Copyright © 2010 HikingintheSmokys.com.  All Rights Reserved.

          Read this disclaimer before using any information on this site.

 

Directory of Trails by Trail Feature

Each of the Great Smoky Mountain hiking trails have been grouped by the predominate feature of each trail, based on the following criteria: views, waterfalls, trails along streams, and various/other features. An additional table at the bottom of this page lists Great Smoky Mountain hiking trails that are known for spectacular wildflower displays. Please note that although there may be flowers present within the park throughout most of the year, individual varieties are only in bloom for a couple weeks at a time. Bloom times will vary according to plant variety, weather and elevation. Check with the National Park to find out current conditions by calling (865) 436-1200 or go to their website.

By clicking on a trail name, you can get more detailed information, including hiking trail descriptions, key features, directions, pictures, elevation profiles and maps. At this point, nearly 80% of all the Great Smoky Mountain hiking trails in this directory have been posted. The remainder of these hiking trails will be added as I hike them.

Difficulty Rating Defined:  a difficulty rating of less than 5 is generally considered to be an easy hike. Between 5 and 10 is moderate and anything over 10 is considered to be strenuous. Click here for a more detailed explanation on difficulty ratings for the Great Smoky Mountain hiking trails listed here.

R/T on the table heading below stands for round trip.

To get a general idea on the location of each of the Great Smoky Mountain hiking trails, check out our park map. 
Trails With Views
                   Trail           Location         Trail Features  R/T Miles  Elevation
    Gain		  Difficulty
   Rating
  Alum Cave   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Views / Interesting Geological Features   4.4   1125   6.65
  Andrews Bald   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Panoramic Views   3.5   899   5.30
  AT - The Jump Off   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Panoramic Views   6.5   1275   9.05
  Balsam High Point   Balsam Mountain   Views   7.0   1217   9.43
  Brushy Mountain   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Views / Wildflowers / Falls   6.8   1745   10.29
  Bullhead   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Views / Interesting Geological Features   5.9   1607   9.11
  Charlies Bunion   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Panoramic Views   8.1   1640   11.38
  Chestnut Top   Cades Cove / Townsend   Views / Wildflowers   8.6   1486   11.57
  Chimney Tops   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Panoramic Views   4.0   1350   6.70
  Gregory Bald   Cades Cove / Townsend   Panoramic Views / Flame Azalea / Old Growth Forest   11.3   3020   17.34
  Hemphill Bald Loop   Balsam Mountain   Panoramic Views / Old Growth Forest   13.7   2170   18.04
  Lonesome Pine Overlook   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Views   6.7   2300   11.30
  Lumber Ridge Trail   Cades Cove / Townsend   Quiet Forest/Solitude/Views    8.1   1524   11.15
  Mt. Cammerer   Greenbrier / Cosby   Panoramic Views   12.0   2470   16.94
  Mt. Leconte (via Alum Cave)   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Panoramic Views   11.0   2763   16.53
  Mt. LeConte (via Bullhead)   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Panoramic Views   14.4   3993   22.39
  Mt. LeConte (RainbowFalls)   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Panoramic Views / Waterfalls   13.8   3993   21.79
  Mt. LeConte (via Trillium Gap)   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Panoramic Views / Waterfalls   13.9   3401   20.70
  Mt. Sterling   Big Creek   Views   5.6   2000   9.60
  Noland Divide   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Views / Forest Diversity   7.2   1679   10.56
  Rich Mountain Loop   Cades Cove / Townsend   Views / Wildflowers / Historical   8.5   1736   11.97
  Rocky Top / Thunderhead   Cades Cove / Townsend   Panoramic Views   13.9   3665   21.23
  Shuckstack   Fontana Village   Views / Wildflowers   7.0   2120   11.24
  Silers Bald   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Panoramic Views   9.3   2152   13.60
  Spence Field (Anthony Creek)   Cades Cove / Townsend   Panoramic Views   10.3   2842   15.98
  Spence Field (via Lead Cove)   Cades Cove / Townsend   Panoramic Views   9.4   3100   15.60
  Spence / Russell Field Loop   Cades Cove / Townsend   Panoramic Views   13.3   3050   19.40
  Sugarland Mountain Trail   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Views / Solitude   7.0   1090   9.18
Waterfalls Trails  
                   Trail           Location         Trail Features  R/T Miles  Elevation
    Gain		  Difficulty
   Rating
  Abrams Falls   Cades Cove / Townsend   Waterfalls   5.0   340   5.68
  Baskins Creek Falls   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Waterfalls   3.0   953   4.91
  Big Creek / Mouse Creek Falls   Big Creek   Waterfalls   4.0   580   5.16
  Cove Mountain   Elkmont   Waterfalls / Old Growth Forest   7.7   1776   11.25
  Deep Creek Loop   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Waterfalls / Wildflowers   4.6   579   5.76
  Flat Creek Falls    Balsam Mountain   Waterfalls   4.0   600   5.20
  Grotto Falls   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Waterfalls   2.6   585   3.77
  Hen Wallow Falls   Greenbrier / Cosby   Waterfalls   4.4   900   6.20
  Indian Creek Falls   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Waterfalls   1.9   150   2.20
