Great Smoky Mountains NP: Laurel Falls Trail (Blog Hike #218)

Trail: Laurel Falls Trail

Hike Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Geographic Location: west of Gatlinburg, TN (35.67194, -83.58056)

Length: 2.6 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: May 2007, January 2015

Overview: A gradual climb along asphalt trail to an impressive waterfall.

Waterfall Information: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm
Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=440152
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Gatlinburg, take US 441 south to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, where SR 73 heads west.  Turn right on SR 73.  Take SR 73 west 4 miles to Fighting Creek Gap and the signed parking areas for Laurel Falls; there is one parking area on each side of the road.  Park on either parking area; the Laurel Falls Trail heads north (right) from this point.

The hike: For my general comments on Great Smoky Mountains National Park, see the Abrams Falls hike.  While waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains are quite numerous, this one is distinctive because of its relatively short length and paved trail.  When I hiked this trail, the asphalt was smooth enough that even a wheelchair could make the journey with a strong assistant, but some of the grades may be too steep.

Trailhead: Laurel Falls Trail

            Two trails leave SR 73 at Fighting Creek Gap, so make sure to take the right one.  The wrong choice, the 11.9 mile Sugarlands Mountain Trail, leaves south and leads quickly to no point of particular interest.  The right choice, the Laurel Falls Trail, leads to Laurel Falls in 1.3 miles.  Since the Laurel Falls Trail is asphalt and the Sugarlands Mountain Trail is dirt, it should be quite hard to make a mistake.

            The Laurel Falls Trail immediately enters a dry pine-oak forest and begins climbing on a gentle grade.  The trail follows the contour of the hillside, weaving in and out of small drainages.  Don’t be tempted to take steep dirt trails that cut off some of the curves in the paved trail: not only is the hiking harder, but hiking off-trail damages the forest floor and enhances erosion.  Notice the different plant communities that live in the damp ravines as opposed to those that prefer the dryer ridges.

Climbing toward Laurel Falls

            At first traffic along SR 73 can be heard downhill to your left but as you wind up and away from the road, these sounds get replaced by birds chirping and squirrels rustling.  At 0.7 miles, a nice view of the Little Pigeon River valley opens up to the left during the leafless months.  Shortly thereafter, the trail curves right to enter the Laurel Branch ravine.  Some nice rocks near this point make for nice resting places if you find yourself getting winded from the climb.

            As you close in on the falls, the ravine tightens and the trail traverses a ledge with vertical rock cliffs to your right and a sharp drop-off to your left.  Numbered posts along this trail correspond to a brochure available for a nominal fee at the trailhead.  Posts #9 and #10 tell you about the organisms that inhabit these cliffs.

            A brief descent and soft left turn will arrive you at a bridge over Laurel Branch and Laurel Falls.  There are two parts to the falls, one above the bridge and another below the bridge.  Each of these parts is about 40 feet high, and large rocks at the bottom of each part give this waterfall a terrific spraying sound.  Algae covering these rocks give the falls a distinctively green color.  Since the Smoky Mountains are one of the wettest climates in the country and you are still at low elevations, this waterfall will have plenty of volume throughout the year.  The plunge pool in both cases is small, and when water levels are especially high, water will pour out of the upper plunge pool and make the lower falls even more spectacular.

Laurel Falls, upper portion

Laurel Falls, middle portion

Laurel Falls, below the trail

            After taking time to admire and photograph the falls, it is time to return to the trailhead.  While the Laurel Falls Trail continues past the falls, the asphalt ends, and it does not form a loop.  Thus, you should retrace your steps 1.3 miles after viewing the falls.  The long uphill climb is now an easy downhill glide to return to your car and complete the hike.