happyly approved

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls Trailhead, Old State Highway 73 Scenic, Sevierville, TN, USA

Daylight

$$

hikes

Laurel Falls is right inside the Great Smoky Mountain Park border and it's a great hike for all ages and levels.  It's "easy" and about a 1.2 mile in and a 1.2 mile out, making it a roughly ~2.5 mile hike in / out.  It features lovely woods, scenic vistas, and the destination is the falls.  My family went the first weekend in November and we needed jackets, but it was nice and crisp and only ~400 in elevation on the way in.  My 5 year old daughter was fine, but we had to intermiddently carry my 3.5 year old (on a @piggybackrider).  The foliage in November was stunning, making the trail a bit crowded.  The trail looks paved at the beginning but the cement is quite worn and is not safe for wheelchairs, strollers, etc. so beware.  The ridges can get a bit steep at times, so make sure children hike on the side of the path away from the ridge and hold their hands, especially close to the falls.

The hike to Laurel Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains begins from Fighting Creek Gap on Little River Road, located 3.8 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg. The main parking lot for Laurel Falls will be on your right, with additional parking across the street.  From the Townsend "Y" intersection near Cades Cove, the Laurel Falls is 13.7 miles away.

GPS: 35.67208; - 83.58068; 

Features

Good for All Ages Hiking Trails Waterfall
Thoughtfully captured by:
Emily O'Grady
Emily O'Grady lives with her daughters Eloise (5) and Charlie (3.5), husband Mick, and their two senior dogs Porter and Francie, in Nashville. They’ve called Music City home for 7 years this September. After Emily and Mick met in New Zealand over 15 years ago, they’ve hiked and backpacked extensively across the globe for months at a time. In their new roles as parents, they’ve hit pause on their most extreme adventures for now, but they are consciously raising their daughters to love and appreciate nature, getting outside and exploring as much as they can in the hills of Tennessee and beyond. During the weekdays, you can find Emily leading teams across Asurion’s Product Development team, bringing the company’s service strategy to life across carrier clients. Before joining Asurion, Emily was an Engagement Manager for McKinsey & Company for 4 years, as well as held Analyst roles with Telephia (Nielsen) and Bank of America Global Corporate and Investment Bank. Emily holds a BBA in Finance, French and European Studies from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.
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