Distance: 0.8 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 170 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No
If you’re looking for a nice easy hike in the Smokies, the Deep Creek area of the park has some amazing options. Juney Whank Falls is a short trail to a quaint waterfall, but this trail really gets exciting when you add on Indian Creek Falls and Tom Branch Falls.
At under a mile in length, Juney Whank Falls Trail is an easy route that can be completed in under half an hour. Given its ease, you’re likely to encounter other hikers and even some horseback riders in the area. However, the Deep Creek area is, in general, a much quieter area of the Smokies than other places in the park.
The best time of year to experience this beautiful trail is spring through early fall.
{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls.
Location
Juney Whank Falls is easily accessible from the Deep Creek Campground (where you will also find the nearest restrooms), just north of Bryson City, NC, on the south side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Clingmans Dome
Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so hiking here provides some of the most jaw-dropping views in the park!
Clingmans Dome Trail Information
Distance: 1.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 331 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No
If you want to experience the most incredible view of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, you’ll want to venture up to Clingmans Dome. The observation tower, which affords you 360-degree views of the park, is accessible via a paved but steep trail.
So, I list this trail as easy because it’s a short, can’t-miss hike in the Smokies. However, the hike to the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower may not feel very easy due to the amount of elevation you gain in a short amount of time. It’s absolutely worth the short hike to see the beautiful views, but take your time and stop for breaks as needed as you work your way up the hill!
If you’re hiking this trail in the morning, evening, or during the cooler months, I definitely recommend bringing layers, as the weather can get quite chilly up at the top of the tower.
Location
The Clingmans Dome Trail is located at the end of the Clingmans Dome Road (open seasonally), 7 miles west of Newfound Gap.
Traffic and crowding in Great Smoky Mountains can be terrible.
Did you know that this is the busiest/most crowded national park in the country?
Are you hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people?
Stay ahead of the crowds with this Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary. You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
What are the Best Wheelchair-Friendly Trails in Great Smoky Mountains NP?
Great Smoky Mountains has a good number of wheelchair-friendly trails! More specific and detailed information about the trails is available on the park’s website, but here are a few of my top picks for wheelchair-friendly trails around the park.
Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail — this 0.5-mile trail takes you through some old ruins of the Sugarlands settlement. Its proximity to a beautiful river and lots of trees makes this trail fabulous if you’re looking for a quiet experience. You’ll find the trailhead 0.4-miles south of the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Mountain Farm Museum — Most of the paths around the museum are hard-packed gravel and are accessible, with assistance. Most of the surrounding buildings can be viewed via doorways on the outside, and a ramp allows access to the house. A guidebook about the historic structures is available for a small fee, and visitors in wheelchairs can easily participate in talks and demonstrations.
Mingus Mill — This area is just a half-mile north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The trail is both paved and hard-packed gravel, so it is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs with assistance. To visit the interior ground floor of the mill, you must be able to traverse a single stair. If that’s not possible, a brochure and binder containing photos of the inside of the mill are available.
Cades Cove — you can see the beauty of Cades Cove from your vehicle, but you can also explore the area via the flat, unpaved roads that cut through the cove (Sparks Lane or Hyatt Lane). Pick up the Cades Cove Auto Tour Booklet at the beginning of the loop drive for a historical description of the area.
Great Smoky Mountains Hiking Regulations
To protect this beautiful place and leave it better than you found it, please follow these regulations:
- Don’t take anything. Rocks, flowers, sticks, etc. must stay in the national park. If you find something cool, take a picture of it, but please don’t remove it.
- Stay on the trail. Please don’t make your own trail or follow trails that other people have made. This is for your safety and to prevent soil erosion and stomping of plants.
- Don’t feed the wildlife. These animals need to be able to find food on their own in order to survive the harsh winters. They often become aggressive and transmit diseases to humans if fed. Maintain a safe distance from the park’s wildlife to avoid injury or death.
- Don’t leave food or backpacks unattended, even for a quick minute. Always keep your pack within arm’s reach while hiking or camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to avoid unwanted wildlife encounters.
- Pets are not allowed on most park trails. See where you can take your pets if you bring them to the park.
What are the Best Longer Day Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains NP?
If you’re looking to hike longer distances and extend your adventure in the park, the Great Smokies offer many exceptional trails. These trails are not easy, but I suggest you check out Alum Cave Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Chimney Tops Trail, and Grotto Falls Trail if you love to hike!
If you’re visiting the Smokies in the spring through fall, check out the Alum Cave Trail. This trail travels up the mountains (you can go all the way to the top of Mount LeConte if you want!). It is a popular adventure among hikers and backpackers.
The Rainbow Falls Trail is a wonder to behold! It’s very popular, so you’re likely to encounter other hikers, but you may find some quiet places along the trail to enjoy your surroundings. This trail is best experienced in the spring through fall.
Chimney Tops Trail
This unique trail takes you to the beautiful formation known as Chimney Tops, where you’ll find gorgeous views of the Smokies.
If you’re looking for a fantastic hike to a beautiful waterfall, you will love the picturesque Grotto Falls Trail. At just over 2.5 miles out and back, it’s shorter than some of my other favorite longer trails. If your group likes to hike and is willing to put in a little more effort than the easy trails in this article, definitely hike this one!
This park has so many exciting and beautiful hikes to discover. I hope you enjoy these easy trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
More Great Smoky Mountains Trip Planning Information
Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to the Smokies — the best airports and roads in the area.
How Many Days Should I Spend in the Great Smokies? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
12 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Great Smoky Mountains — the top 12 spots.
The Ultimate Smokies Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
Best Things to Do — activities for every type of adventurer.
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