Took this hike by myself, 72 y/o, and made it fine. I would definitely recommend decent shoes, no... read more
Took this hike by myself, 72 y/o, and made it fine. I would definitely recommend decent shoes, no... read more
Some friends of ours invited us on the hike and told us it was ranked “easy”. They made it about... read more
We first found this hike about 11 years ago. We visit each year and continue to be amazed that it isn't ever busy. Often, we are the only ones there. It's gorgeous. It is not long at all. It does offer more adventure than some other trails, as it has narrow spots, lots of tree roots and rocky stretches. I am in my fifties and out of shape and enjoy it immensely. The waterfalls are beautiful. The kids always love swimming and climbing. We have "cheated" a few times by skipping the hike and climbing up from the road. That's an adventure, too.
We've been hiking in the Smokies for years, but I'd not heard of this hike until my sister introduced it to me. The trail is a bit tricky as others have mentioned. There really are lots of tree roots and rocks that can make this difficult for anyone with walking difficulties. It was a challenge at times when I was carrying my two year-old nephew, but manageable if you take your time and watch where you walk. My mom has knee problems, however, and opted out of finishing. The falls are beautiful, and we saw no other people on the trail. That was a nice change from other parts of the park that are more popular. Wear good shoes, and take a camera. Enjoy!
Departs from the Smokey Mountain Institute at Tremont. Ascends rapidly from the parking lot. Follows a ridge for about a mile bringing you to the falls. The trail is rocky, full of roots and rolls up and down. You can play in the pool at the base of the falls. Took us just over 1:45 with some splashing and playing in the water. Good for young and old alike.
Had a great time hiking to this falls with 10 & 12 year old daughters. We saw some people come out muddy as it had just rained and some parts of the trail were slippery. We took our time and were rewarded with a waterfall to ourselves. Don't miss this one!
This is a short (approx 2 mile roundtrip) hike with a beautiful waterfall at the end. Perfect spot for a rest or picnic. The path has many tree roots and is steep in some areas, so watch your footing. We've done this hike twice and it wasn't crowded either time, probably because it doesn't appear on any map, nor is it in a tourist -heavy area. To find the trail, follow the signs to the Tremont Institute (on road leading up to Cades Cove), park in the lot for the gift shop/office. As you head toward the lodge area you'll see a service road to the left and a sign marked "falls." There is another trail (Lumber Ridge) in the area, so don't get confused. Just follow the signs for the Falls. There is a bathroom in the same building as the office/gift shop.
We had a great hike up to Spruce Flats Falls in Tremont. The hike was moderate, but had a few places that would be challenging for very young or old hikers, perhaps. Some of the terrain was rather steep. The falls were absolutely beautiful and it is a great place to get away from the big crowds you will normally find in the park in peak times.