Hiking
Great Smoky Mountains
Gatlinburg, Tennessee · 3 days · Moderate–Easy
About This Trip
The most visited national park in America rewards those who go beyond the overlooks. Three days in the Smokies covers it all — a waterfall canyon, Appalachian Trail ridge walk, and Clingmans Dome.
Highlights
- Clingmans Dome (6,643 ft) — highest peak east of the Mississippi
- Alum Cave to Mount LeConte — the park's most dramatic all-day hike
- Ramsey Cascades — largest waterfall in the Smokies
- Charlies Bunion ridge walk on the Appalachian Trail
- Synchronous fireflies in Elkmont (late May–June)
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1
Waterfall Canyon — Ramsey Cascades or Laurel Falls
- Ramsey Cascades — 8 mi RT, the park's tallest waterfall through old-growth forest
- Alum Cave Trail to Arch Rock — 4.4 mi RT to dramatic bluffs, or extend to LeConte summit
- Laurel Falls — 2.6 mi paved trail, most popular waterfall in the park
Day 2
Appalachian Trail Ridge — Charlies Bunion or Chimney Tops
- Charlies Bunion via AT — 8.1 mi RT from Newfound Gap, dramatic exposed rocky summit
- Chimney Tops — 4 mi RT, steep and iconic rock scramble with cliff-top views
- Alum Cave to Mount LeConte — 10 mi RT, the park's most spectacular all-day objective
Day 3
Clingmans Dome + Cades Cove
- Clingmans Dome — 1 mi paved loop to the highest point in the park
- Andrews Bald meadow hike — 3.5 mi RT from Clingmans, open grassy bald with panoramic views
- Cades Cove wildlife loop — open meadows, white-tailed deer, historic homesteads