Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 8 TOP Easy Hikes

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular of all 63 national parks in the United States, as well as the world! 12,937,633 people visited Great Smoky Mountains NP in 2022 alone with the second most visited park having 8 million less visitors!

The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park by a landslide! (which do happen here by the way!)

Straddling the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, the park is accessible from either state, however park headquarters are in Tennessee. Sugarlands Visitor Center is located near Gatlinburg and is where you will find helpful rangers, washrooms, maps, animal exhibits and an informative museum. 

Hikers will quickly realize why the Great Smokies is so popular! The park is packed with 850 miles of trail, including 74 miles of Appalachian Trail, that wind throughout the ancient mountains.

You can head out on a back country hike or enjoy a self guided nature trail. As long as you don’t mind the crowd, this popular destination will show you scenic views you won’t soon forget. 

Hiking is really the best way to see the natural beauty this park has to offer. If you are coming with your family, these are the best hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Nature Paths

1. Gatlinburg Trail

Beginning by the Sugarlands Visitor Center, this beautiful, accessible nature path allows you to get a little bit of exercise and see some sights. All skill levels can enjoy this walk as you can walk or bike this trail.

From the Visitor Center, it is about 1.9 miles one way to the outskirts of Gatlinburg and then, of course, the same distance back to the parking area. 

The majority of this trail follows alongside Little Pigeon River and gives many views of the river as well as gives you an opportunity to dip your toes in! Children will be excited to cross one of the longest footbridges in the park. 

There can be some noise heard from the Newfound Gap Road through parts of this trail, but the scenery in the old-growth forest makes it worthwhile. One interesting thing about this trail is that it passes through the remnants of an old homestead that was destroyed by the Chimney Tops fire in 2016. Oddly enough, one of the remnants you can see in the homestead is an old chimney! 

There is a hike up to the Chimney Tops Trail but it is not family friendly! While it’s roundtrip length of 3.5 miles isn’t much, it is a steep and strenuous hike up the side of a mountain! This would be better done on a trip without the kids. 

Your furry friends can get excited because they are allowed on this walking path, provided they are kept on a leash!

2. Oconaluftee River Trail

This is the only other walking trail in the Smokies that allows leashed dogs to join you and is basically North Carolina’s equivalent of the Gatlinburg Trail. 

The short 3 mile hike begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and heads along the outskirts of Cherokee for 1.5 miles, with a very mild elevation gain. Taking you through the forest with views of the river, this is a great way to enjoy the outdoors without a strenuous hike. 

3. Cataract Falls Trail

This hidden gem is a perfect hike for your littlest kiddos that still love to explore, or any adults who can’t (or don’t want to) do anything too difficult. Carry your babies in a pack and let your toddlers stretch their legs on this stunning nature walk.

The 0.75 mile gravel trail crosses over Fighting Creek in a few different places on its way to the falls. 

Children will have fun crossing the bridges over the calm Fighting Creek and you can feel safe that they are well constructed with guard rails and cable. There are interesting trees to see and climb on (and even in!)

As you near the falls, you will walk under a bridge and up a small set of stairs. These are not so steep that they will be too physically taxing. Once you reach the top of the stairs, turn right and you’re almost to the falls! You should hear them by now!

​The amount of water in the falls is very dependent on the amount of rain in recent days. After a recent big rainfall is the best time to see these falls. 

When you’ve taken it all in, head back the way you came!

Kid – Friendly Hiking Trails

4. Little River Trail

Especially if you are entering the park via Gatlinburg, this is one of the most popular trails to bring kids on.

NPS Park Ranger Orin was quick to recommend this as a great hike for families. He said “Little River is a pretty river and the trail flanks the river most of the way.

It is graded for an old steam train as that is what it was originally used as. There are lots of places for kids to explore, jump off, and play in the creek.”

There is not really an end point of this trail so you can make it as long or as short as you like. Orin said to “just walk until you get tired and turn around!” About 2.5 miles in, you will reach the Cucumber Gap Trail which is a common turn around point to make a loop. If you are still full of energy, you can keep going!

In early summer, you are in for quite a treat as the male fireflies move in unison every few seconds, lighting up the forest in a stunning show. Your kids will be amazed at this surprise!

5. Porters Creek Trail

This 4 mile round trip hike offers a good balance of difficulty. The first mile is gravel and basically flat, while the second mile is a narrower hiking trail with a gradual ascent! This will still be doable for most kids who can walk for two hours or so. 

Spring is the best time to visit this trail as at the beginning you will get to enjoy some beautiful wildflowers, especially white ones! However this is also a great place to hike throughout the winter due to its lower altitude. This makes it accessible when some others are not. 

Approximately 1 mile into the hike along Porters Creek, you will come to a fork in the road. If you veer left you will encounter some interesting historical sites. This is beneficial to those who look for educational experiences while travelling, especially homeschoolers and road schoolers. 

Veering left at that same fork brings you onto the narrowing hiking trail that will gradually ascend for a mile until it reaches Fern Branch Falls. These 40 feet falls that slide down moss covered rocks are a good reason to pause and enjoy the views and take a break before heading back the way you came to the parking lot. 

NOTE: There is a single log footbridge with handrails about 1.6 miles into the trail. This can appear a bit harrowing so be prepared for that.

6. Kephart Prong Trail

If you enter the park through the entrance in Cherokee, NC this trail is close and convenient for you. This trail is perfect for those who love history and adding exploration to their hikes.

