Waterfalls near a city
Waterfalls near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
Four miles straight-line from Gatlinburg, Grotto Falls is the nearest falls in this guide you can hike to now, on a 2.6-mile round trip. Laurel Falls, 6 straight-line miles out, has been closed since January 6, 2025 for a trail rebuild. As listed on October 27, 2026, NPS anticipates reopening it sometime in 2027. Mingo Falls, 18 straight-line miles away near Cherokee, is free and 120 ft tall per Visit Cherokee.
10 waterfalls within 50 miles of Gatlinburg
Distances are straight-line miles, by our math, from the US Census internal point of Gatlinburg, TN, not driving distances, so check a route before you go. Each card links to a full guide with fees, parking and current status.
The only waterfall in the Smokies with a trail that runs behind it.
Grotto Falls4 mi straight-line · ModerateOpen25FT
An 80-ft, two-tier falls on a paved trail, closed for rebuilding until 2027.
Laurel Falls6 mi straight-line · Not rated by NPS (paved)Closed80FT
A 120-ft cascade on EBCI land, reached by 161 steep steps; free and open daily.
Mingo Falls18 mi straight-line · ModerateOpen120FT
A 25-ft ledge falls 2.5 miles from Cades Cove; NPS strongly discourages swimming.
Abrams Falls23 mi straight-lineOpen25FT
Two creeks meet in one pool on EBCI land; free, with a new lot and decks since 2025.
Soco Falls24 mi straight-line · EasyOpen120FT
A 90-ft falls you can see from the bridge on Tellico River Road, open again after a long closure.
Bald River Falls47 mi straight-line · Roadside viewOpen90FT
The old drive-under waterfall on US-64; now you walk behind it instead.
Bridal Veil Falls48 mi straight-line · EasyOpen45FT
A 75-ft waterfall you can walk behind, steps from US-64 near Highlands.
Dry Falls48 mi straight-line · EasyOpen75FT
A 60-ft natural water slide into an 8 to 10 ft pool, with lifeguards in summer.
Sliding Rock49 mi straight-line · EasyOpen60FT
A 50-ft drop over a cave-like ledge, on a 0.7-mile easy trail (USFS) off US 276 near Brevard.
Moore Cove Falls49 mi straight-line · EasyOpen50FT
Map of waterfalls near Gatlinburg
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Compare the waterfalls near Gatlinburg
| Waterfall | Distance | Status | State | Height | Trail | Difficulty | Fee / permit | Swimming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grotto Falls | 4 mi | Open | TN | 25 ft | 2.6 mi | Moderate | $5 parking tag | Not recommended |
| Laurel Falls | 6 mi | Closed | TN | 80 ft | 2.6 mi paved | Not rated by NPS (paved) | $5 parking tag | Not recommended |
| Mingo Falls | 18 mi | Open | NC | 120 ft | About 0.5 mi round trip | Moderate | Free | None listed |
| Abrams Falls | 23 mi | Open | TN | 25 ft | 5 mi round trip | $5 parking tag | Strongly discouraged | |
| Soco Falls | 24 mi | Open | NC | 120 ft | About 0.2 mi | Easy | Free | No rule found |
| Bald River Falls | 47 mi | Open | TN | 90 ft | Roadside; Trail #88 is 5.6 mi one way | Roadside view | No fee listed | No rule listed |
| Bridal Veil Falls | 48 mi | Open | NC | 45 ft | Roadside | Easy | No fee listed | No |
| Dry Falls | 48 mi | Open | NC | 75 ft | 0.2 mi | Easy | $3 / vehicle | No |
| Sliding Rock | 49 mi | Open | NC | 60 ft | Short walk | Easy | $6 / person | Yes (lifeguards in summer) |
| Moore Cove Falls | 49 mi | Open | NC | 50 ft | 0.7 mi, easy (USFS) | Easy | No fee shown (USFS) | No rule found; stay off the top |
Where to stay near Gatlinburg
Base yourself in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, TN for a waterfall day. Open the map to compare hotels, cabins and rentals, or switch to tours and activities.
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How the list breaks down
Staying in Pigeon Forge? Use the same list. When we checked the falls in this guide near Pigeon Forge, every one was already on the Gatlinburg list, so the two towns share this page. The straight-line miles here are measured from Gatlinburg's Census point, not from Pigeon Forge.
Only three of the 10 falls are in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Grotto, Laurel and Abrams Falls. The other seven are 18 to 49 straight-line miles out. Mingo and Soco Falls are on the Qualla Boundary near Cherokee. Bald River Falls is in the Cherokee National Forest near Tellico Plains. The last four sit near Highlands and Brevard, North Carolina.
Two park falls, Rainbow Falls and Ramsey Cascades, are missing because this guide has no page for either yet.
For every falls in the state, see the Tennessee waterfalls guide.
Grotto Falls or Laurel Falls?
Both trails are listed at 2.6 miles round trip, but only one is open.
- Laurel Falls: a paved trail to an 80-ft, two-tier falls. It has been closed since January 6, 2025 for a full rebuild, and its Fighting Creek Gap trailhead is closed during construction. As listed October 27, 2026, NPS anticipates reopening in 2027.
- Grotto Falls: a 25-ft falls on the Trillium Gap Trail, with occasional roots, rocks and inclines (NPS). The trailhead is about 2 miles into the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which is open through November 29, 2026. After November 29 the road closes to cars, so reaching the falls takes a much longer walk (NPS). The Trillium Gap Trail passes behind the falls, the only trail in the park that does.
