Grotto Falls - Hike trail to Grotto Falls in the Smoky Mountains

Grotto Falls
Trail Features:		Waterfalls, Old Growth Forest
Trail Location:		Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Roundtrip Miles:		2.6 miles
Total Elevation Gain:		585 feet
Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:		450 feet
Highest Elevation:		3777 feet
Trail Difficulty Rating:		3.77 (easy)
Parking Lot Latitude:		35.68037
Parking Lot Longitude:		-83.46243

Directions to Trailhead:

Starting from Light 8 in Gatlinburg, turn onto Historic Nature Trail / Airport Road. At 0.7 miles, veer right onto Cherokee Orchard Road, upon which you will enter into Great Smoky Mountain National Park. After driving another 2.2 miles, you'll enter the one-way Cherokee Orchard Loop. Drive 0.9 miles on the loop before turning right onto the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The parking lot for the trail to Grotto Falls will be on the left side of the road after

For the most part, the trail is a gentle climb to Grotto Falls along a wide, well-worn path. As you proceed to the waterfalls, you'll cross over four streams along the way without the benefit of a bridge.

At 1.2 miles you'll reach a nice tumbling cascade. Just beyond this point, Grotto Falls comes into view for the first time.

The distinctive feature of Grotto Falls is that it's the only waterfall in the park that a person can actually walk behind. The 25-foot high waterfall offers a cool, shady, moist retreat for summer hikers. This environment also happens to be ideal for salamanders as well.

As you walk behind the falls you can hear and feel the thunderous power of the water plunging into the pool in front of you. Watch your step here, especially in the winter - the area around the falls is always wet and slick.

If you still have the energy, you can continue on for another two miles to the summit of Brushy Mountain, or, continue on for another 5.6 miles to reach Mount LeConte. Both destinations offer outstanding views of the surrounding mountains.

Please note that the road to Grotto Falls is closed in the winter. However, you can still reach the waterfalls by starting your hike from the parking area near the Rainbow Falls Trailhead. This will add another 3.4 miles to your roundtrip hike.

driving roughly 1.6 miles on this one-way loop. The trailhead is just beyond the parking lot on the opposite side of the road. Because of the extreme popularity of this trail, there are additional parking spaces beyond the trailhead. Your best bet is to get there early during the peak visitor season.

Trail Description:

To reach Grotto Falls you’ll be following the Trillium Gap Trail for most of the way as it meanders through beautiful old-growth forest, including many hemlocks.

The first section of trail is technically an access trail. At 0.15 mile you’ll link up with the Trillium Gap Trail. Continue going straight at this junction.

If you hike the trail during May you’ll have the benefit of witnessing a smorgasbord of wildflowers along the way. Look for trillium, white violets, stitchwort, squawcorn and Dutchman’s breeches that are common in this area.