27 Places
Easy Hikes & Nature Walks
Not every hike has to be a challenge. These easy trails and nature walks are perfect for families, beginners, or anyone who wants scenery without the sweat.
Bryson City, NC
Indian Creek Falls Trail
Hike to two waterfalls on Deep Creek
Cherokee, NC
Oconaluftee River Trail
Paved 3-mile trail along scenic river
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Little River Trail
Scenic 12.4-mile river trail
Gatlinburg
Noah Bud Ogle Nature Trail
Historic homestead with easy trail
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Chasteen Creek Cascade Trail
Easy 3.6-mile hike to waterfalls
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Fighting Creek Nature Trail
Gentle 1-mile trail near visitor center
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Metcalf Bottoms Trail
Historic 0.7-mile trail from picnic area
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Kephart Prong Trail
Easy 4-mile trail to CCC remains
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Middle Prong Trail
Easy 4.1-mile streamside hike
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Smokemont Loop Trail
Easy 6.1-mile forest loop trail
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Cucumber Gap Loop Trail
Easy 5.5-mile loop with waterfalls
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Elkmont Nature Trail
Historic area loop, family-friendly
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Albright Grove Loop
Old-growth forest hike loop
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Kanati Fork Trail
Trail from Gap to Divide
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Crib Gap Trail
Trail from Anthony Creek to Turkeypen
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Schoolhouse Gap Trail
Gentle 4.4-mile family trail
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Gold Mine Trail
Hiking trail to Cane Creek
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Juney Whank Falls Trail
Waterfall near Deep Creek
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Tunnel Bypass Trail
Short trail bypass around road tunnel
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Cooper Road Trail
Historic road to Hatcher Mountain
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Bradley Fork Trail
Streamside trail from Smokemont
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Goldmine Loop Trail
Loop trail with Tunnel Bypass
Great Smoky Mountains NP
West Prong Trail
Trail from Tremont to Bote Mountain
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Grassy Branch Trail
Trail connecting to Dry Sluice
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Finley Cane Trail
Easy trail from Turkeypen to Lead
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail
Trail between Scott and Rich Mtn
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Cabin Flats Trail
Short connector from Dry Sluice
What to Know
Best Seasons
Open year round. Spring and fall are the most comfortable, summer stays cool under the canopy and along the rivers, and mild winter days are quiet and beautiful. A few paved trails stay walkable even after light snow.
What to Bring
Comfortable closed shoes, water, and a light layer. A stroller works on the paved nature trails but not the dirt ones, so check the surface first. Bug spray helps near the water in summer.
Finding the Right Easy Walk
For Families with Small Children
Start with the Deep Creek loop or a paved nature trail. The distances are short, the footing is forgiving, and there is water to splash in along the way. Kids stay engaged without getting worn out.
For a Gentle Morning Outdoors
The river walks like the Oconaluftee and the quiet walkways give you the sound of moving water and a flat, easy path. They are ideal for a slow start to the day or an after dinner stroll.
For Accessibility
If anyone in your group needs a hard, level surface, choose the paved options near Sugarlands and the Gatlinburg Trail. They open the forest to walkers who cannot manage rough ground.
Tips and Getting There
Insider Tips
- If you want a waterfall without a hard climb, Juney Whank Falls and the Deep Creek loop deliver the payoff with minimal effort.
- The paved nature trails near Sugarlands and the Gatlinburg Trail are the most stroller and wheelchair friendly options in the park.
- These trails are short, so stack two or three in one outing and pack a picnic to make a relaxed half day of it.
Getting There and Parking
Most of these trailheads are inside the national park near the Sugarlands entrance south of Gatlinburg, with a few on the Deep Creek and Cherokee side. A parking tag is required for stops over fifteen minutes. The lots are small, so arrive early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How easy are these hikes really?
Are any of these stroller or wheelchair friendly?
Can we see a waterfall on an easy hike?
Do we need a parking pass?
Are dogs allowed?
When should we go to avoid crowds?
Vantage Stays · Smoky Mountain Guide
Easy Hikes & Nature Walks
Easy hikes in the Smoky Mountains. Short, family-friendly trails and nature walks for beginners in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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hours & details
What to Know
Best Seasons
Open year round. Spring and fall are the most comfortable, summer stays cool under the canopy and along the rivers, and mild winter days are quiet and beautiful. A few paved trails stay walkable even after light snow.
What to Bring
Comfortable closed shoes, water, and a light layer. A stroller works on the paved nature trails but not the dirt ones, so check the surface first. Bug spray helps near the water in summer.
The Checklist
| Place | Rating | Hours | Phone | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryson City, NC | |||||
| Indian Creek Falls Trail | 4.5 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Deep Creek, Bryson City, NC | ||
| Cherokee, NC | |||||
| Oconaluftee River Trail | 4.5 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Cherokee, NC | ||
| Gatlinburg | |||||
| Noah Bud Ogle Nature Trail | 4.6 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Cherokee Orchard Road, Gatlinburg, TN | ||
| Great Smoky Mountains NP | |||||
| Little River Trail | 4.6 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Chasteen Creek Cascade Trail | 4.5 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Smokemont Area, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Fighting Creek Nature Trail | 4.4 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Metcalf Bottoms Trail | 4.5 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Metcalf Bottoms, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Kephart Prong Trail | 4.4 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Middle Prong Trail | 4.5 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Tremont, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Smokemont Loop Trail | 4.4 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Smokemont, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Cucumber Gap Loop Trail | 4.5 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Elkmont Nature Trail | 4.3 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Albright Grove Loop | 4.532233040290432 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Kanati Fork Trail | 4.6287096586158745 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Crib Gap Trail | 4.565400326305724 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Schoolhouse Gap Trail | 4.3 ★ | Sunrise to Sunset | Townsend Area, Great Smoky Mountains NP | ||
| Gold Mine Trail | 4.73347003832755 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Juney Whank Falls Trail | 4.664500499566519 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Tunnel Bypass Trail | 4.661871417515115 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Cooper Road Trail | 4.672013446104068 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Bradley Fork Trail | 4.692239315341487 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Goldmine Loop Trail | 4.578588075426136 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| West Prong Trail | 4.856791243495768 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Grassy Branch Trail | 4.631630894104788 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Finley Cane Trail | 4.61849201928752 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Crooked Arm Ridge Trail | 4.771015333154474 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
| Cabin Flats Trail | 4.841636278198956 ★ | Sunrise to sunset | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ||
Picking the Right One for Your Group
For Families with Small Children
Start with the Deep Creek loop or a paved nature trail. The distances are short, the footing is forgiving, and there is water to splash in along the way. Kids stay engaged without getting worn out.
For a Gentle Morning Outdoors
The river walks like the Oconaluftee and the quiet walkways give you the sound of moving water and a flat, easy path. They are ideal for a slow start to the day or an after dinner stroll.
For Accessibility
If anyone in your group needs a hard, level surface, choose the paved options near Sugarlands and the Gatlinburg Trail. They open the forest to walkers who cannot manage rough ground.
Insider Tips
- If you want a waterfall without a hard climb, Juney Whank Falls and the Deep Creek loop deliver the payoff with minimal effort.
- The paved nature trails near Sugarlands and the Gatlinburg Trail are the most stroller and wheelchair friendly options in the park.
- These trails are short, so stack two or three in one outing and pack a picnic to make a relaxed half day of it.