Laurel Falls Trailhead Reviews

Our family age range 9-72 all did this hike. It was a hard surface walkway the whole time so relatively easy. BUT all the way to the falls you are walking up hill. So it is strenuous. The walk back down is a breeze. It is a pretty Falls and you can get really close for pictures. But it is not a huge falls by an means so don’t expect a roaring falls.

Very busy. Long walk which was enjoyable but photo options at top not good unless you want lots of randoms!!!
Go early morning- i think it will be much better.
I can't imagine you would ever see bears- too busy

I always wanted to see this waterfall and this year was the chance. One of my sisters brought it up and the other, none hiker sister, agreed. If she knew it was uphill almost the whole way, she probably wouldn't have done it. It wasn't to awful, to be honest. It is paved, in the sense that there is pavement in some spots, but it is washed out in a lot of areas, so it can be very uneven.

It was a cool spring day, so there were no bugs, which was nice. The falls itself is not huge, but there is a nice bridge in front of it and a ledge that looks down where it continues to the bottom of the canyon. You can go up the trail a bit further and sort of get the whole thing in a photo. We hung out a bit and then headed back, which was downhill 80% of the time. There are some nice views of the mountains that you can see between trees. We didn't see much wildlife, although someone walking by claimed there was a bear in a tree, but I have my doubts.

It's worth the trek.

My husband and his brother drove to Laurel Falls to hike. Imagine their shock that they weren't allowed to park at all. The ranger explained that reservations must be made the day before and cost $14 for 2 hours. So they couldn't hike to the Falls and had to drive on. There had been no warning at the visitor's center that such an "experiment" was going on. Supposedly the trial period ends on October 3rd but take no chances - check it out in advance. The real clinker is that they drove through Cades Cove and the trailhead to Abrams Falls was closed to everyone. A very disappointing day.

This is a popular hike in the Smokies, especially for families with kids. The trail is paved and climbs steadily up for 1.3 miles. In the busy season, you can only go as fast as the people in front of you. Once at the falls, you can climb on the rocks but there is little else to do.

We went early to find parking and beat the traffic. Fun hike not really difficult but still up hill and into the mountains enough to make it fun. Definitely worth it but go early

The falls are beautiful, but too many people!!! And nearly all without masks. The path is crumbled away in parts, so don’t let the paving fake you out into thinking it’s stroller friendly. It is not. There is very little parking, so be prepared to park along the road. I personally find the pavement more difficult to hike than dirt—inclines are harder on the knees and feet on pavement, imho.

The hike is short in length (about 2.5 miles round trip), but has some long climbs, so he prepared for that.

The hike back is 1.3 miles. Going you are climbing up a grade most of the way. The trail itself is not suitable for strollers, and dogs are prohibited. We still saw people attempting to use/take both. The walking trail is paved, but the pavement is very broken and hard to maneuver around mile 1.0 to 1.3. The park needs to either go in and repave that area or remove the broken blacktop entirely for safety. Once to the falls, it was a great viewing area and photos are beautiful!

The trail is just wonderful to see all the views along the way. It is said to be easy and for and out of shape 71 year old it was very hard to do in the heat of the day.

We hiked this trail in Oct 2024. There is minimal parking - this was an issue - we drove about a half mile down the road. There were about 5 spots where we parked. It was about a 3.6 mile round trip hike from there. There is only like 25 parking spaces at the trail head and people were waiting and standing in spots. They really need more parking. The trail head says it is 1.3 miles from the sign. Pretty easy trail to hike - while it is paved there is alot of errosion and missing pavement. We saw quite a few strollers. Even wth the big tire bob strollers this would be a challenge because the pavement is not smooth and very narrow in some places. I wouldnt recomend bringing a stroller and if you do you better bring an off raod wheel type.
This is a great easy hike probably for all ages. It is a moderate type hike with the paved path - but erroded and narrow in some places.

