Laurel Falls

About the Hike


Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.3 miles each way
Elevation Change: 450 feet
Location: Located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Little River Road between Elkmont Campground and the Sugarlands Visitor Center. You can't miss it; there are cars parked along the road for miles on either side of the parking area. Laurel Falls is a VERY popular hike!

7.8.2011

We hiked to Laurel Falls this morning. It's a very good hike for my fellow tots. The trail is paved the entire way to the falls so there aren't roots and rocks to trip on. Lots of people try to bring strollers on this trail, though I wouldn't recommend that. The pavement is rough in places. Tell your moms and dads to hold you hand at the top though. The water is nice to play in, though cold, and there is a great bridge over the stream to get to the falls, however behind the bridge is a drop off over the lower part of the falls. There are warning signs everywhere telling people to stay back from the edges and parents to hold onto their kids. As long as you stay near the waterfall itself, and don't try to climb up the rocks, you can have a lot of good, safe fun at this waterfall.

On the way back down, several people hiking to the falls told us they saw a mother bear with her cub having a snack just off of the trail. By the time we got there, they'd moved on but you may get luckier and see some wildlife; this is, after all, the Smokies.