Waterfalls

 

Water recreation is not recommended in Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to numerous hazards and dangers.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the park. Countless injuries have resulted from people swimming, climbing around waterfalls, and riding inner tubes in park waters. Learn more about water safety.

 

Ramsey Cascades, the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, requires a challenging 8-mile round trip hike with an elevation gain of more than 2,100 feet.

NPS

Smokies Waterfalls

Great Smoky Mountains has two essential ingredients for waterfalls—ample rainfall and an elevation gradient. In the Smokies' high country, more than 85 inches of rain falls on average each year. It is not uncommon for peaks like Mt. LeConte and Kuwohi to receive more than eight feet of rain annually. This abundant rainfall trickles and rushes down the mountainsides, sometimes descending more than a mile in elevation from the high peaks to the foothills.

Due to the park's popularity, many well-known waterfall hikes such as Abrams, Grotto, Laurel, and Rainbow falls are highly trafficked trails, often with limited parking and crowded paths. Together, these waterfall hikes see more than 200,000 visitors each year.

Our advice? Take the trail less traveled. The Smokies has waterfalls in nearly every river and stream in the park and venturing out to the less-visited areas will give you a more relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Remember to download an official trail map or purchase one from any visitor center before venturing out on any trail in the Smokies.

 

 

Hike to a Waterfall

There are several waterfall hikes spread throughout the park. While hikes will vary in difficulty, most waterfall hikes in the Smokies will take at least a few hours to complete so it is important to plan ahead and be prepared.

Learn more about hiking safety in the Smokies before your visit.

 

 

Drive to a Waterfall

While most of the waterfalls in the park must be accessed by trail, there are a few roadside waterfalls that can be viewed by either a short walk to an overlook or from the comfort of your vehicle. After heavy rain, waterfalls may be found cascading off the mountainsides along Little River Road, Tremont Road, and Newfound Gap Road.

 

More Things to do

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  Hiking

  Learn more about hiking in the Smokies.

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  Auto-touring

  Learn about the scenic drives in the Smokies.

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  Wildlife Viewing

  Learn more about viewing wildlife in the Smokies.