Even if it’s a cool fall morning, this moderate trail will warm you up in no time. There is asphalt on the trail, but it’s bumpy and narrow at times. The first half of the trail is rather inclined but don’t lose hope! We saw people of all ages and physical ability levels hiking the trail.
We recommend setting out before 10am during peak times, as the trail gets busy and there are a few narrow spots.
The waterfall is beautiful, even in the drought. There is a small bridge and plenty of flat rock from which to view the falls. Some venture off trail to climb down a rock path and see the lower falls. You can also continue beyond the falls on a rocky, unpaved trail. It’s a fun challenge, but there aren’t any good views.

Great easy hike to beautiful falls. This was our 3 and 4 year old’s first hike and this was a hit. We did see a mama bear and two cubs.

Our family enjoyed this hike. In my option, I wouldn’t take very young children due to the trail. There’s a lot of rough spots. The falls were pretty and it wasn’t too crowded. We were there by 8:00am and the parking lot was almost full.

Absolutely beautiful. We couldn’t do it for the first day because no parking space but for the day after we finally made it. Wasn’t easy for us to carry small girl all the time but when we up to point it worth and no more tried. Please wear good shoes. I recommended must see this.

Fortunately we were aware of parking situation after visiting the park information center. We reserved spaces on shuttle to falls parking lot. The hike was pretty and not too difficult. The falls are well worth the hike.

Beutiful place nice hike it was worth it. Parking spot is small but it was ockay no complain and the trail not that deficulf i really enjoyed my time in the park.

Our whole family liked this hike. It is only 30 minutes to the falls from the trailhead. It is paved somewhat but it has been a long time since it was replaced so there are large chunks missing and lots of uneven spots. Don’t bring a wheelchair. Also wouldn’t recommend bringing toddlers unless you want to constantly hover over them as there are a ton of steep drop offs. This is a great hike for those that aren’t avid hikers and want a little elevation change and great payoff at the falls. It gets beyond crowded so if you don’t want to deal with hard to find parking and a mass of people on narrow trails go within an hour of sunrise. We arrived at 8:45 on a Monday and had to park a 5 minute walk up the road just to get to trailhead.

This hike was enjoyable, and I would rate it moderate. The trail was paved once upon a time, but weather and rain have eroded a lot of the pavement so it can be rather rugged in certain areas. The trail is all uphill to the falls, and down on the return. The elevation is gradual, but you do feel it. Although several people on the trail reported seeing a bear cub run across the trail, we didn't see one. The falls are beautiful, but sadly with so many people there we were unable to really enjoy them. There were probably about 40 people at the upper falls and maybe 20 or more below. This was on a Wednesday in mid-August about 1:00 pm. On the weekend, I think the trail and falls would be a challenge if there were a lot of people. The trail can be dangerous in places due to steep dropoffs, so be cautious. Walking sticks are a big plus as is water and snacks. Note that there are no restrooms or areas to sit and rest on the trail. Allow 2 - 3 hours for the entire trail. Parking is an issue.

We went with 5 kids right at sunrise. It was cold but worth it. It got so much busier on our way back. The views are beautiful. The falls are so beautiful. The climb is difficult but doable. Definitely worth it.

The hike going up to the falls is up hill but well worth the trip just take your time and it isn’t bad. On the way up saw two bear cubs up in a tree was really cool. The trail was pretty crowded but wasn’t terrible.

What a fantastic way to experience the Smokey Mountains! My 5 year old and 9 year old boys both loved it! It was long enough that you felt like you went on a nice hike, but not too long to be overwhelming.

Laurel Falls is about a 20 minute drive from Townsend and close to Gatlinburg. Parking is limited and we saw numerous cars parked along the road in order to do the hike.

There is a paved path from the parking lot to the Falls. It’s in pretty decent condition although a couple spots need some repair. It didn’t strike me as a wheelchair friendly path. There are some sharp drop offs near the waterfall, but nothing that induced my vertigo. The first half of the walk is uphill but not too bad if you take it slow.

The Falls at the top are very pretty. There’s a small pool area at the base of the Falls and a bit of rock climbing available near the Falls. The area is shaded and relaxing. It’s well worth the walk. Another trail goes beyond the Falls but we turned around at the Falls and can’t share anything on the rest of the Trail.

It’s a great way to spend 45-60 minutes and a great chance for some exercise.

