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Wondrous Waterfalls

Hike through the Great Smoky Mountains to breathtaking waterfalls

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Backroad Portfolio
Mar 27, 2025
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Cataract Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains. Photo courtesy of PT Hamilton - Stock.Adobe.com.

Inspired by a Wandering Smoky Mountains article, we’re hiking to scenic waterfalls located throughout the Great Smoky Mountains. They’re beautiful any time of year.

Home base is Gatlinburg. From there, you can hike trails lined with lustrous vegetation to spectacular waterfalls. Book an overnight stay in Gatlinburg so you can fully enjoy the experience. Further down, paid subscribers can read about waterfalls a little further away that are worth a hike.

We’ve chosen Baymont by Wyndham Gatlinburg as the starting point to all trails for the purpose of providing distance estimates, but Gatlinburg offers plenty of other accommodations. Discover where at gatlinburg.com/places-to-stay/hotels-and-motels.

The Baymont by Wyndham Gatlinburg is situated on the west prong of the Little Pigeon River. Rooms on that side of the hotel include balconies so you can enjoy the relaxing sounds and view of the water as it trickles by.

Free subscribers: Upgrade to become a Voyager or Explorer for access to the full itinerary, plus a bonus section offering additional hikes a little further out.

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