Gatlinburg TrailEasy
Distance (One Way)
Elevation Gain
Trailhead
Location
Trail Description
The Gatlinburg Trail is an easy, accessible trail that runs from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and follows the river to the border of Gatlinburg. It is one of the only two dog-friendly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bikes are also allowed on this popular trail.
Parking for the Gatlinburg Trail can be found at either the Sugarlands Visitor Center or in a small parking area on River Road. The trail can be hiked in either direction and offers visitors easy terrain with beautiful river views. This trail is perfect for those with little ones who might want to explore the river or older guests that might not be as mobile as they once were. This trail is also ideal for trails runners as it is a quick out and back with rolling hills through the National Park.
Notable sights along the trail include remnants of an old homestead and rock structures, a bridge that goes over the river that is a lovely photo-op, small burn scars on the landscape from the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires, the historic park headquarters, and the trailhead to Cataract Falls. Cataract Falls is an easy waterfall hike near the Sugarlands Visitor Center that is kid-friendly and short.
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Trail Difficulty Scales Explained
Elevation Grade
2%
Fairly Flat
Paul Petzoldt Scale
2.2
Easy
5
10
15
Shenandoah Scale
25
Easiest
50
100
150
Photo Gallery
Trail Map
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- 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)
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- 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.
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