This is a good little hike up to see the falls. It's not a large waterfall by any means and there is not a lot of room once you get there. There's no fee, no bathroom facilities or places to buy water, so take it with you. Parking is limited but people park along the road. I suggest going early as we were there later and it was very crowded - kids and people playing in and around the falls. Also earlier would be a little cooler. The volunteer at the bottom informed us that there had been increased sightings of copperheads, rattlers, and bear that day along the trail. These are critters of the area and humans are invading their space so keep an eye - look ahead and be careful. This didn't and wouldn't keep us from hiking up to the falls, just something to be aware of. It took us about 1 1/2 hours. There is a break in the trees in one area that has a great view.

Moderately difficult hike into a picturesque waterfall.
It is somewhat unique that the pathway crosses at about the midway point of the falls, allowing you to see both up and down on the waterfall.

There were people everywhere. This would not have been a problem, but lots of people not following rules and National Park procedures (trash strewn about, dogs/dog poop, beer bottles, etc.) This was an easy hike with a slight grade that was manageable for all sorts of folks (children, elderly, surgery recovery).

The falls themselves were beautiful and it was nice to cool down a bit once at the top. We even saw a young bear on our trip, which was a highlight for us.

We knew this area was popular, so we arrived early and secured a parking space! Great views. Path paved-ish during most of the hike. Trail was busy, but not overcrowded (probably due to the limited parking.) Despite the parking woes, people on the trail were friendly.

Second time we've done this. So much fun. Always a highlight of our trip. The hike is pretty easy and very scenic. The Falls are very cool. The kids went down below to explore more and loved it.

The trail to the falls was paved at some point but now it comes and goes being broken up over the years. The walk to the falls is all up hill so it can be a little ruff going if your not in shape. Strollers, wheelchairs or any other power driven device is not recommended.

We hiked this in a total of 4 hours. We have a 13 and 3 year old, so we stopped to explore and spent a good bit of time up at the top of the falls. There’s an AMAZING place along towards the falls where the trees open up and you can see for miles! There was also a Search and Rescue guy at the top who was very friendly, answered questions, and made this mama few better- especially since I slipped twice- Ha!
Overall it was a great hike for families. Pretty well-maintained paved trail, washed in spots, but nothing that caused us to have trouble navigating.
Cons- parking. Wow. We arrived around 9:45 and ended up parking almost 1/2 a mile away. That added to our time, too. I’m not sure if there’s a better solution, since it’s a National park, but be prepared to walk. Many people were making their own parking spots, which was dangerous in my opinion. Also, be prepared for crowds. We ended up snacking a little ways around from the falls to have some quiet.

Very nice hike. Uphill on the way to the falls so return trip is all downhill.
Do not take pets on this hike. Bears will go after them.
There are no restrooms at the trail head so visit the visitors center before starting the hike. This hike is very popular so arrive early.

Paved path right off the main road through the Smokey’s. Please don’t litter- it hurts the wildlife and it trashes everyone!
Some good inclines and steep drop offs.
Great photography opportunities!
Pets are not allowed on this hike.

Beautiful walk up the hill in the woods. Falls is lovely though not dramatic. The volunteer, Bill, whom we met on the trail is fantastic. He was informative and friendly. He taught us a lot about the bears and the park. Like many places near Gatlinburg—quite busy.

This hike has a paved path which I do not prefer. It is a bit narrow in places and with broken-off places of pavement. I do not recommend this hike for experienced hikers. I have been on many beautiful, challenging hikes--this is NOT one of those. This is an EASY hike with a nice waterfall at top (1.3 miles up, not steep) which is good for people who do not want to exert themselves and young kids.
I would rate this hike with 2 1/2 stars (below average).

Laurel Falls is one of our favorite hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Easy trail and the beautiful falls make it worth the short hike.

