Top 6 Waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains You’ll Want to See

The Smoky Mountains have a ton of beautiful things people love to see, from mountain views to wildlife. Some of the most popular things are waterfalls. Most waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains you have to hike to, but there are a few you can drive to see. Here are the top 6 waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains you’ll want to see:

1. Meigs Falls

Meigs Falls is one of the waterfalls you can drive to see. It is off of Little River Road, and you can pull off the road and enjoy the view. If you enjoy hiking, you can hike to Meigs Falls, too. The trail is 6.5 miles roundtrip and is considered moderate. You’ll cross creeks multiple times along the trail, and then you’ll finally see the 18-foot waterfall.

2. Grotto Falls

Grotto Falls is a pretty popular waterfall in the Smoky Mountains. This trail is considered moderate with a roundtrip length of 3 miles. You’ll walk alongside the creek for most of the trail, and you might see llamas because this trail is used to get supplies to the summit of Mount LeConte. Once you reach Grotto Falls, you’ll see how the 25-foot-tall waterfall goes into a pool. This is the only waterfall you can walk behind in the national park, but be careful if you decide to do this because it is slippery.

3. Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is the tallest, single-drop waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It stands at 80 feet tall. You’ll walk through dense forest and beside creeks to get to the waterfall. The trail is considered moderate, and the roundtrip length is 5.4 miles. The trail to get to Rainbow Falls is one of five ways you can reach the summit of Mount LeConte.

4. Baskins Creek

Baskins Creek Falls is one of the waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains that is highly praised by many people, but it isn’t one of the most popular destinations. The trail isn’t long at 3 miles roundtrip, but it is considered moderate because the last 50 yards to get to the waterfall is very steep and rocky. This waterfall stands at 40 feet tall and has two tiers.

5. Abrams Falls

Abrams Falls is one of the shorter waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains, but the amount of water that gushes over the rocks is definitely one of the most impressive sights. The roundtrip length is 5 miles, and the trail is considered moderate. To get to the trailhead, you’ll have to drive through the Cades Cove Loop, the most popular scenic drive in the national park.

6. Laurel Falls

The easiest trail on this list is Laurel Falls, and it is the most popular waterfall hike in the Smokies. The roundtrip length is 2.6 miles, and the entire trail is paved. This is a popular trail for kids and families. Laurel Falls has two tiers, and altogether, it is 80 feet tall. A foot bridge cuts the tiers apart, so you can take pictures in front of the waterfall.

These waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains are just some of the beautiful sights you can see when you’re in town. Want to know what else you should do when you stay in one of our cabins? Look at our Freedom Fun Pass to find great deals you’ll get when you book one of our cabins!