We are a family who loves adventure and traveling which is why we are going to tell you all about our Top 3 Hiking Trails for families in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Being in nature speaks to our soul and is the place where we are truly the happiest. Raising our kids to appreciate the natural beauty of this earth is so important to us. To find out more about us click here.
Smoky Mountain National Park has been on our bucket list for several years now, so to say we were excited to see this beautiful part of the country was an understatement.
On the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, the gorgeous Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most visited national park.
During our visit we looked for the best hiking trails for families and we listed our top 3 below.
Cades Cove Scenic Loop and Abrams Falls
This beautiful broad valley is surrounded by mountains and is a great location for family photos, scenic views and animal sightings.
We drove through the scenic loop which is about 11 miles in length. I would recommend getting there early as this scenic drive gets busy fast.
During our time here we stopped to take photos of this unbelievable spot and this is also where we spotted mama bear and her 3 cubs.
There is a vehicle free day where you can rent a bike or enjoy by foot without the worry of vehicles passing you as you explore. Vehicle-free day is Wednesday all day from May 3 to September 27, 2023.
Our main reason for visiting the Cades Cove loop was to see Abrams Falls.
Abrams Falls is a 20-foot waterfall with a picturesque deep pool at its base. The trail to the falls is 5 miles round trip with inclines and declines. It’s considered moderate in difficulty.
This hike was probably the longest we’ve done with our children. They made it to the falls just fine, however the trip back the kids did need to be carried up some of the inclines because they were getting tired, but we were ok with it since the view of the falls was definitely worth it.
We recommend bringing lots of water and snacks for this hike as well as sturdy hiking shoes as there are rocks and some unsteady ground.
Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls was by far our favorite hike. It’s the only location in the Great Smoky Mountains that you can actually walk behind a gorgeous 25-foot waterfall.
Grotto Falls on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a beautiful up hill hike that’s full of lush green vegetation and mountain streams. It’s a 2.6 mile round trip hike to the falls, so it’s perfect for families with little kids.
The moist environment around the falls is perfect for a cool summer hike. Plus, walking behind a waterfall is like none other and should not be missed.
Like I said earlier, the hike to the falls is up hill so that means on the way back the trail is mostly down hill. We highly recommend sturdy hiking shoes as it is rocky in spots and can get a bit slick. Parking for this location is also very limited so we recommend getting there early.
Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations around the park. You can follow the paved Laurel Falls Trail to this beautiful waterfall.
The waterfall consists of two parts; an upper and lower section that is divided by a bridge that crosses the stream at the base of the upper waterfall.
This 80-foot high waterfall is surrounded by gorgeous greenery and rock walls.
The round trip distance to the falls is 2.6 miles and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. This hike took us about 2 hours to hike. That is including rest and snacks at the falls and stops along the trail to let the kids explore.
This trail is paved for a large portion of the hike, however it is uneven. There are portions of the trails with steep drop-offs so make sure to monitor your children during the hike.
We do recommend sturdy hiking shoes with this hike as the terrain is rocky around the falls as well as uneven and slippery along the trail.
If you’re traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains soon, I would highly recommend these 3 trails for families with younger children. The trails are gorgeous and definitely doable. And, don’t forget to take your photo in front of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sign for you memory book.