37738. Closely supervise children at all times. Laurel Falls Spur Trail (from trailhead, 3.3 miles one-way to end of trail) Mile 0.0 (1.6) Split from the main trail at Mile 1.7, taking the right fork. This hike can be found along the Little River Road between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and the Elkmont Campground. Please read What Do I Do if I See a Bear. Hikers threw their litter by the side of the trail-apple cores, candy wrappers, soda bottles. From the parking lot, you should be able to see the trailhead rather easily. Eventually, she began approaching people in search of food. • Do not allow bears to approach you. The trail crosses over the midsection of the waterfall via a bridge, as the gushing waterfall sprays mist overhead and dives into a narrow gorge below. Access trail: Laurel Falls Trail Black bear sightings in the park are amazing, but you need to be safe. Past the falls is some of the beautiful, quiet hiking that the Smokies are known for. It is definitely recommended that you extend your hike if you have time for a day trip up to the Cove Mountain Fire Tower. Access trail: Laurel Falls Trail Trailhead: From Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead where there are parking areas on both sides of the road. It’s marked well and is right off of the main parking area. Laurel Falls is an 80-foot (25m) multi-level waterfall. And you can also read the sign about the Self-Guiding Nature Trail. General Information Directions: Via Hampton Blueline (#501): Directions: from Hampton follow TN-67 E/US- 321 S to Laurel Falls trailhead on right. • Do not approach within 50 yards or any distance that disturbs a bear. From the trailhead at Fighting Creek Gap Road, the distance to the waterfall is 1.3 miles. Trail Notes: The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 2.6 miles and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. The other trail to the falls, which starts from just north of Hampton, TN, is described here. The trailhead is located off Fighting Creek Gap Road inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, less than four miles (6 km) from the park headquarters at the, This page was last edited on 9 September 2020, at 01:16. The Laurel Falls Trail is an American hiking trail, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Sevier County, Tennessee. In fact, the trail enters into one of the most pristine forests in the national park just about a mile past the falls. Laurel Falls Trailhead: Laurel Falls Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When asked about how to get to Laurel Falls (a.k.a. The Laurel Falls Trail is the most trampled, beaten, and worn down path in the entire national park– at least to the waterfall. Laurel Falls Trailhead Gatlinburg TN 37738. Pets and bicycles are prohibited on the trail. Opening & closing timings, parking options, restaurants nearby or what to see on your visit to Laurel Falls Trailhead… Order Online Tickets Tickets See Availability Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. The trail has short, steep sections which can be slippery in wet weather. As the hiker approaches the falls, s/he should begin to hear the roars of both tumbling waters and a host of visitors who have made the trip to the surprisingly powerful cascade. The easiest way to access the Laurel Falls trail is to enter the park from Gatlinburg, TN, and head towards the Sugarlands Visitor Center. "Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Maps". The hike begins at a trailhead located off the graveled Upper Nantahala Road (view maps and driving directions).The gravel road to the trailhead can be a bit of an adventure itself, but it’s particularly scenic in the golden hues of fall. Menu & Reservations Make Reservations . Laurel Falls - 2.5 Miles Round-Trip Laurel Falls is located 3.8 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Carry drinking water with you. This multi-tier fall tumbles 80' down Laurel Branch, a heavily forested drainage on the south slope of Cove Mountain.The fall is named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub with prolific blooms. The falls have two parts, and a bridge crosses between them, offering a very close-up waterfall experience. Furthermore, there is a wooden post at every 0.1-mile (0.16 km), giving the many visitors who walk the 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to Laurel Falls an indicator of just how far they have to go. The parking area for the Laurel Falls Trailhead will be on your right. Although much has been mentioned of how heavily trafficked the trail can be at times, the waterfall is popular for a reason: it is one of the most magnificent in the national park. Fortunately, the visitor's injuries were minor, but sadly the park was forced to euthanize the bear. Sugarland Mountain Trail is across the street from the Laurel Falls Trail trailhead. • If you see another visitor breaking these rules, or encounter a bear on a trail, please call (865) 436-1230 or stop at a Visitor Center to report it. The Dennis Cove AT Trailhead hike is about 3.7 miles, starts out pretty easy and flat but ends with a long stretch of stone stairs. Do not climb on rocks around the waterfall. We hit the falls first before doing a nice loop up to Sunfish Pond using Garvey Springs, the … It is back on the main path here that the trail ends, at a junction with the Cove Mountain Trail, which leads back down to the Sugarlands Visitor Center and the park headquarters. Or, if you'd like more of a hike, continue up the Laurel Falls Trail to the Cove Mountain Fire Tower. It is, however, one of only three remaining lookout towers in the park (not including the fire tower of Mount Cammerer), the other two being at Mount Sterling and Shuckstack. The old-growth forest here was never logged (as most forests in the area were), most likely due to the difficulty in transporting materials to and from the isolated region. The waterfall was beautiful and definitely worth the effort. This 80’ cascade tumbles down Laurel Branch, a heavily forested drainage on the south slope of Cove Mountain. Because of this the national park service has had to pave this segment trail with a dark concrete, so as to prevent further erosion of the trailside. The elevation gain during the hike is a manageable 314 feet, which is an easy 273 feet per mile. Now no longer fearful of humans-and in fact, associating them with food-she became more dangerous. It takes about 2 hours to hike to the waterfall and back. Finally the day came when, in search of a handout, she bit a visitor and had to be euthanized. .