Laurel Falls Trail — the park's most popular waterfall hike — has been closed for rehabilitation since January 6, 2025, and the National Park Service now expects it to reopen sometime in 2027, later than the original 18-month estimate. Families staying near Pigeon Forge should plan around four waterfalls that are open: Grotto Falls (2.6 miles round trip, moderate), Rainbow Falls (5.6 miles, moderately difficult), Abrams Falls (about 5 miles, moderate to difficult, strong undertow), and Ramsey Cascades (8 miles, challenging, the tallest waterfall in the Smokies).
If you booked a Pigeon Forge trip planning to walk to Laurel Falls, you need to know this before you pack: the trail has been closed since January 6, 2025, and it is not reopening on the original schedule. The National Park Service pushed the timeline back from 18 months to "sometime in 2027" after hitting different geotechnical conditions than expected while building the lower viewing platform. This isn't a seasonal closure or a weather delay — it's a multi-year construction project on the single most popular waterfall trail in the park, and a lot of trip-planning content online still doesn't reflect it.
We manage two homes near the park entrance — Pigeon Hills and Waters Edge Lodge, both within about six miles of Dollywood and the park boundary — so we get this question constantly right now. Here are the four waterfall hikes that are actually open, with real mileage and difficulty, so you can rebuild your day without guessing.
Laurel Falls: closed, and not reopening soon
Laurel Falls Trail is 2.6 miles round trip, paved for the first 1.3 miles, and normally draws more than 300,000 hikers a year — the single busiest waterfall approach in the Smokies. That's exactly why the Park Service picked it for a full rehabilitation: the decades-old asphalt was cracked, uneven, and overdue for repair. Closure began January 6, 2025. As of the park's most recent update, the reopening estimate has moved from mid-2026 to sometime in 2027.
Grotto Falls — the walk-behind waterfall, and the easiest of the four
Grotto Falls is 2.6 miles round trip on the Trillium Gap Trail, a moderate hike through old-growth forest and rhododendron to a 25-foot waterfall. It's the only waterfall in the park with a trail that passes directly behind the falls, which makes it the best pick for families who want a genuine grotto moment without a long day. The trailhead sits on the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and the small parking area fills early — the park's own guidance suggests having a backup plan or using a shuttle.
One quirk worth knowing: Trillium Gap Trail is also the route Dollywood's llama teams use to resupply the LeConte Lodge backcountry shelter, so don't be surprised if you meet a llama train on the trail.
Rainbow Falls — the tallest single-drop waterfall in the Smokies
Rainbow Falls Trail runs 5.6 miles round trip from the Cherokee Orchard Road trailhead, climbing roughly 1,500 feet to reach an 80-foot waterfall — the tallest single-drop falls in the park. The Park Service rates it moderately difficult; expect rocky footing and a steady, unrelenting climb rather than technical scrambling. This is a half-day commitment, not a stroll, and it's a better fit for older kids and adults in decent hiking shape than for a family with toddlers.
Abrams Falls — beautiful, and genuinely dangerous to swim
Abrams Falls, reached via Cades Cove, is about 5 miles round trip and rated moderate to difficult — shorter on paper than Rainbow Falls but with enough elevation change and rocky sections that hikers consistently say it's tougher than the mileage suggests. The waterfall itself is modest in height but pushes a heavy volume of water into a pool that looks inviting and isn't. The current and undertow at the base have contributed to numerous drowning deaths since the 1970s, and the National Park Service is explicit that swimming and wading near the falls is dangerous.
Take the photo from the bank. Don't get in the water.
Ramsey Cascades — the tallest waterfall, and the hardest hike
Ramsey Cascades is 8 miles round trip with more than 2,100 feet of elevation gain, rated challenging by the Park Service, leading to the tallest waterfall in the Smokies. This is a full-day, fitness-demanding hike on a rugged, sometimes uneven trail — the right call for capable adult hikers, not a family outing with young kids.
| Trail | Round trip | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grotto Falls | 2.6 mi | Moderate | Families, the walk-behind waterfall |
| Rainbow Falls | 5.6 mi | Moderately difficult | Fit teens and adults, tallest single drop |
| Abrams Falls | ~5 mi | Moderate to difficult | Cades Cove day, look-don't-swim |
| Ramsey Cascades | 8 mi | Challenging | Serious hikers, tallest waterfall overall |
The kids loved the game room, and the adults enjoyed the fire pit, sauna, and hot tub. The EV charger was a huge plus.
That's a guest review from Pigeon Hills — a reminder that the best waterfall-hike trip is the one where you come home to a real fire pit and a hot tub, not a motel room, after a day like Rainbow Falls or Ramsey Cascades leaves your legs.
Before you go: the practical stuff
- Parking tags. The park requires a paid parking tag for vehicles parked beyond a short period at any trailhead, including these. Check the current requirement on the NPS site before you drive over.
- Dogs stay home. Pets are permitted on only two short paths in the entire park and are prohibited on all four of these trails. See our Pigeon Forge family guide for where dog-friendly time actually happens.
- Footwear matters more than mileage. Rainbow Falls and Ramsey Cascades both have rocky, uneven sections where sneakers underperform hiking shoes.
- Go early. Grotto Falls' small lot and Abrams Falls' Cades Cove approach both fill by mid-morning in season.
Where to stay for a waterfall week
Waters Edge Lodge sleeps 12 at Cedar Falls Resort, about six miles from Dollywood and the park, with a private theater room and game loft for the evening after a long trail day. Pigeon Hills sleeps 10 blocks from the Parkway, with an infrared sauna and jacuzzi that make a genuine difference the night after Rainbow Falls or Ramsey Cascades.
Waterfall hike planning questions
Is Laurel Falls Trail open?
No. Laurel Falls Trail has been closed for rehabilitation since January 6, 2025. The National Park Service originally estimated an 18-month closure but now expects the trail to reopen sometime in 2027 due to unexpected geotechnical conditions during construction. Confirm current status with the park before planning around it.
What is the easiest waterfall hike near Pigeon Forge that's currently open?
Grotto Falls, a 2.6-mile round trip on the Trillium Gap Trail rated moderate by the park, leading to a 25-foot waterfall you can walk behind — the only such trail in the park. The trailhead parking area is small and fills early.
Which Smoky Mountains waterfall is the tallest?
Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in the park, reached by an 8-mile round-trip trail with more than 2,100 feet of elevation gain, rated challenging. Rainbow Falls, at 80 feet, is the tallest single-drop waterfall and is a more moderate 5.6-mile round trip.
Is it safe to swim at Abrams Falls?
No. Despite its inviting appearance, the pool at the base of Abrams Falls has strong currents and dangerous undertows that have contributed to numerous drowning deaths since the 1970s. The National Park Service explicitly warns against swimming or wading there.
Can I bring my dog on these waterfall trails?
No. Great Smoky Mountains National Park permits pets on only two short walking paths in the entire park, and dogs are prohibited on Grotto Falls, Rainbow Falls, Abrams Falls, and Ramsey Cascades.
- National Park Service to begin major rehabilitation of Laurel Falls Trail — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Grotto Falls — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Waterfalls — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Parking Tags — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Pets — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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Last updated: September 9, 2026