The Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee are no secret. The National Park gets the most visitors of any park in the country, and it’s easy to see why. But with all of that popularity comes crowds of people, and sometimes you want to escape the crowds and just experience the natural beauty of the park. These seven hikes will give you those stunning views without the crowds, and that sounds like a good day of hiking to us. How many of these have you done?
- Ramsey Cascades Trail
Christina Zukas - AllTrails The Ramsey Cascades is a difficult, 8-mile hike that can be popular with fly fishers, but the length and difficulty of the hike make it a good spot for some isolated hiking. The waterfall at the end makes it all worth it, though.
- Riverview Quiet Walkway
Marie Pasquale - AllTrails The Riverview Quiet Walkway is one of Gatlinburg’s best hidden gems. The 1-mile loop features a great creek and only has parking spots for 4 or 5 cars, making this a spot that’s guaranteed to be lightly trafficked.
- Middle Prong Trail
Sandy Dalton - AllTrails The Middle Prong Trail is over 8 miles out and back, and the entire trail follows the river, which makes for stunning views the entire way. At the end, you’re rewarded for the stunning, isolated Indian Flat Falls, which make for a great spot to sit and enjoy Tennessee’s quiet beauty.
- Baskins Creek Trail
Amanda Gregg - AllTrails Baskins Creek Trail features a beautiful waterfall of the same name and is about 6.5 miles out and back. This trail is tricky, especially in wet conditions, and the access road for it is closed from December through March, so get out there when can!
- Spruce Flats Falls Trail
Christina Zukas - AllTrails The Spruce Flats Falls Trail is a great trail if you’re looking for a relatively short hike. This out-and-back is less than two miles and features one of the park’s tallest, most beautiful waterfalls. It’s a great spot for a picnic, and you won’t have to carry your picnic basket far to get there.
- Porters Creek Trail
David Wear - AllTrails Porters Creek Trail is a stunning hike all year round, but at seven miles, it’s definitely a commitment. Hikers are rewarded with the tranquility of the isolated woods as well as a waterfall along the trail.
- Gabes Mountain Trail
John Ulrich - AllTrails The Gabes Mountain Trail is 4.5 miles out and back and features a stunning walk through the hemlock and rhododendron forest. Hikers are rewarded with a 90-foot waterfall at the end of the hike’s last steep leg.
After your hike, head on out to Uncle Sonny’s roadside barbecue joint, one of the best spots for Tennessee BBQ in the state.
Christina Zukas - AllTrails
The Ramsey Cascades is a difficult, 8-mile hike that can be popular with fly fishers, but the length and difficulty of the hike make it a good spot for some isolated hiking. The waterfall at the end makes it all worth it, though.
Marie Pasquale - AllTrails
The Riverview Quiet Walkway is one of Gatlinburg’s best hidden gems. The 1-mile loop features a great creek and only has parking spots for 4 or 5 cars, making this a spot that’s guaranteed to be lightly trafficked.
Sandy Dalton - AllTrails
The Middle Prong Trail is over 8 miles out and back, and the entire trail follows the river, which makes for stunning views the entire way. At the end, you’re rewarded for the stunning, isolated Indian Flat Falls, which make for a great spot to sit and enjoy Tennessee’s quiet beauty.
Amanda Gregg - AllTrails
Baskins Creek Trail features a beautiful waterfall of the same name and is about 6.5 miles out and back. This trail is tricky, especially in wet conditions, and the access road for it is closed from December through March, so get out there when can!
The Spruce Flats Falls Trail is a great trail if you’re looking for a relatively short hike. This out-and-back is less than two miles and features one of the park’s tallest, most beautiful waterfalls. It’s a great spot for a picnic, and you won’t have to carry your picnic basket far to get there.
David Wear - AllTrails
Porters Creek Trail is a stunning hike all year round, but at seven miles, it’s definitely a commitment. Hikers are rewarded with the tranquility of the isolated woods as well as a waterfall along the trail.
John Ulrich - AllTrails
The Gabes Mountain Trail is 4.5 miles out and back and features a stunning walk through the hemlock and rhododendron forest. Hikers are rewarded with a 90-foot waterfall at the end of the hike’s last steep leg.
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Address: Ramsey Cascades Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USAAddress: Riverview Quiet Walkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USAAddress: Middle Prong Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USAAddress: Baskins Creek Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USAAddress: Spruce Flats Falls, Spruce Flats Branch, Tennessee, Townsend, TN 37882, USAAddress: Porters Creek Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USAAddress: Gabes Mountain Trail, Cosby, TN 37722, USA
