Hikes

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker’s paradise, with more than 800 miles of hiking trails meandering across its terrain. These mountains are full of diverse landscapes that range from open fields to dense forests to crystal-clear streams and spectacular waterfalls. It’s no wonder so many people enjoy exploring the wonders of nature in the Smokies on foot! If you’re looking for an epic overnight hike, check out these best trails for backpacking in the Smoky Mountains.

The Alum Cave Trail is one of the most famous hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it’s the most popular way to hike to the summit of Mount LeConte. This trail has a lot of amazing things throughout your hike. In fact, there are so many iconic features in the first half of the trail that many people only go about halfway. Whether you hike all the way up to Mount LeConte or turn around at the Alum Cave Bluffs, you’re sure to see some fantastic sights along the way! Here are some of the iconic features on the Alum Cave Trail that you should keep an eye out for.

Have you done a lot of hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains but want to find a new area to explore? The national park is filled with beautiful trails for all difficulty levels and offers year-round adventures for beginner and experienced hikers alike. Take a look at the best trails in the Smokies you might be aware of:

Are you looking for a short, relatively easy trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Then you should consider Schoolhouse Gap Trail, a quiet forest hike! While there is no schoolhouse to be found along this trail, it most likely got its name from the children who probably walked through the area to get to school in nearby Townsend. Take a look at all of the details about Schoolhouse Gap Trail:

Are you looking for a less crowded Smoky Mountain hike with beautiful views, a peaceful river, wildflowers in the summer, and a relatively flat trail? Roundtop Trail checks all of those boxes and offers so much more! Keep reading to find out more about Roundtop Trail, one of the least-traveled hiking trails in the Smokies! 

With over 800 miles worth of hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s hard to decide which ones are the best to try! We’ve narrowed down 8 Smoky Mountain hikes that vary in difficulty, but all have rewarding views to admire and peaceful walks to enjoy.

Everyone knows about the Mt. Cammerer fire tower, but did you know there is another fire tower at the top of Mt. Sterling? If you are looking for a challenging day hike with a forest of old-growth trees and beautiful panoramic views, then you should check out this Smoky Mountain hike! Here is everything you need to know about hiking Baxter Creek Trail to Mt. Sterling:

Are you new to the Smokies or just looking for beginner-friendly hikes? Then you’re at the right place! We have everything you need to know about the best hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains for beginners: 

The changing leaves bring a unique experience to hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Plus, it’s not quite as hot, so you can enjoy your time in the mountains even more! Take a look at these top hikes for viewing Smoky Mountain fall colors:

Hiking in the Smoky Mountains offers peaceful solitude in one of the most glorious areas of nature– it’s no wonder that millions of people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year! There are hundreds of trails to discover, and if you’re looking for some quiet, tranquil forest and mountain air, the Curry Mountain Trail is one you should explore! Here’s everything you need to know about this underrated Smoky Mountain hiking trail:

Is hiking to the top of a mountain on your bucket list? If so, hiking to Thunderhead Mountain should be your goal– the views are unmatched and well worth the effort it takes to get there! It’s considered a strenuous hike, so it’s not necessarily beginner friendly. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about this day hike in the Smoky Mountains:

If you’re looking for a moderate day hike with beautiful views and plenty of wildflowers along the trail, you need to add Chestnut Top Trail to your hiking bucket list! Before you get out there to explore, here’s everything you need to know about hiking the Chestnut Top Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains:

The Smoky Mountains National Park attracts thousands of visitors each year to hike along the winding trails through the forests and mountains. But if you’re new to hiking or the area in general, knowing where to start can be overwhelming! We’ve got you covered with a beginner’s guide to hiking in the Smoky Mountains:

People love hiking to waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains. They’re beautiful no matter how big or small, and it’s a fantastic reward at the end of a hike. While seeing some of the most popular waterfalls can be fun, sometimes you want to get away from the crowds and enjoy nature itself. If you’re looking for that perfect Smoky Mountain hike with a waterfall that’s not too crowded, you should hike to Hen Wallow Falls!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is full of history. From moss-covered stone fireplaces to restored and maintained homesteads, you’ll find all kinds of unique history here. If you’re someone who loves history and wants to see what living in the Smokies would have been like, then you’ll want to see the Noah “Bud” Ogle cabin. This short hike will take you back to the pioneer days and into nature.