Hiking / Intermediate

Moderate Hikes in the Smokies

The sweet spot of Smokies hiking. These trails ask for some effort and a bit of climbing, then pay you back with waterfalls, old growth forest, and views you cannot reach from the road.

Plan Your Visit

What to Know

Best Seasons

Best from spring through fall. Spring brings high water and wildflowers, summer stays shaded and cool at elevation, and fall is the peak for color. Higher trails can hold ice into early spring, so check conditions in the cold months.

What to Bring

Broken in hiking shoes, layers, at least two liters of water per person, and a snack. Trekking poles help on the longer descents. Download the trail map, since there is no cell service once you are in the park.

How to Choose

Find the Right Fit

Read the Climb

A moderate hike here usually means three to six miles with a few hundred feet of steady climbing. Look at the elevation gain, not just the mileage, when you judge the effort.

Time Your Day

Give yourself two to four hours plus stops. Start in the morning so afternoon thunderstorms and fading light do not catch you on the way down.

Pick Your Payoff

Some of these end at a waterfall, some at a quiet loop through historic forest, and some at a ridge view. Choose the reward that fits the mood of your group.

Insider Knowledge

Tips and Getting There

Insider Tips

Laurel Falls and Abrams Falls are the crowd favorites for good reason, but their lots fill early. Arrive before nine or save them for a weekday.
On loop trails like Cucumber Gap and Rich Mountain, walk the loop clockwise so the steeper section is your climb and the gentler grade is your descent.
Carry more water than feels necessary. The climbs work up a sweat even in cool weather, and there is no safe water to refill from on most of these routes.

Getting There and Parking

These trailheads are spread across the park, with clusters near Elkmont, Cades Cove, and the Gatlinburg entrance. A parking tag is required for stops over fifteen minutes. The popular lots fill by midmorning, so go early or have a second trail in mind.

Who Is This For

Choosing the Right Moderate Hike

For a Waterfall Reward

Laurel Falls, Abrams Falls, and the Grotto Falls route all end at moving water. They are the most rewarding moderate hikes for first timers because the destination is unmistakable and worth the climb.

For History and Quiet

The Elkmont and Cades Cove area loops pass old homesites, stone chimneys, and quiet hardwood forest. They trade a single big view for a steady sense of the people who lived here.

For Building Toward Bigger Hikes

If you are working up to the strenuous summit trails, these moderate routes are the right training ground. They teach you how your group handles sustained climbing before you commit to a hard day.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a hike moderate here?

Generally three to six miles round trip with a few hundred feet of steady elevation gain. You will work and may want to rest, but no scrambling or exposure is involved.

Which moderate hike is best for a first timer?

Laurel Falls is paved and popular, and Abrams Falls in Cades Cove is a classic. Both end at a waterfall, which makes the effort feel worthwhile.

How long should I budget?

Plan two to four hours including stops and photos. Start in the morning so you are off the trail before afternoon storms or fading light.

Do I need a parking pass?

Yes. The park requires a paid parking tag for stops over fifteen minutes. There is no entrance fee. Buy a tag online or at a visitor center before you go.

Are these hikes safe in summer heat?

Most stay shaded under the forest canopy, which keeps them cooler than open trails. Carry plenty of water, start early, and pace the climbs.

Can children do these trails?

Many older children handle moderate hikes well, especially the waterfall routes that give them a goal. Judge by your child's stamina and pick the shorter options first.

Moderate Hikes in the Smokies

What to Know

Best Seasons

What to Bring

Find the Right Fit

Read the Climb

Time Your Day

Pick Your Payoff

9 Options Across the Smokies

Laurel Falls Trail

Abrams Falls Trail

Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls

Rainbow Falls - 80 Feet with Rainbows!

Hen Wallow Falls Trail

Rich Mountain Loop Trail

Chasteen Creek Cascade Trail

Smokemont Loop Trail

Cucumber Gap Loop Trail

Where to Go

Tips and Getting There

Choosing the Right Moderate Hike

For a Waterfall Reward

For History and Quiet

For Building Toward Bigger Hikes

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a hike moderate here?

Which moderate hike is best for a first timer?

How long should I budget?

Do I need a parking pass?

Are these hikes safe in summer heat?

Can children do these trails?

Rest and Recover in a Mountain Cabin

Moderate Hikes in the Smokies

What to Know

Best Seasons

What to Bring

Find the Right Fit

Read the Climb

Time Your Day

Pick Your Payoff

9 Options Across the Smokies

Laurel Falls Trail

Abrams Falls Trail

Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls

Rainbow Falls - 80 Feet with Rainbows!

Hen Wallow Falls Trail

Rich Mountain Loop Trail

Chasteen Creek Cascade Trail

Smokemont Loop Trail

Cucumber Gap Loop Trail

Where to Go

Tips and Getting There

Choosing the Right Moderate Hike

For a Waterfall Reward

For History and Quiet

For Building Toward Bigger Hikes

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a hike moderate here?

Which moderate hike is best for a first timer?

How long should I budget?

Do I need a parking pass?

Are these hikes safe in summer heat?

Can children do these trails?

Rest and Recover in a Mountain Cabin

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