Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Know Before You Go

• Demand for parking often exceeds capacity in this area. Come with an alternative destination in mind, avoid marked no parking areas, and always park with all four wheels out of the roadway.
• Parking tags may not be purchased in this area, plan ahead and purchase a parking tag before visiting. 
• An auto-tour guide for this scenic drive is available at a visitor center. 
• This road is closed during part of the year. Check the seasonal road status. 
• Buses, trailers, and motor homes are not permitted on the motor nature trail. 

 

Place of a Thousand Drips is located beside the road on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

Bob Carr

A Captivating One-Way Drive

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a one-way road that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the lush, biodiverse forest of the Smoky Mountains from the comfort of their vehicles. This scenic route not only showcases the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains but also provides opportunities to stretch your legs and explore historic sites and pull-offs. The area's name is inspired by the exuberant Roaring Fork, one of the park's larger and faster-flowing mountain streams. After a heavy rain, the stream's powerful rush becomes a testament to its name.

Spanning 5.5 miles, this narrow, winding loop road invites traveler to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty and historical significance of the landscape. Roaring Fork Motor treats visitors to views of rushing mountain streams, glimpses of old-growth forests, and well-preserved log cabins, gristmills, and other historic buildings that tell the story of the region's past.

Before Roaring Fork

Before entering the Motor Nature Trail, take a moment to visit the Noah “Bud” Ogle Self-Guiding Nature Trail. This walking tour offers an authentic glimpse of a mountain farmstead and the surrounding hardwood forest.

Just beyond the Ogle farmstead, you will find the trailhead for Rainbow Falls. However, don’t let the name mislead you; the hike to the falls is a 5.4-mile round trip and is considered moderately strenuous. If you plan to attempt this hike, be prepared for a steep ascent. Be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and carry plenty of water and snacks.

 

Grotto Falls located on the Trillium Gap Trail.

NPS

Entering Roaring Fork

The entrance to the Motor Nature Trail is located just past the second parking area for Rainbow Falls on the right side of the road. Two miles into your drive, you’ll find the Trillum Gap trailhead which leads to Grotto Falls, another popular waterfall in the park. Please note that parking is very limited at this trailhead. If you prefer not to hike, keep an eye out for a waterfall called the Place of a Thousand Drips, which will appear on a rock wall toward the end of your journey.

Directions

To access Roaring Fork, turn off the main parkway in Gatlinburg, TN, at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail Road to the National Park's Cherokee Orchard entrance. Just beyond the Rainbow Falls trailhead, you can take the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on the right.