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}"Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Plan Your Visit: Laurel Falls". The Big Laurel Falls Trail is the perfect “little” hike for people of almost any age. It goes without saying that Laurel Falls Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Originally, the Laurel Falls Trail was built in the 1930s as an access trail for fire crews in the event a blaze broke out in the Cove Mountain area. Please make sure that your actions don't contribute to the death of a bear. The area is especially busy on weekends year-round and on weekdays during summer. The trail continues to gain significant elevation. The second-growth forest is rather thick over this period, and is often decorated with a thick laurel thrush, for which the Laurel Branch and her signature waterfall are named. Portions of the trail have steep drop-offs. However, Laurel Falls is a favorite haunt for the bears. And there’s quite a lot to see – and experience – in the half mile to the falls. Over time, the bear lost her fear of humans. The Laurel Falls Trail is the most trampled, beaten, and worn down path in the entire national park– at least to the waterfall. Mile 0.7 (0.9) Reach the foot of Laurel Falls. Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the park and parking at the trailhead is limited. Directions to Trailhead: The hike to Cove Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains begins from Laurel Falls Trailhead at Fighting Creek Gap. Laurel Falls Trailhead travelers' reviews, business hours, introduction, open hours. Laurel Falls Trail is a popular short out-and-back hike to an 80 foot waterfall. If you are fortunate enough to see a bear while you are visiting the park, please remember that it's up to you to protect them. Some visitors may have even fed her. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Furthermore, there is a wooden post at every 0.1-mile (0.16 km), giving the many visitors who walk the 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to Laurel Falls an indicator of just how far they have to go. The Laurel Falls Trail extends 2.6 miles and is the longest of four paved trails in the national park. A 1.3 mile hike one way to an 80 ft waterfall. Due to the steep grade and roughness of pavement, this trail is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. But bears are wild animals and their behavior is unpredictable. The main parking lot for Laurel Falls will be on your right, with additional parking across the street. Laurel Falls Trailhead: 2020 Top Things to Do in Sevier County. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/laurel-falls--2 When one stops to consider how wildly popular the short trail to the waterfall is, s/he may wonder whether most patrons to Laurel Falls even realize that the trail does continue on beyond the point where it is no longer paved. Over the years, several people have fallen to their deaths and many others have suffered serious injuries from climbing on rocks near waterfalls or along the riverbanks. At the 3.1-mile (5.0 km) point, the trail comes to a junction with the Little Greenbrier Trail and continues on along the crest of the Chinquapin Ridge to the top of Cove Mountain. Because of this the national park service has had to pave this segment trail with a dark concrete, so as to prevent further erosion of the trailside. Learn more about pet restrictions in the park. Trail Notes: The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 2.6 miles and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. The trail is paved but the pavement is rough and uneven. Directions to Trailhead: The hike to Laurel Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains begins from Fighting Creek Gap on Little River Road, located 3.8 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg. On an average summer afternoon, the trailhead to Laurel Falls is packed with cars. Gatlinburg, TN This is also the main road out to Cades Cove if you’re headed out that way.. Finding the trailhead is easy. This tower used to be a fire tower, and is only one of four remaining former fire towers in the park. 4,077 ft (1,243 m); 1,372 m), leading past Laurel Falls, one of the most popular waterfalls in the national park, en route to the summit of Cove Mountain and the Cove Mountain fire tower. Trip.com provides tourists with Laurel Falls Trailhead attraction address, business hours, brief introduction, open hours, nearby recommendation, restaurant, reviews etc. Laurel Fork Falls), I always recommend starting from the Dennis Cove side (described here) and hiking down to the falls.That's still not bad advice -- the Dennis Cove trail is level most of the way in and very pretty (however, the last 1/4 mile is very steep! By leaving litter, visitors taught the bear that humans are a source of food. Or you can purchase a … There are no bathroom facilities directly at the Laurel Falls trailhead. Laurel Branch and the 80-foot high Laurel Falls are named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub which blooms along the trail and near the falls in May. The area is especially busy on weekends year-round and on weekdays during summer. The 55' waterfall (also known as Laurel Fork Falls) is powerful and stunning after some heavy rains. The 55-foot Laurel Falls is one of Northeast Tennessee's most breathtaking waterfalls. The trail ascends Cove Mountain (elev. This waterfall trail near Gatlinburg is considered by many to be a must see. A drive from Pigeon forge to laurel Falls to see some snow.SmokyMountainHiker Merchandise: https://teespring.com/smokymountainhiker Laurel Falls Trailhead attraction travel guidebook, Sevier County must-visit attractions. The paved section of the path, while often very crowded, does offer a nice, gentle walk in the woods, accessible to most children, and inasmuch has been designated as a nature trail by the park service. Here, the path comes to an old dirt road, which leads a few hundred yards to the Cove Mountain lookout tower. We had to park pretty far from the trailhead as the parking lot was full and both sides of the road were lined with vehicles. Visitors allowed the bear to approach them too closely-perhaps to capture that perfect vacation photo of a bear, or maybe just to see how close they could get to her. Laurel Falls from Lost Falls Trailhead is a 2 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Fort Payne, Alabama that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. These rocks are slippery due to mist and algae. 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