I read reviews all the time on this forum. Laurel Falls is a VERY popular hike. To really enjoy the falls, you need to be at the trailhead very early. I travel in early May and try to be at the trailhead no later than 7:30AM. Having the falls all to yourself is so much more enjoyable than later in th day when people are packed like sardines in a can around the falls. In the busy summer months you should get there by 7 AM

Went on this trail with my family and 2 dogs, a chihuahua/poodle mix and a toy poodle. Was told halfway up that were no dogs allowed on the trail because they attract bears... so my father and mother had to take them back to the car; while my sister and I continued on the trail. The trail is eroded, and needs to be patched up. It’s also very slippery. I slipped on my way back down and my sister almost lost her balance also. While the falls is quite beautiful and well worth the hike, be warned that when going back down TAKE YOUR TIME AND DON’T RUSH.

We enjoyed our hike to the falls. They were beautiful. It was an easy hike. Places to stop & rest along the way if you need to.

This hike is well worth it for the beautiful falls, but the trail this year is in rough shape. The asphalt has not been maintained. It should probably be removed.

Lucked out and got a parking spot as someone was leaving. Tough hike for me but I managed. By the time I got there I was exhausted and not up for scrambling to the base. Didn't enjoy as much as other waterfalls that were easier to access.

I mean it’s a nice hike with nice views but it has become too crowded. The trail does actually continue past the falls and this was the best part because no else went past the falls. It really is beautiful and a good hike it has just become way too crowded. If it’s your only option go but be warned it is crowded. There was sadly graffiti and trash. Leave no trace please.

The distance seemed very manageable but it was a lot of uphill hiking. It is asphalt most of the way but it isn’t smooth. We saw a family with a toddler in a stoller and they were struggling with the incline and unevenness. The falls at the end were definitely worth it! It was serene and beautiful.

The falls and the trail were good ... but the complete failure of the park providing parking for only 20 cars or so is unacceptable! Road side parking for miles are off limits by cones and chains by park leaders. UNACCEPTABLE! First trip here that we skipped this but returned later to wait for a spot. It's not worth the wait in the sun for a parking spot.

The hike up to the falls is mostly a paved trail. Although about halfway up, the pavement crumbles.

The falls are ok, not the best in the park.

The parking lot is fairly small but there is a lot of parking along the road nearby.

So, as a “beginner “ hike, I don’t recommend. The path was paved most of the way but wore/broken in places. Very narrow in other places. As someone who’s deathly afraid of heights, just stay away. I couldn’t even enjoy the vistas because it was right on the edge of the mountain and soo narrow a path. It was a very long trek up! Not my cup of tea for sure. I love the Smokey mountains but this was not for me!!

It was an easy hike but to really see the waterfall you had to go down a really rocky climb to see it so not everyone can do that. Kids around us were annoying.

Trail was nice and looked like it had been paved a while ago. The paving now is falling apart. I almost brought a stroller because of previous reviews saying that you could. I would say do not bring a stroller on this trail.

It took my family about 40 minutes going up with three young kids. There are areas where the side of the trail drops off hundreds of feet so keep your kids close.

I went during the week around 11 am and it was packed. I got lucky parking by pulling up as another car was leaving. There were people parked all down the road. When we got to the waterfall people were climbing all over and slipping. I watched several people fall but lucky no one seemed to be seriously hurt.

I would recommend to a friend to check this out but just know it is crowded.

This is an easy 1.3 mile walk up to the falls, 2.6 miles round trip. The trail is broken blacktop but people did push at least one wheelchair as well as strollers up the mountain. All ages made the trip. Wanted to do another falls but weather did not permit. There are some warning signs about the bears but we didn't see any bears. Do give it a try.

Amazing is all I can say. The hike is about 2 miles and our 4 year old had the time of her life seeing a bear cub, climbing small rocks, seeing great views and getting to the waterfall. This was her first one to see and she loved it. My wife didn't care for the bear but it was harmless and we were by slower paced people. We felt we could out run if necessary :). Take a slower friend for safety reasons lol....

Great time and a must see if in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg

The first 2/3rds of the trail is uphill but not too bad even with the broken pavement trail. The last third was very difficult simply because the drop off beside the trail becomes fairly sheer and seems to be hundreds of feet straight down in places. It wouldn’t have been such a big deal if it were just my wife and I and our older boys, but with three year old twins who like their independence it was a nightmare trying to keep them away from the edge. The crowds only make matters worse since coming down you are on the cliff side of the trail. I’m not even sure what the falls look like because as soon as we saw them we turned around and headed back down. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this as an “easy family hike” as we were told.

