Hi there!
So you’re off to see Abrams Falls that is one of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains!
This also means that you’ll be going to Cades Cove.
I started hiking at the Abrams Falls trailhead and here’s what you need to know, along with a bunch of my pictures!
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The Abrams Falls trailhead is located off of the Cades Cove Loop Road.
This means that it’s really not difficult to find the Abrams Falls trailhead.
The Cades Cove Loop Road is one of the most popular scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Basically, all you need to do to get to the trailhead is to get yourself driving in the direction of Cades Cove, and then follow the signs to Cades Cove.
Then keep driving to get onto Cades Cove Loop Road, and then continue driving until you see the sign for Abrams Falls Trail!
👆 Arrival at the Abrams Falls trailhead parking lot. Morning fog in Cades Cove is a thing!
On google maps, there is the Abrams Falls Trailhead so you can look for that to navigate you to the start of the Abrams Falls Trail.
You may want to download offline google maps before you go (it’s free), as you may not have signal in the park.
Otherwise, even without google maps, you will be able to get there just fine because again, once you’re in the park you’ll just follow the signs to Cades Cove, and then just start driving on the Cades Cove Loop Road. Google maps would be helpful to ease your mind so you’ll know when you’re getting closer.
Abrams Falls Trail is about halfway through the 11 mile Cades Cove loop.
Driving directly from Gatlinburg to the Abrams Falls Trail will be at minimum around 1 hour 15 minutes, if you don’t stop and if you don’t encounter a lot of traffic. But it will likely be a bit longer of a drive.
Also, you may have also heard of Little River Road. If you are driving from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove, you may want to take the scenic route to drive along Little River Road!
More below about the (likely) slow drive to the Abrams Falls trailhead!
⛰🐻
>> mountaintop ziplining
>> Best tours in Gatlinburg
>> Where to stay in Gatlinburg:
- Brookside Lodge
- Downtown Gatlinburg condo with fireplace and pool
So getting to the Abrams Falls trailhead parking is not difficult.
But that thing about encountering traffic. It’s VERY possible that you will encounter traffic on your way to the Abrams Falls trailhead! It’s possible that Little River Road might be a little slower, but that likely won’t be that much of an issue.
What can very much more likely slow you down in getting to the Abrams Falls Trailhead is once you get on the Cades Cove Loop Road. This is already a slow going one way road, but if people see wildlife, the road can basically come to a standstill. If a bear is spotted, you can expect traffic to completely STOP in front of you!
Similarly, when you are finished with the hike, finishing up the drive on Cades Cove Loop Road may be very slow.
I was staying at the Cades Cove Campground.
I got started on the Cades Cove Loop Road a few minutes after 8am, and it took nearly 40 minutes to drive straight to the Abrams Falls trailhead. There was one car that just didn’t move for a solid few minutes once they saw deer. This means you’re stuck behind any cars that decide to just stop in the middle of the road.
There are pullovers, but they aren’t always utilized.
That’s just the way it goes on the Cades Cove Loop Road! Bring your patience with you on the day you go to Abrams Falls!
Getting started on your drive to Cades Cove sooner rather than later could be better! You’ll also likely encounter less people on the trail by starting earlier, and you’ll also likely encounter less people at the waterfalls! I made it to the waterfalls a few minutes before 10am, and I think there were less than 5 people at the waterfalls. This was in early October 2020.
So once you have parked, you can walk over to the trailhead!
There is a bathroom at the Abrams Falls trailhead.
And then off you go on the trail!
And then once you’ve taken in the views of the waterfalls… you can head back to the Abrams Falls parking lot to drive back onto the Cades Cove Loop Road! Shortly after you get back on the road, you’ll pass by the Cades Cove Visitor Center (where you can pick up water if you didn’t pack enough). The visitor center is also right next to the historic mill of Cades Cove.
And then there will likely be more sitting in traffic to get out of Cades Cove. 😜
And finally…
There are days that you CANNOT drive to Abrams Falls Trail
It’s also important to note that the Cades Cove Loop Road has vehicle-free days. These are days that no cars are allowed on Cades Cove Loop Road.
The National Park Service has announced that for 2021, no cars will be allowed Wednesdays all day from May to early September:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are extending a pilot project in Cades Cove by continuing vehicle-free access on the Cades Cove Loop Road on Wednesdays from May 5 through September 1, 2021.
If there are no cars allowed on Cades Cove Loop Road, it means that you can’t drive to the Abrams Falls trailhead. So you can’t drive to Abrams Falls Trail on Wednesdays in the summer.
But, If you’re ready for a strenuous day, you can bike to Abrams Falls Trail! You can make it a bike and hike kind of day! Biking the Cades Cove Loop Road is a popular activity.
No matter what, it can be good to check the National Park Service website before you hike Abrams Falls to see if there are any road closures, and to check updated info on vehicle-free days.
And that’s a bit on how to get to the Abrams Falls trailhead!
See more about Cades Cove:
- Pictures from hiking the Abrams Falls Trail
- Biking the Cades Cove loop
- Walking the Cades Cove loop
- Historic John Oliver cabin in Cades Cove (you’ll drive by it on your way to Abrams Falls)
- Staying at Cades Cove Campground
- Things to do on the drive from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove
Plus see more of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains.
Along with more of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains that come with amazing views.
And lots more things to do in the Smoky Mountains.
HAPPY GETTING TO THE ABRAMS FALLS TRAILHEAD!
Here are more ideas for a few days in the Smoky Mountains!
More of the best things that the Smoky Mountains is known for is hiking!If you're looking for just one solid day hike in the Smoky Mountains, there's the Mount LeConte hike. Most often this is done as a day hike, but you can also stay overnight near the Mount LeConte summit! There is the LeConte Lodge, which claims to be the highest guest lodge in the eastern part of the United States! (It does book up!)
There are also lots more hikes that come with mountain views. See more about some of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
There are also a lot of hikes to waterfalls. See more about the best waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
You can also go camping in the mountains. See more about the best campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. (No showers in the national park, though!)
Cost to go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There is no national park entry fee for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but as of 2023, there is a parking fee.You'll need a parking pass when you go to the Smoky Mountains.
You can wait until you arrive to buy the parking pass, or you can buy it online before you go at recreation.gov.
Depending on how many days you will be in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the cost of parking will be $5 or $15 per vehicle.
Plan out your time in the Smoky Mountains!
Some of the best known things in Great Smoky Mountains National Park include Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!For Clingmans Dome, you can get great views from the parking lot, or you can hike up to the highest point in the Smoky Mountains! (No matter what, you do need weather on your side, though! For me, 3rd time was the charm at Clingmans Dome!) See more about Clingmans Dome.
For Cades Cove, it's all about the slow-going Cades Cove Loop Road! You can drive it, bike it, or walk it! You can make stops to walk inside historic cabins, see a historic mill, and even do a waterfall hike! See more about Cades Cove.
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is also a slow-going road that you drive and make stops along the way, including quiet stops along a creek or waterfalls hikes. See more about the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
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