NPS posted a bear warning for the Trillium Gap Trail on October 27, 2026. Dogs are not allowed on either trail.
Falls with little or no hiking
None of the short-walk falls on this list is inside the national park. All of them are 18 to 49 miles straight-line from Gatlinburg.
- Roadside: Bald River Falls is seen from the Bald River Falls Bridge on Tellico River Road (FR 210). Bridal Veil Falls is beside US-64, and a few steps along the old roadbed take you behind it.
- About 0.2 miles: Soco Falls has a short trail from a new EBCI lot to an upper overlook and a deck at the falls. Dry Falls is a paved path with several flights of stairs that passes behind the falls.
- Short but steep: Mingo Falls is about a quarter mile each way, mostly 161 steep steps up to a wooden viewing bridge (Visit Cherokee).
- Short walk: Sliding Rock is a short walk from its lot to the slide and viewing platform. Moore Cove Falls is a 0.7-mile trail rated easy by the Forest Service, which does not say whether that is one way.
The open park falls need longer walks: 2.6 miles round trip for Grotto and 5 miles round trip for Abrams.
Parking tags and entry fees
The Smokies charge no entrance fee, but Grotto and Abrams Falls need a parking tag for any vehicle parked over 15 minutes. Tags cost $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. Interagency passes are not accepted for the tag. Laurel Falls will need one when it reopens.
Outside the park, costs vary:
- Free: Mingo and Soco Falls, per Visit Cherokee.
- No fee listed: Bald River and Bridal Veil Falls.
- No fee shown on the USFS page: Moore Cove Falls.
- $3 per vehicle: Dry Falls, or a $15 annual pass valid only at Dry Falls, Whitewater Falls and Whiteside Mountain.
- $6 per person: Sliding Rock, collected at the gatehouse in the staffed season.
Swimming and slick rock
Sliding Rock is the only falls on this list where swimming is the main activity, and its lifeguard season is over.
- Sliding Rock: swimming is allowed if you can swim. Lifeguards work only from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The 2026 staffed season has ended, so there are no lifeguards and the restrooms are closed. Explore Asheville says sliding is not permitted outside the staffed season. The Forest Service and Naventure don't say this, so check before you slide.
- Abrams Falls: NPS strongly discourages swimming because of an undertow and dangerous conditions.
- Grotto and Laurel Falls: swimming is not recommended.
- Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls: not swimming spots. At Dry Falls, stay on the path.
Visit Cherokee warns that the Mingo Falls steps and the terrain at Soco Falls are slippery, especially after rain.
Waterfalls near Gatlinburg: FAQ
What is the easiest waterfall to see near Gatlinburg?
By walking distance, the roadside falls: Bald River Falls from its bridge, 47 miles straight-line, and Bridal Veil Falls beside US-64, 48 straight-line miles out. Closer to town, Soco Falls is about 0.2 miles from its lot and 24 straight-line miles away. Inside the park, Grotto Falls is a 2.6-mile round trip while its road is open, through November 29, 2026. After that date the walk gets much longer.
What is the biggest waterfall near Gatlinburg?
By listed height, Mingo Falls and Soco Falls lead this list at about 120 ft each, per Visit Cherokee. Other sources give different figures for both. Bald River Falls is 90 ft per the Forest Service. Laurel Falls is 80 ft but has been closed for a rebuild since January 6, 2025.
Should I hike Grotto Falls or Laurel Falls?
For now the choice is made for you. Laurel Falls has been closed since January 6, 2025, and NPS anticipates reopening it in 2027. Grotto Falls is open on a 2.6-mile round trip. Its access road, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, is open through November 29, 2026; after that, expect a longer walk in. See the Grotto Falls guide.
Are there waterfalls near Pigeon Forge?
Yes. The falls in this guide near Pigeon Forge all appear on this list, so use the same map and table. Distances here are straight-line from Gatlinburg, so check a route from Pigeon Forge to each falls. If you want little walking, look at Soco, Bald River and Bridal Veil Falls.
Do I need a parking tag for waterfalls near Gatlinburg?
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, yes, for any stop longer than 15 minutes. Grotto and Abrams Falls need the tag, which costs $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. Mingo and Soco Falls on the Qualla Boundary are free.
Sources
Facts for each waterfall come from its own guide, where every source is listed. The city sources are below.
- NPS: Grotto Falls
- NPS: Laurel Falls
- Visit Cherokee (EBCI): Waterfalls in Cherokee (Mingo Falls and Soco Falls)
- NPS: Abrams Falls
- USFS Cherokee National Forest: Bald River Falls (updated June 10, 2025; read Nov 3, 2026)
- USDA Forest Service: Cullasaja Gorge
- USDA Forest Service: Dry Falls (last updated Sept 11, 2026)
- USDA Forest Service: Sliding Rock Recreation Area (last updated June 24, 2026)
- USFS National Forests in North Carolina: Moore Cove Trail TR318 (updated Jan 21, 2026; read Nov 3, 2026)
- US Census Bureau: 2024 Gazetteer Files (places)
State guides: North Carolina waterfalls, Tennessee waterfalls. More cities.
Photos: Washuotaku, CC BY-SA 4.0; Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0; US Forest Service, Southern Region, CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo credits