The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a huge park in Tennessee and North Carolina full of hiking trails! The national park includes accessible trails for people in wheelchairs or for people with mobility concerns. Some of these accessible hiking trails are paved while the other trails are hard-packed gravel. Most of the accessible trails are relatively smooth without much elevation. Enjoy your time on the trails without concerns! Here are the top 4 accessible Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails:
1. Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail
The Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is an easy trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. This trail is the best fully accessible trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is an easy half-mile long. Enjoy the beautiful nature along this trail including trees, views of the water, and wildlife! The Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is quiet and is one of the best Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails for accessibility!
2. Cataract Falls ADA Route
The Cataract Falls ADA Route is one of the best Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails for accessibility. The trail is only 0.7 miles in length and is paved with cement and asphalt. There is a wooden bridge with railings and it takes about 20 minutes to travel the path. The trail is wide enough for people in wheelchairs and strollers to pass. At the end of the trail, you will find a beautiful waterfall, Cataract Falls! There are 6 accessible spaces in the paved parking lot near the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
3. Little River Trail
The Little River Trail is a 4.9-mile round-trip trail near the Elkmont Campground. What is unique about this trail is that it follows an old logging road from the early 1900s. Little River Trail is not as accessible as the Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail, but someone with a powered wheelchair can make their way on this hard-packed gravel trail. There are accessible parking spots at the trail entrance and it is relatively smooth. Enjoy the stream to the side of the trail and nature! Those with mobility issues can sit along the benches spread out on the trail if they wish. Have a fun time on the Little River Trail!
4. John Oliver Accessible Trail
The John Oliver Accessible Trail is a recent addition to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In order to make the national park more accessible, there are new Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails in the works. Find the John Oliver Accessible trail in Cades Cove. This trail is about a half mile, paved, and 8 feet wide! It takes you right up to the John Oliver Cabin, a historic cabin built in the early 1820s. Experience the beautiful views of the mountains, fields, and wildlife along the trail!
You just learned the top 4 accessible Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails. Are you interested in learning more about the new John Oliver Accessible Trail in the Smoky Mountains? Here is your guide to hiking to John Oliver Cabin in Cades Cove. Have fun on the trails!
