Hi there!
So you’re off to hike the Laurel Falls Trail to see is one of the great waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains!
The Laurel Falls trailhead is located directly along Fighting Creek Gap Road.
This is a main road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I did the hike to Laurel Falls in September. What the weather will be like from year to year can vary (which means the colors can vary!), but this is what it was like for me!
The Laurel Falls Trail is a hiking trail near Gatlinburg that can be accessed from one of the main roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park called Fighting Creek Gap Road.
You may end up on this road naturally if you’re doing a scenic drive through a park to go from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove.
Because the trailhead is located directly along Fighting Creek Gap Road, this means that it’s really not difficult to find the Laurel Falls trailhead.
Fighting Creek Gap Road is one of the roads you can take directly from Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Basically, all you need to do to get to the trailhead is to get yourself to Sugarlands Visitor Center and then take the road that goes west to get onto Fighting Creek Gap Road!
From there, you can look out for the Laurel Falls sign! You will first pass by Maloney Point.
👆 Maloney Point.
On google maps, there is the Laurel Falls Trailhead. You’ll see the Laurel Falls Trail on one side of the road, and the Sugar Mountain Trail on the other side of the road.
You may want to download offline google maps before you go (it’s free), as you may not have signal in the park.
But even if you can’t get online when you’re driving in the park, as long as you can get on Fight Creek Gap Road, you will be able to find the Laurel Falls trailhead just fine, because there is a sign indicating you’re approaching the Laurel Falls parking area.
Google maps would be helpful to ease your mind so you’ll know when you’re getting closer.
Driving directly from Gatlinburg to the Laurel Falls Trail might be around 10 minutes, if you don’t stop and if you don’t encounter a lot of traffic. If you have plans to go to Cades Cove, Laurel Falls can be found along the way, on the drive from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove.
Elkmont Campground to Laurel Falls Trail is about a 10 minute drive, or less.
More below on getting to the Laurel Falls trailhead!
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Here is a quick list of places to stay for your Tennessee North Carolina road trip, and you can read the reviews at partner website booking.com.
- Sevierville: Serenity, A Rustic Log Cabin Retreat
- Gatlinburg on a budget: Marshall's Creek Rest Motel or River Edge Inn or Gatlinburg Mountain Inn
- Gatlinburg resort: Embassy Suites By Hilton Gatlinburg Resort
- More in Gatlinburg: Greystone Lodge on the River
- Asheville: Princess Anne Boutique Hotel
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So getting to the Laurel Falls Trail is not difficult. But parking may be!
My hike to Laurel Falls was a few years ago, and things may have changed since then.
The Lauren Falls trailhead has gone through some trials and experiments.
At one point, you needed a reservation (and pay $14) in order to park at the Laurel Falls trailhead.
That seems to have gone away, but the National Park Service may try other such experiments with the parking in an effort to reduce traffic and congestion in the area.
But here is what the Laurel Falls trailhead area was like when I went.
There is a parking lot right near the trailhead, but it is VERY possible that it will be full when you go. This is a popular Smoky Mountains waterfall hike.
Basically, to lower your expectations, it may be best to think of your Laurel Falls Trail as being a 5-10 minute longer hike than you originally thought. That may be the extra walking you’ll do from your parking spot to the trailhead.
If they still allow you to park along the side of the road like they did when I went!
As you are driving to the Laurel Falls trailhead parking lot, it’s also very possible that you’ll start to notice cars that are parked along the side of the road as you get close to the trailhead.
At that point, you may want to start looking for any open spots you can to park.
When I went, there was no bathroom directly at the Laurel Falls trailhead.
If you’re coming from Gatlinburg, you’ll want to stop by the Sugarland Visitor Center for that. If you’re coming from the opposite direction like from Cades Cove or Townsend, you’ll want to stop by the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area. These are both a 10-15 minute drive from the Laurel Falls trailhead.
So once you have parked, you can walk over to the trailhead!
And then off you go to start the trail!
See more pictures from the Laurel Falls Trail.
And that’s a bit on how to get to the Laurel Falls trailhead!
Pack some picnic food, and the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area can be the perfect spot to have a post-hike meal!
You’ll find it on Little River Road in the direction of Cades Cove when you’re coming from Laurel Falls. From Laurel Falls to Metcalf Bottoms picnic area is about a 15 minute drive.
See more of what’s on the drive to Cades Cove.
Plus see more about the best hikes near Gatlinburg.
And then more of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains.
And the best of all: Best hikes with mountain views in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
HAPPY GETTING TO THE LAUREL 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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