My wife and I stopped here after going to Chimney Top in the morning. We were underwhelmed by the experience. I could see this as a good stop if you have young kids or folks that aren't up for a long hike and get there early.

Arriving at noon, we were able to get a spot in the lot by chance. We witnessed a man get out of his car to yell at someone about a spot, then get back in his car, try to back in another spot, hit a car, and then speed off as the ranger tried to get him to stop. Not a good sign.

The trail was extremely crowded with folks that didn't have much awareness about their surroundings and masks were few. Very disappointing. We considered turning around but didn't, but wish we had. At the top it was so crowded that we couldn't even get much of a picture and wanted to get down as fast as we could. After dodging strollers and families blocking the entire path we finally made it back to the car.

Based on the advice from a couple of reviews we arrived at Laurel Falls at 7:20AM on Monday, June 24, 2019. Only a few cars were parked. The walk up was a good hike with calming scenery. By the time we were down around 8:45 AM, the parking lot was full and more people were walking up the trail. Falls were nice to view and hike up and down was exhilarating,especially without crowds. While path is paved, it is narrow and uneven. Recommend good walking shoes. Can be strenuous for those not used to walking up steep inclines. Signs advise against strollers and wheelchairs.

My kids are 6 and 9 and we all were able to make the hike! The trail is mostly paved the whole way, but there are drop offs close to the falls so keep a close earch on small children. It can get pretty steep, too. I'm in "okay" shape and was a little winded in the beginning of the hike. The falls are gorgeous and worth the trip! It does get very crowded, very quickly. We were on the trail by 9a, played in the water for about an hour or so, and within two hours the trail was so, so crowded. If you're wanting to avoid people, go early!

The road is paved, but very uneven in some places. The path there is almost entirely uphill, making the walk down much easier. We saw several people with strollers who looked like they were regretting ignoring the signs that said they were not recommended. The view at the end is worth the hike!

The falls is quite beautiful, and the trail is family-friendly, not very hard to walk, 1.3 miles one-way, although it's paved, it is rather uneven. it took 1-1.5 hour to finish the round trip. We saw a bear in the forest when we walk towards the falls, also when we walked back, maybe the same bear.

This was a perfect hike with beautiful scenery! There were several photo spots and obviously the falls were breath taking!

We didn’t get to see it. Please note, you have to make reservations to park online. You can’t just park and hike. At least that is what it said when we were there 9/7. We couldn’t get any reservations so we skipped it 😔

My family and I, ages 6-72, were excited for a fairly easy hike up to a waterfall. We knew Laurel Falls was very popular and we visited the park during October fall break (note: do not come during this time!! It’s way too crowded and took us an hour to crawl down the road to leave the park). The hike is a little more difficult than the NPS website leads you to believe and the falls themselves are really underwhelming compared to how popular this hike is. If I had to do it over again, I would just park at one of the many small turn offs a little further into the park and gone for a hike in a lesser known area.

If I recall it was supposed to be about 2.3 miles round-trip, but they seem to neglect to mention that it is at least 95% uphill on the way there to the falls. However, even though it was a bit of a struggle for me being out of practice. I was finally able to make it and it was well worth the effort. After getting to the top I sat for a spell, and took some photos, and just enjoyed the peaceful nature. It was absolutely beautiful and the water was very full due to the recent rains. The way down was not as hard as going down was 95% downhill. One suggestion make sure you have a good set of sneakers that is fitting well.

My family and I entered the park in the late afternoon on a Sunday and had just planned to drive to some overlooks, figuring the hiking would be very crowded on a weekend, and we happened to see a few open parking spots right in the Laurel Falls parking lot, so we decided to do the hike!

The hike is paved, but definitely a workout on the uphill portion. There was a decent sized crowd at the top, but they were all very respectful of letting people take pictures of the falls, so we got great shots without stragglers in the background.

If you are up for it, I would suggest taking the (unpaved, slightly rugged) side trail to the bottom of the falls (if you are wearing hiking boots) and view the falls from there. You are able to see the tiers of the falls and it was definitely a spectacular view!

