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Laurel Falls TrailEasy

Fighting Creek Gap Rd. / Gatlinburg, TN

Easy

Distance

4.0 miles

Elevation Gain

396 feet

Trailhead

Fighting Creek Gap Rd.

Location

Gatlinburg, TN

Trail Description Written by Caroline Sullivan

Laurel Falls Trail is a popular short out-and-back hike to an 80 foot waterfall. It is widely considered to be one of the best waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains. From the trailhead at Fighting Creek Gap Road, the distance to the waterfall is 1.3 miles.

The waterfall at the end of the trail is named after a Smoky Mountain plant called mountain laurel, a shrub with pretty blooms you can see near the falls during the month of May.

It takes about 2 hours to hike to the waterfall and back. This trail tends to be highly trafficked and parking at the trailhead can be difficult. The trail is paved but quite rough in some sections.

#bears
#gatlinburg
#kid friendly
#out & back
#paved
#river
#waterfall
#wildflowers
#wildlife
#easy
#gatlinburg tn

Trail Difficulty Scales Explained

Elevation Grade

2%

Fairly Flat

Paul Petzoldt Scale

4.8

Easy

5

10

15

Shenandoah Scale

56

Moderate

50

100

150

Photo Gallery (8)

Trail Map

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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 [email protected].

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