Abrams Falls TrailModerate
Distance (One Way)
Elevation Gain
Trailhead
Location
Trail Description
Abrams Falls Trail is an easy to moderate hike near Townsend, TN and is a 4.2 mile trip one way with an average elevation gain of 260 feet per mile. The trailhead is located off of the 11-mile loop in Cades Cove. One of the most popular Smoky Mountains hiking trails in the park, the hike follows Abrams Creek and passes by Abrams Falls.
It takes about 3-4 hours to hike to the waterfall and back. The trail to the falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek.
Due to the length and terrain of Abrams Falls Trail, some visitors may rate the hike as more difficult than moderate. Definitely do not attempt the hike in sandals or flip flops; there are many rocky areas and at least 3 narrow log bridges to cross. It is also worth noting that if you begin your hike late in the afternoon, you may have to return in the dark.
[+ Read More]
Trail Difficulty Scales Explained
Elevation Grade
3%
Fairly Flat
Paul Petzoldt Scale
5.6
Moderate
5
10
15
Shenandoah Scale
75
Moderate
50
100
150
Hiker Tips & Trivia
- Make the trip early and be aware that both the trail and the waterfall area can get very crowded due to the hike's popularity.
- The waterfall's pool has a strong current and undertow that is not suitable for swimming.
Photo Gallery
Trail Map
Read More
More Hikes
Lumber Ridge Trail
Lumber Ridge Trail starts in the same place as the unofficial Spruce Flats Falls trail and can be hiked in a loop back d...
Mt. Cammerer Trail via Low Gap + AT
The 11.2 mile roundtrip hike to Mt. Cammerer via Low Gap Trail and the AT is the most popular and shortest route to reac...
Porters Creek Trail (Fern Branch Falls)
Porters Creek Trail is a 3.7 mile hike from Greenbrier Cove just east of Mount LeConte. The trail is famous for wildflow...
Cove Mountain Trail
Cove Mountain Trail is a popular hike in Gatlinburg. From the Sugarlands Visitor Center, Cataract Falls, a designated lo...
- Abrams Falls Trail (4.2 mi)
- Alum Cave Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5 mi)
- Andrews Bald via Forney Ridge Trail (1.8 mi)
- Anthony Creek Trail (3.5 mi)
- Appalachian Trail Smoky Mountains Segment (71.7 mi)
- Baskins Creek Trail (2.7 mi)
- Baxter Creek Trail (Mt. Sterling) (6.6 mi)
- Big Creek Trail (Mouse Creek Falls, Midnight Hole) (5.8 mi)
- Bote Mountain Trail (6.6 mi)
- Boulevard Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5.4 mi)
- Bradley Fork Trail (7.3 mi)
- Brushy Mountain Trail (Mt. LeConte) (4.9 mi)
- Bullhead Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5.9 mi)
- Cataract Falls (Fighting Creek, Cove Mountain Trail) (0.5 mi)
- Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail (4.2 mi)
- Charlies Bunion via Kephart Prong Loop (14.2 mi)
- Chestnut Top Trail (4.3 mi)
- Chimney Tops Trail (2 mi)
- Clingmans Dome Trail (0.6 mi)
- Cove Mountain Trail (8.5 mi)
- Cucumber Gap Trail (2.4 mi)
- Dry Sluice Gap Trail (4.2 mi)
- Eagle Creek Trail (8.9 mi)
- Elkmont Nature Trail (0.8 mi)
- Forney Ridge Trail (5.4 mi)
- Gabes Mountain Trail (Hen Wallow Falls) (6.6 mi)
- Gatlinburg Trail (1.9 mi)
- Grapeyard Ridge Trail (7.6 mi)
- Gregory Bald Trail (Gregory Bald) (7.3 mi)
- Gregory Ridge Trail (Gregory Bald) (5 mi)
- Grotto Falls (Trillium Gap Trail) (1.4 mi)
- Huskey Gap Trail (4.1 mi)
- Jakes Creek Trail (3.3 mi)
- Kephart Prong Trail (2 mi)
- Laurel Falls Trail (4 mi)
- Little Greenbrier Trail (4.3 mi)
- Little River Trail (6.1 mi)
- Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail (7.4 mi)
- Lumber Ridge Trail (4.1 mi)
- Lynn Camp Prong Trail (3.7 mi)
- Maddron Bald Trail (Albright Grove) (7.3 mi)
- Meigs Creek Trail (3.5 mi)
- Meigs Mountain Trail (6 mi)
- Middle Prong Trail (Indian Flat Falls) (4.1 mi)
- Miry Ridge Trail (5 mi)
- Mt. Cammerer Trail via Low Gap + AT (5.6 mi)
- Mt. Sterling Ridge Trail (5.3 mi)
- Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome (7.7 mi)
- Noland Creek Trail (9.2 mi)
- Old Settlers Trail (15.8 mi)
- Old Sugarlands Trail (3.9 mi)
- Panther Creek Trail (2.3 mi)
- Porters Creek Trail (Fern Branch Falls) (3.7 mi)
- Rainbow Falls Trail (Mt. LeConte) (6.5 mi)
- Ramsey Cascades Trail (4 mi)
- Rich Mountain Loop (8.7 mi)
- Russell Field Trail (3.5 mi)
- Spence/Russell Field Loop (13.2 mi)
- Spruce Flats Falls Trail (Buckeye) (1.8 mi)
- Swallow Fork Trail (4 mi)
- Sweat Heifer Creek Trail (3.7 mi)
- Thunderhead Mountain (Rocky Top) (6.6 mi)
- Trillium Gap Trail (Grotto Falls, Mt. LeConte) (8.9 mi)
The above list of hiking trails in the Smokies is incomplete and constantly being updated. If you have information or photos you would like to contribute, please contact caroline@pigeonforge.com.
;){kind=link}