My wife and I, along with many others, drove to the Laurel Falls trail head and walked the 1.3 miles to the falls. It is worth the energy. Beautiful falls and the trail is a relatively easy climb.

The only reason this didn't get 5 start is how crowded it was. I went in October but from what I heard from people, summer is also very crowded. There are 2 parking lots close to the trailhead but they can get filled quickly. Good thing about a crowded trail is that if you sit in the parking lot for a few min, someone will be coming out of the trial back to their car. If you don't want to wait, there is additional parking along the road. The path was paved. There are some very deteriorated areas. If you are bringing a wheelchair or a stroller, you may have to maneuver or pick up and carry it over some of the sketchier spots. The path is easy but if you are not in fair shape, there are many spots where you can stop and take a break. There are some great spots to take pictures and at the top, the trail ends right at the top tier of the waterfall. The area can get crowded but we had no problem getting a photo in front of the waterfall.

I did not hike Laurel Falls on my last visit because of all the cars parked along the road. This means a very crowded area around the falls. I have visited many times very early in the day and had the falls all to myself. Be aware that the park is having a pilot program from 9/7-10/31/21 at Laurel Falls. Reservations are needed with parking at the falls trailhead costing $14.00. There will be a shuttle from Gatlinburg originating at the Ober parking lot on Cottage Drive near Bennett's BBQ. Cost is $5.00 per person for round trip to Laurel Falls. Add an additional $10.00 if you need to park at the lot.

Laurel Falls is a fairly easy hike on a paved trail up to a beautiful waterfall! Despite it being paved, strollers would probably be difficult. Our 2 year old walked a lot of it and we carried him occasionally as well, but was well worry the hike!

We love hiking and seeing waterfalls and this one was very worth the trek. It's a 1.3 mile trek with about 600 feet elevation gain, but not all that strenuous. Parts of the trail need repair, so watch your step. At the end is a great waterfall.

I said yes to the 1.3 mile hike straight uphill. Mid hike the rain came , drenched from head to toe.. but we kept going... so glad we did. Simply breath taking. Nature at its best. Glad I pushed thru to make it to the top. We had experienced a friendly slithering visitor on our way down. But he soon went along with his business

Nice and relatively easy hike to the Falls and worth doing, particularly with kids. It may be paved but it is uneven and some areas eroded, so wear proper closed toe shoes, and I can’t imagine it would be fun using a stroller on the uneven ground so bring a carrier.

The hike to the waterfalls is not so difficult. But if you need assistance walking, it would be challenging. At the waterfalls, it gets very busy and there is not enough space. The reason I give 5 stars is while we were walking back, we saw a young bear. It was in front of us. I got very scared at first. But our group keep quiet. The bear was just eating some berries and did not mind watching us. He/she ignored our group and slowly moved on. Such a great experience.

This trail is for just about everyone who would like to get outside of town and experience some of the natural beauty without hiking all day or getting too fatigued. The trailhead is just past the visitor center. The gradient is moderant and the path is paved the entire way, although it is a rough asphalt. If not for a couple spots where the asphalt is too narrow, it would be considered wheel chair accessible.

Beautiful, pretty easy trail. My boyfriend and I are not avid hikers, so we were looking for an easy trail on our trip to Gatlinburg. We found parking right across from the entrance of the trail with no issues. But there is parking along the road headed to the trail entrance as well. It was fairly busy but nothing too crazy. The hike to the falls is uphill but not too difficult. There are some benches along the way to stop and sit for a bit. We saw plenty of families, including younger kids, who seemed to be managing well on the trail. It is paved but there are parts that are broken up. Once you get to the waterfall, there is not much room but people keep piling in to get pictures. There were groups of people taking way too many pictures and no one could get to the waterfall and others couldn't leave. The hike back was easier considering it was mostly downhill, but standing on the right side of the path next to the drop offs is a bit scary. For anyone looking for an easier hike, I definitely recommend.

Too many people. No parking. We didnt even get to stop. By the time we could park 4 miles from the start of the trail…who would want to walk a 1.3 mile trail??

