Family-Friendly Waterfall hike in Great Smokies - Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls is one of the most popular trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is a 2.6-mile round-trip hike with a difficulty level of easy to moderate and an elevation gain of around 400 ft. The trail starts on Little River Road near to Sugar Land Visitor Center. Please check the park website for the status, as it is closed in 2025 and is planned to reopen in 2026.

Trail Details:

60-foot Waterfall 

Distance: 2.6 miles (round trip)

Elevation: Around 500 ft

Difficulty level - Easy to Moderate

Time duration - around 2 hrs

The Hike:

This is a recommended family hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike doesn't have much elevation and is completely paved except for a few areas. The upper falls are fantastic to dip our toes in the water. You need to do some rock scrambling to reach the lower falls, but it is worth it.

We visited in winter, but the trail is well-maintained, and there is no snow at all. 

Getting parking at the trailhead might be a little tough. We reached there around 1pm, and so, we could get parking.

The hike is mostly easy and flat. The upper falls are great, but in winter, the flow is average. It looks great during other seasons. To reach the lower falls, carefully climb down a few rocks, and it might be slippery in a few places. But the view from the lower falls is worth it. 

We might have reached back in 2 hrs after having snacks while watching the waterfall.

To read more about other hikes and places to see in the Great Smoky Mountains, check this post. 

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Until next time,