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Details
Distance
2.45 miles
Elevation Gain
400 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Features
Forest
Wildflowers
Waterfall
Scenic
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About this place
Added by Allison Herreid
Laurel Falls Trail is an easy hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Laurel Mountain and an 80-foot waterfall...no big deal! Go for sunrise or sunset to avoid the decent sized crowds, especially on the weekends.
This straightforward, yet scenic hike follows a paved trail to the falls, which is among the most popular in the park.
This trail can be especially crowded during the summer, so be sure to arrive early. Keep an eye out for a few steep drop-offs on either side of the trail along the way. There have also been black bear sightings in this area.
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Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
Community
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Kendon Hackworth
4/12/2023
5/10 Hike
Great, easy hike!
Lots of fun for our young family. The trail was super busy- I suggest getting there early to avoid bigger crowds.
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Emily Hickman
1/14/2023
quick and easy
super quick and easy hike, nice that it’s paved. pretty views of the mountains & great up close view of the water fall! went ...
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Kym Baldwin
5/1/2022
Laurel Falls Hike
This was a fun in and out hike we took in August of 2021. It was crowded but it was worth it
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Jared Beeler
9/9/2020
Nice short hike
This is a great hike regardless of the crowds.
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Natalie F
7/31/2020
Another great hike!
Another wonderful hike in GSMNP! Beautiful scenery. Easy hike!
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Lucas Bremer
Club
7/14/2020
My favorite in the park
GSMNP has so many Cascades and waterfalls, but this is my favorite. Mainly because of the “tiered” nature of these falls. You can splash ...
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Maggie Donohoo
4/9/2019
The perfect hike for families
Laurel Falls is a fun and easy hike for families, the elderly and those who want to see some decent views of the mountains ...
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Ashley Grier
8/7/2018
Loved it!
Loved this hike! We were new to hiking but overall a pretty active family. We had no trouble at all on this hike ...
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Jake Knisley
2/21/2018
Kid Friendly
Moderately trafficked, easy trail. Paved, as others have said. My advice would be to use the kid carrier for little ones instead of a ...
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Haley Clem
7/20/2017
Beautiful
To get to the falls it's a paved up hill climb and you can even hike passed the falls but that isn't paved. People ...
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Elyse Clark
4/25/2017
Nice Waterfall
As others have stated, the trail is easy, paved the whole way, and the climb is gradual. It is a crowded hike, but ...
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Ashley Sawyer
10/24/2016
Pit Stop
It was a nice little leg stretcher. Very easy, kid friendly
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Ashlyn Schaub
5/25/2016
Quick And Easy
Very easy trail. Paved the whole way until you get to the actual waterfall, but covered beautifully by the woods and steep edges of ...
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Allison Herreid
3/30/2016
Popular, Easy Hike
The paved trail and short distance makes this hike particularly attractive to visitors and thus the area is often crowded. Worth the stop -- ...
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Lisa Groene
1/18/2016
Beautiful hike! The falls are a must see.
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