A very nice relatively easy hike for a family. This is a busy and popular hike but there is quite a bit of parking at the trail head. The trail is paved however some sections of the trail has washed away. The falls is very pretty and a nice place to take a little break to enjoy the view and sounds of the water. Some people were wading into the water below the falls to cool off.

This was a beautiful and moderate hike; while there is elevation, it's fairly gradual. As others have said, it's paved, but uneven. I'm not a serious hiker, and I was able to make it without too much struggle. There are many really picturesque spots, and the falls are gorgeous.
While the National Park can't necessarily control this, fellow visitors can sometimes take away from the experience. We got to the falls as a 25-person bachelorette party had taken over the area for pictures, and a pushy mother of the bride was coordinating a series of photos (now with the bridesmaids! now with your cousins!) and it was very hard for others to get photos. We experienced a similar family reunion group of adults shouting obscenity-laced insults to each other and pushing/shoving each other on another trail. So unfortunate that people forget common courtesy!

First of all we saw many people hiking in very crappy shoes, flip flops, slides etc... You should really be wearing gym shoes for this! This is supposed to be a paved trail but many areas were not paved or very broken up and needed repair. It's not a trail for strollers, but we did see people attempting to bring strollers and having a hard time with it. Bring water! It's uphill, hot and over 2 miles round trip. We saw a snake and a mother bear and her cub on the side of the trail. The falls at the end were crowded, I wish we had hiked earlier in the day

I thought this was a fantastic trail to do with our family (4 yr old and 1 yr old). We did hold the one year old and made the 4 yr old hold hands as we approached the top because there started to be a very steep drop off but overall the trail was very doable with kids. There are signs at the top warning to watch your kids because of the drops offs. We stopped at the falls and had some snacks with the kids to take a break, it was somewhat crowded but we still got a beautiful view of the falls during our snack. The one year old slept the whole way down! We got lucky with parking as we pulled in right as somebody was leaving .. parking was tight but a little patience goes a long way, people are coming and going all day long. Overall a great experience.

Long hike, steep and uneven terrain. Not ideal for anyone looking for an easy hike. Did see 4 copper head snakes. Once arrived a million people crammed in one area. Many other places to visit falls and see the beauty of the smokies.

I went on this hike 3/7/22. This is not a “moderate” hike. It is uphill, quite steeply, for an hour straight until you reach the falls. I am an 23 year old active nurse and had to pause every few minutes for a break to make it up. The path is poorly maintained and has absolutely no safety railings in sight. The path itself is maybe 4 feet in width and you have to fight with people coming back down for walking space. I would not recommend this for pets (they are not allowed but people still bring them), elderly, young children or inexperienced hikers. It’s just plain dangerous. The side of the trails drop straight down hundreds of feet, into rocks and trees. The falls itself are pretty but there are so many people there it’s practically standing room only. The hike down is a steep downhill shuffle for an hour straight just hoping that you don’t roll and ankle on the uneven pavement remnants and fall off the edge. Overall I would not do this hike again and would feel unsafe recommending it to anyone with young children or the elderly.

My husband, 6 year old and I had a great time hiking to Laurel Falls! It was an easy hike and really fun to get into the falls once we arrived. We began at 5PM in September to avoid the crowds, it was approximately 40 minutes each way. Beautiful views through the forest and overlooking the gorgeous Smokies. Will definitely be back! (Note: I saw families with strollers but it looked difficult to manage, there are several uneven parts of the path)

This trail wasn’t our favorite due to the crowds. The trail itself was fine enough. Uphill and some broken pavement, but not bad. Our five year old was prepared and knew how to be safe while hiking this, but I wouldn’t take wild children, anyone not used to hiking, or those with mobility issues. It’s uphill to the falls, which were gorgeous. Seriously beautiful. We felt cramped on the slippery ledges though. It was way too crowded to be peaceful. We went on a weekday and got there very early and found a spot, but barely. Just be prepared.

It was an easy hike to the top and falls are beautiful. We found ourselves a nice spot right by the falls. Fall colors were very pretty and the journey to the top also has amazing views. We reached there after 10.30 am on tuesday morning and were able to find a parking spot. It was crowded, so I highly recommend going down the rocky path (just before the top and crowd)to sit by the falls. Would recommend it to everyone visiting the area.