  Juney Whank Falls   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Waterfalls   0.5   194   0.89
  Laurel Falls   Elkmont   Waterfalls   2.3   314   2.93
  Porters Creek Trail   Greenbrier / Cosby   Waterfalls / Stream / Flowers / Historical / Old Growth Forest   4.0   699   5.40
  Rainbow Falls   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Waterfalls   5.4   1685   8.77
  Ramsay Cascades   Greenbrier / Cosby   Waterfalls / Old Growth Forest   8.0   2375   12.75
  Toms Branch Falls   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Waterfalls   0.6   47   0.69
Trails Along Streams
                   Trail           Location         Trail Features  R/T Miles  Elevation
    Gain		  Difficulty
   Rating
  Chasteen Creek   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Stream / Waterfalls   10.0   2499   15.00
  Cucumber Gap Loop   Elkmont   Stream / Wildflowers / Historical   5.6   830   7.26
  Deep Creek Headwaters   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Stream   5.0   1480   7.96
  Husky Gap (Little River Trail)   Elkmont   Stream / Wildflowers / Historical   10.0   1080   12.16
  Kephart Prong Trail   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Stream / Historical   4.2   955   6.11
  Little River Trail   Elkmont   Stream / Wildflowers / Historical   4.9   412   5.72
  Middle Prong   Cades Cove / Townsend   Cascading Stream   8.2   2074   12.35
  Meigs Creek   Elkmont   Stream   7.0   800   8.60
  Oconaluftee River Trail   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Stream   3.0   70   3.14
  Smokemont Loop   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Stream / Wildflowers / Forest   6.5   1441   9.38
  Twentymile Loop   Fontana Village   Stream   7.5   900   9.30
Trails With Various Features
                   Trail           Location         Trail Features  R/T Miles  Elevation
     Gain		  Difficulty
   Rating
  Ace Gap   Cades Cove / Townsend   Quiet Forest / Wildflowers   11.0   400   11.80
  Albright Grove   Greenbrier / Cosby   Old Growth Forest / Wildflowers / Historical   7.0   1500   10.00
  Big Fork Ridge Loop   Cataloochee   Old Growth Forest / Historical   9.3   1800   12.90
  Boogerman Loop   Cataloochee   Historical / Streams / Flowers / Old Growth Forest   7.4   1040   9.48
  Curry Mountain Trail   Elkmont   Quiet Forest Hike   6.4   1164   8.73
  Fork Ridge Trail   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Old Growth Spruce-Fir Forest / Wildflowers   8.0   1500   11.00
  Husky Gap (Newfound Gap Rd)   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Quiet Forest Hike   4.2   1240   6.68
  Kanati Fork Trail   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Wildflowers   4.0   1495   6.99
  Meigs Mountain Trail   Elkmont   Quiet Forest Hike   4.6   661   5.92
  Mingus Creek   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Historical   4.5   748   6.00
  Newton Bald   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Quiet Forest Hike / Views   10.0   2800   15.60
  Rough Fork Trail   Balsam Mountain   Quiet Forest Hike   5.2   600   6.40
  Schoolhouse Gap   Cades Cove / Townsend   Quiet Forest Hike / Wildflowers   3.8   513   4.83
  Spruce-Fir Trail   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Spruce-Fir Forest   0.4   25   0.40
  Sugerland Mtn Trail (lower)   Elkmont   Quiet Forest Hike   6.0   800   7.60
  West Prong Trail   Cades Cove / Townsend   Quiet Forest Hike / Stream   5.4   1375   8.15
Trails Known for Wildflower Displays
                   Trail           Location         Trail Features  R/T Miles  Elevation
    Gain		  Difficulty
   Rating
  Ace Gap   Cades Cove / Townsend   Quiet Forest / Wildflowers   11.0   400   11.80
  Albright Grove   Greenbrier / Cosby   Old Growth Forest / Wildflowers / Historical   7.0   1500   10.00
  Boogerman Loop   Cataloochee   Historical / Streams / Flowers / Old Growth Forest   7.4   1040   9.48
  Brushy Mountain   Gatlinburg / Mt. LeConte   Views / Wildflowers / Falls   6.8   1745   10.29
  Chestnut Top   Cades Cove / Townsend   Views / Wildflowers   8.6   1486   11.57
  Cucumber Gap Loop   Elkmont   Stream / Wildflowers / Historical   5.6   830   7.26
  Deep Creek Loop   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Waterfalls / Wildflowers   4.0   420   4.84
  Fork Ridge Trail   Newfound Gap / Clingmans Dome   Old Growth Spruce-Fir Forest / Wildflowers   8.0   1500   11.00
  Gregory Bald   Cades Cove / Townsend   Panoramic Views / Flame Azalea / Old Growth Forest   11.3   3020   17.34
  Husky Gap (Little River Trail)   Elkmont   Stream / Wildflowers / Historical   10.0   1080   12.16
  Kanati Fork Trail   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Wildflowers   4.0   1495   6.99
  Kephart Prong Trail   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Stream / Wildflowers   4.2   955   6.11
  Little River Trail   Elkmont   Stream / Wildflowers / Historical   4.9   412   5.72
  Porters Creek Trail   Greenbrier / Cosby   Waterfalls / Stream / Flowers / Historical / Old Growth Forest   4.0   699   5.40
  Rich Mountain Loop   Cades Cove / Townsend   Views / Wildflowers / Historical   8.5   1736   11.97
  Schoolhouse Gap   Cades Cove / Townsend   Quiet Forest Hike / Wildflowers   3.8   513   4.83
  Shuckstack   Fontana Village   Views / Wildflowers   7.0   2120   11.24
  Smokemont Loop   Cherokee / Deep Creek   Stream / Wildflowers / Forest   6.5   1441   9.38
* For information on hiking the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains, please click here.

National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map for the Smoky Mountains