Overall, the 4.2 miles round trip trail is gradual with the exception of a steeper incline at the very end. This trail is manageable and enjoyable to bring your kids along. 

The best views on this trail are in fall when the colors are at their peak. Winter can be questionable as some of the footbridges get slippery when wet or icy.

The trail begins by crossing a footbridge over the Oconaluftee River and quickly reaches one of its highlights! There are Great Depression era remains of an old Civilian Conservation Corps Camp here to explore.

Company 411 was important in building the Newfound Gap Road, footbridges on the trail and creating the water system in the area. There is so much to explore here within the ruins and could lead to an excellent mini history lesson!

Moving on from the historical camp, you will continue on a steady ascent through the forested trail until you reach Kephart Shelter, approximately 2.1 miles into your hike. This is an excellent turnaround point. Make your way back the way you came to the trailhead and parking.

For more adventurous travelers, you may take the Grassy Branch Trail from here and carry on to Charlies Bunion. This is a much more difficult hike that brings you to the rocky outcropping with spectacular views. 

7. Abrams Falls Trail

This moderately difficult 5 mile round trip hike in Cades Cove is beautiful and fun for your children who can manage a rougher terrain and some distance.

You know your kids and their hiking ability best, but the majority of kids under 8 years of age are going to find it difficult to keep going for the 2 to 3 hours it takes to get out to the waterfall and back.

This is a backcountry trail so, as expected, there are roots and rocks to navigate along the way. Leave the crocs at home for this one and get your kids into sneakers or hiking shoes.

This trail can be busy but is one of the most popular hikes in the Smokies. Go early in the day to avoid the crowds. You will get to see the beauty and tranquility of the forest while following along Abrams Creek as you make your way toward the falls. There are some places where the elevation gain makes the trail steep, but it will level back out again.

After 2.5 miles you will reach the stunning 20 foot Abrams Falls. While not the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, the sheer amount of water that rushes over the top of the falls makes this one impressive to see.

It is not safe to get close to the waterfall as the rocks can be quite slippery and dangerous. It is also not safe to swim in the water here (although you may see some brave souls doing it anyways!) due to strong currents and an undertow. Water is so enticing to kids but hold on to them and observe from the beach. Don’t let them climb those wet rocks!

This is an out and back trail so head back to your vehicle the way you came, stopping at some of the scenic overlooks. Keep your eyes peeled as this trail is one of the most common places to see a black bear!

8. Big Creek Trail

This kid-favorite trail can be made to be different lengths, depending on your destination. For the most part this trail would be considered easy to moderate, however much of the trail runs along the ridge and there is a significant drop off to the left. You will want to keep your kids, especially little ones, close.

This trail is an old logging railroaded grade so it is relatively flat, however as you get closer to Midnight Hole it gets quite rocky and uneven so watch your footing!

There are many side trails down to the creek along the way and any of them are fun to explore. Checking out these lesser known areas is well worth your time!

1.5 miles from the trailhead you will get to Midnight Hole where you can swim in the stunning, but ice cold, green creek. There are some small falls that feed into the swimming hole. You can jump from the rocks into the frothy water at the bottom of the waterfall or you can wade in the shallow part. This is a good turnaround point if you just want a 3 mile round trip hike.

If you want to see the nice views of some large falls, you can carry on for .5 miles to Mouse Creek Falls. These 45 feet falls spills into Big Creek. You will see an overlook of the falls and some benches to sit on.

This is where to turn around with your kids if you came this far. If you plan to go to Mouse Creek Falls, I would save your dip into Midnight Hole until the way back!

Be Bear Aware

Just as this park is a popular spot for humans, it is for the black bears as well! Somehow they found out that Great Smoky Mountains NP is one of the best places to live! They like it so much that they actually den in hollow trees above ground, unlike their friends in other places that make their winter dens underground. 

These black bears have really made themselves at home and can be found inhabiting all elevations of the park.

An estimated 1,900 black bears live inside this park! That is approximately 2 bears per square mile! Chances are pretty good you will see one if you spend much time hiking here. You should always carry bear spray in an easily accessible location on your person. 

85% of what bears eat are plants and berries, but they are omnivores just like us! The park staff have made it possible for hikers to properly dispose of food waste by placing bear proof trash cans throughout the park. Use them!

Properly disposing of, and storing, your food is the number one way to keep yourself and the bears safe. 

What If I See a Bear?

Bears are wild and unpredictable animals that need to be respected. NEVER approach a bear or let it approach you.

If your presence has caused the bear to notice you and change its behavior, slowly back away. Do not turn your back to the bear. As you slowly back away, it will likely do the same.

If the bear follows you, change your direction and talk loudly or shout at it. Throw rocks at the bear to startle it. (DO NOT THROW FOOD)! 

If the bear gets within 20 feet of you, use your bear spray. In the unlikely event that you are attacked by a bear, fight back aggressively! DO NOT PLAY DEAD!

This video can help you visualize what to do if you do see a bear on the trail or in back-country camping.

Noteworthy Smoky Mountain National Park Tidbits

Don’t Forget to Check

It is always important to check the park website before traveling. Weather and natural disasters can happen at any time, causing certain trails to be closed down. To avoid disappointment, be sure to check before you go!

And once you’re in the park, make sure to stop by one of the four visitor centers to get the most up to date trail information and recommendations!