Hi there!
You can drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
And actually, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is primarily for driving.
While you can walk it, most people drive it.
There is no entry fee to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which means it doesn’t cost anything to drive it.
But if you want to stop along the way, you will need to pay for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park parking fee.
There is also a Roaring Fork informational booklet that you can get at the start of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This costs $1.
You might want to stop by a national park visitor center to get the booklet, just in case they are out of it at the start of your Roaring Fork drive.
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is one of the popular scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I did the drive along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail 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!
Among the top things to do along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are to see waterfalls, historic cabins, and a historic mill.
You can also stop to spend time right next to a creek! (You will be driving right along side a creek at times too!)
According to the National Park Service:
The narrow, winding, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area.
The 5.5-mile-long, one-way, loop road is a favorite side trip for many people who frequently visit the Smokies.
It offers rushing mountain streams, glimpses of old-growth forest, and a number of well-preserved log cabins, gristmills, and other historic buildings.
The National Park Service also says that the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is closed in the winter.
Even though this is a popular drive in the Smoky Mountains and you are very likely to encounter traffic (aka slow cars in front of you – it’s a one way road!), there are many pullover spots and it’s very possible to find a quiet spot along the way without feeling like it’s overcrowded!
Gatlinburg TN is a gateway town to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is located right near the main tourist area of Gatlinburg.
If you were to drive straight through in a loop with no traffic and no stops, from Gatlinburg to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail to Gatlinburg, the drive might take around 1 hour.
But it will almost certainly take longer than that with the slow going traffic along with the stops you make!
Even longer if you decide to do one of the waterfall hikes, some of which are the best waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains!
More below about things to do along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!
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Now…
Getting to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
And now…
Starting the drive to the Roaring Fork area of the Smoky Mountains!
You’ll enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park when driving on Cherokee Orchard Road.
Before you get to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, you’ll pass by the Noah “Bud” Ogle farm and cabin.
Then also before you get to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, you will pass by the Rainbow Falls trailhead.
Official info about the trail to Rainbow Falls:
- 5.4 miles round trip hike
- Allow 3-5 hours
The Rainbow Falls Trail is one of the most popular waterfall hikes near Gatlinburg.
This trail will have you hiking right alongside a creek at times, and you’ll get some views of mountains too.
Read the reviews for Rainbow Falls.
The Rainbow Falls trailhead is around a 15 minute drive from Gatlinburg.
It is located just before the start of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
For google maps, your destination can be Rainbow Falls Trail.
Because of the popularity of these waterfalls, you might end up parking along the side of the road a bit further away from the trailhead, but hopefully no more than a quarter mile away!
There are toilets near the start of the Rainbow Falls Trail.
And then finally…
Entry to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!!
Shortly after you pass the Rainbow Falls trailhead, you’ll come across the turn-off for the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
This is where the road starts a longer loop back to Gatlinburg.
If you are interested in the historical aspect and in learning about the natural landscape that you’ll be driving by, be sure to pick up the Roaring Fork tour booklet so you can make it a self-guided tour as you drive nature trail!
This costs $1. You can pick up a Roaring Fork auto tour booklet by stopping by the information spot that’s located right before the start of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
You can also find them at a Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor center.
Cash only, so bring dollar bills!
If you still have time before your Smoky Mountains vacation, you can order the Smokies starter kit of tour booklets online too.
👆 Starting the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, one of the most scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Things to do along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Baskins Creek Falls trailhead (hike to waterfalls)
- Grotto Falls trailhead (hike to waterfalls)
- Alex Cole cabin
- Ephraim Bales cabin
- Alfred Reagan Tub Mill
- Alf Reagan House
- The Place of a Thousand Drips (roadside waterfalls)
1. Baskins Creek Falls
Info about the trail to Baskins Creek Falls:
- 3.2 mile round trip hike
- Allow around 2 hours
When it comes to Roaring Fork waterfalls, Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls seem to get all the attention.
Well, located on the road between those 2 waterfalls you will find the trail to Baskins Creek Falls! These waterfalls are less visited compared to the other 2.
If you want to go directly to the Baskin Creek Falls Trail from Gatlinburg, it’s around a 15 minute drive.
For google maps, your destination can be the Baskins Creek Trail trailhead if you want to drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail after your hike.
If you don’t want to do the drive afterwards, it may be better to park near the Rainbow Fall Bullhead Parking B just before the turn-off onto the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail for the quicker return drive. This will add a few minutes of walking to your hike, but it will save drive time after your hike. By parking at the intersection just before it turns into a one-way road, you can take the quicker loop back to Gatlinburg.
For more about this, see the parking tips for Baskins Creek Trail.
Read the reviews for Baskins Creek Falls.
Also see more pictures: Baskins Creek Falls hike
2. Grotto Falls
Official info about the trail to Grotto Falls:
- 2.6 miles round trip hike
- Allow 2-3 hours
These are another one of the most popular waterfall hikes near Gatlinburg. These are waterfalls that you can walk behind. And just before you get to Grotto Falls, you can see another set of smaller waterfalls too.
The trailhead to Grotto Falls is located around a 20 minute drive from Gatlinburg.
For google maps, your destination can be Grotto Falls parking.
Similar to Rainbow Falls, because of the popularity of these waterfalls, you might end up parking along the side of the road a bit further away from the trailhead. Once again, hopefully no more than a quarter of a mile away!
Because you’ll be on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, you’ll continue on the road to get back to Gatlinburg, and this will be at least 30 minutes, likely longer due to the slow traffic even if you don’t make any stops.
Read the reviews for Grotto Falls.
Also see more pictures: Grotto Falls hike
Then driving along…
3. Alex Cole cabin
Driving along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail…
5. Ephraim Bales cabin
6. Alfred Reagan Tub Mill
7. Alfred Reagan House
8. The Place of a Thousand Drips
The final waterfalls of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!
This is located towards the end of the drive, and it’s possible to see them right from you’re car as you’re driving by.
There’s also a small parking area if you want to get out for a closer look too.
Read the reviews for the Place of a Thousand Drips.
And then the end of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is near!
9. Ely’s Mill
This will mark the end of your time on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!
And that’s a bit of what it can be like to drive on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!
For more great scenic drives in the Smoky Mountains:
- Drive from Gatlinburg to Clingman’s Dome (drive further to see a historic mill)
- Drive from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove (see Cades Cove waterfalls and a historic Cades Cove cabin)
HAPPY DRIVING THE ROARING FORK MOTOR NATURE TRAIL!
