4 Hikes in the Smoky Mountains You Need to Explore

When you vacation in the Smoky Mountains, you will have hundreds of different hiking trails to choose from that are close to your cabin! From waterfalls to historical buildings, there is a trail that everyone in your family will enjoy! With so many different hikes to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down the list to some of the must see destinations for your trip. To make it easier, here are 4 hikes in the Smoky Mountains you need to explore:

1. Alum Cave Trail

With a round trip length of right at 5 miles, the Alum Cave Trail is filled with wonderful sights to see. Between the gorgeous mountain views and geological formations, this hike is one that you don’t want to miss. Of course, the highlight is the Alum Cave Bluffs. Right before you reach this part of the trail, you will come to a set of stone stairs that take you up to the peak! Once you are there, you will be greeted to an unbelievable view of the Smoky Mountains and some nice shade under the bluffs. If you want to continue your hike, you can keep going past Alum Cave to reach the summit of Mt. LeConte!

2. Meigs Creek Trail

If you love waterfalls, you will want to make the trip to see Meigs Falls. To get there, you can take Meigs Creek Trail. The total length of the trail is 6.5 miles, but the walk to the falls will only take you a couple of minutes! To get to the trailhead, you will drive 5.8 miles from the Townsend “Y.” From there, look for the stone steps where your adventure to Meigs Falls will begin. The trail features several water crossings so always be on the lookout for rising water, especially after heavy rainfall.

3. Porters Creek Trail

One of the most popular family hikes in the Smokies is Porters Creek Trail. This hike is great for all ages and skill levels because it is fairly short with very little elevation gain. Overall, the trail covers 4 miles and will take you to some incredible nature scenes and historical buildings. To reach the trailhead, travel east on Highway 321. You will be headed to the Greenbriar section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you will find Porters Creek Trail. To begin, you will travel through a mossy portion of the forest before coming to the leftover remnants of a farmstead owned by Elbert Centrell. Some other highlights of the hike include John Messer’s farm sight and Fern Branch Falls!

4. Middle Prong Trail

Middle Prong Trail is 8.3 miles long roundtrip and features plenty of historical sites, including remnants of the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company. Some of the other fascinating things to see on this hike include Lynn Camp Falls, plus leftover pieces from a classic Cadillac from around the 1920s or 30s. To reach the trailhead, travel along the Townsend “Y” for a little over 3 miles.

Now that you know about some of the most unique hikes in the Smoky Mountains, check out some of the other hiking trails in the Smokies to explore! We look forward to seeing you soon!