Top Six Hiking Trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

With each season, you’ll experience a new and magical side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether popping with wildflowers in the springtime or exuding the most vivid shades of oranges and reds in September and October, you can embark on the same hikes year-round and always be left mesmerized by a different perspective.

The most visited national park in the United States, recent years have seen over 14 million annual visitors, with hiking being a quintessential experience. While a drive along scenic routes will inspire, hikes in the Smoky Mountains get you up close and personal with caves, wildlife (just don’t get too close to the black bears) and unique geological features.

There are 150 trails within the park, each offering varying degrees of difficulty, scenery, and resources. Amid all the options, here are our top six hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

1. Mt. Sterling via Baxter Creek Trail

Best hike for hiking pros
11.7 miles (18.8 km) roundtrip, 8-9 hours, strenuous

Soaring 5,842 feet, climbing this North Carolina mountain is considered one of the top experiences within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To access the deep forest-filled Baxter Creek Trail, head to the Big Creek Ranger Station. From there, it is an unrelenting steady climb, where you’ll traverse a steel footbridge and pass a variety of towering champion trees—some of the largest in the park.

At the top of Mt. Sterling, you’ll find a nearly 90-year-old fire tower that was once utilized to keep watch over the vast forest below. Fun fact: it has the highest elevation of any fire tower left standing in the eastern United States. And, yes, you can climb in it. It makes the perfect spot to enjoy whatever meal you’ve packed.

2. Low Gap Trail to Mount Cammerer

Best hike for panoramic mountain vistas
11.5 miles (18.6 km) roundtrip, 7-8 hours, strenuous

Experience rigid switchbacks, towering hardwoods, and a stretch of the Appalachian Trail on this strenuous hike that offers an abundance of Smoky beauty packed into a single experience. The Low Gap Trail itself is situated near the park’s northeast corner. Count on traversing dirt-meets-rock ridges and valleys during this 3,000-foot-plus jaunt.

The final half-mile is steep and strenuous but worth the effort. At the peak of the trail is a historic stone fire tower dating back to the 1930s. From the octagonal tower, you can see the Big Creek hydro-electric plant, Mount Sterling, Snowbird Mountain, and various smaller peaks.

3. Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte

Best hike for taking in the Smoky Mountains landscapes
11 miles (17.7 km) roundtrip, 7-8 hours, moderately strenuous

Arguably the most popular day hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this easy-to-find trail has it all. Starting just off a large parking lot approximately seven miles south, you’ll pass under Arch Rock en route to Inspiration Point, which absolutely lives up to its name with vistas of Little Duck Hawk Ridge and beyond. And yes, there is a cave—Alum Cave itself makes for a nice reprieve and photo op.

4. Davenport Gap to Max Patch Road

Best hike for an overnight adventure
13.2 miles (21.2 km) one-way, 2-3 days, moderately strenuous

This lengthy and challenging hike offers a weekend adventure filled with scenic beauty. Among the highlights, you’ll trek up more than 2,500 feet of Snowbird Mountain, navigate towering stone stairs, duck below lengthy lines of canopy trees, and coast through flat meadows. It has it all.

5. Laurel Falls Trail

Best hike for families
2.4 miles (3.9 km) roundtrip, 1-2 hours, easy

With a trailhead that’s less than four miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center, this asphalt trail is easy to access and navigate. Once you park, it’s a steady, winding climb surrounded by rocky terrain. At the end of the hike is a cement bridge splitting two unique falls, making it an ideal spot for family photos.

6. Gatlinburg Trail

Best hike to bring your dog or bicycle
1.9 miles (3.1 km) one-way, 1 hour, easy

While dogs are generally not allowed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, they can accompany you on two designated walking paths, including Gatlinburg Trail. This easy hike features a pedestrian footbridge and remains of historic homesites, ensuring an entertaining experience for both you and your furry friend.