Don't know why this hike is rated so high as we found it "average". It's listed as "easy" for difficulty and we'd agree with that. On a Tuesday morning we got lucky and got a parking spot but don't count on it. If you really want to see the falls, you may need to try a couple times before you get a spot, even from lots further away. The falls were just ok. Lots of people on the trail and at the falls kind of ruined it for us. If you don't get to see the falls, don't worry; you are not missing much.

The whole thing is an uphill climb, 1.3 miles each way. It is tough with a stroller, but can be done. I wish I brought my baby carrier, but we have kind of grown out of it, and I just didn’t bring it. The path is paved, but it has been many years since it has been repaired. There are many big openings in the trail, and it gets worse and you get closer to the top. The falls are beautiful and we are glad we made it, though it was quite a struggle. The way back was easier, and mostly downhill. Btw, there are signs all over to remind you that it is not recommended for strollers or wheelchairs.

This was a moderate hike up to these falls. The falls were worth the trip and the scenery on the way was also beautiful. It tends to get crowded so go early or later in the afternoon.

The internet says this is easy. Its more on the moderate side. The pavement is falling apart and there is quite a hike up. Comming down is nice. Lol. The falls are very nice and pretty. Plan for lots of people and not so much peacefullness.

A very easy hike to the top of the falls. We went later in the day, to avoid the larger crowds. We saw people of all ages hiking up.

This is a decent hike with fairly good trail. Waterfall is beautiful but popular hike in park and pretty good amount of foot traffic and makes falls pretty crowded once you get there. I prefer the less travelled path but it is beautiful and worth the hike.

The trail was perfect for young kids (2-6). It's short with minimal elevation as far as a waterfall trail goes. It is not stroller proof. It is a little narrow in spots with steep drop offs so be careful. The falls themselves were nice but not spectacular. Our THRILL was the bears. We were told there were 3 roaming the trails. As we approached a milemarker passerby's were warning us. We had no idea they were right on the trail. Literally around a corner we were face to face (10-15 yards) for juvenile bears. We tried to back up but the groups behind us had caught up to us and there was no place to go. We stayed calm and the bears stayed calm and walked of back in to the mountain. WOW.

The hike was ok, even with a kid under 10. Mostly shaded so cool enough. Beautiful breaks in the trees on the way up for stunning views! You’ll hear the water when you get close. There is a way to climb up to the top part of the falls along the left side and there is also a way to climb down to the bottom part of the falls as well.

This was listed as an “easy” hike. It was still very strenuous. It was “easy” because the path is paved... but the hike is entirely uphill to the falls. Still, it was worth it!

This was an easy hike, but was very crowded at the falls people sitting and making it difficult to maneuver. Views were pretty along the way.

Wonderful hike for the whole family with a beautiful prize at the end of the path. Nice path with several place to take a quick break. The views are amazing. We took time to wade in the falls and enjoyed the cool water on a hot day. Bring water for the walk!

We loved this trail which is roughly paved with a beautiful waterfall. The hike difficulty is moderate for a 60 year old woman. Sadly, the pavement will not accommodate a electric scooter.
Always put your phones in water tight bags because it can suddenly rain even with no rain in the forecast! During June, We hiked back in a hard rain thunderstorm with lightning and hail. Remember that you are at a higher elevation.

Beautiful scenic trail. We didn't anticipate how steep and long it would take but that was on us...lol We had ages 8-70 years old and we all made it to the falls. We took several stops and took our time and the trip was definitely worth it. So beautiful

This was so much fun, very challenging since we decided to go with a stroller but my strong husband was able to get the kids up and down with no issues, a few of the paved parts were broken so we had to lift the stroller but the climb and risk was well worth it.

Absolutely wonderful scenery and hike. The waterfall itself was spectacular and the scenery all throughout the Smokies was breathtaking.

We very much enjoyed our hike up to Laurel Falls, but be forewarned - it is a little over quite a rocky mile going uphill (but so much easier coming back down). I would not rate it an easy hike, but the Falls were beautiful, so it was definitely worth it. It was crowded when we visited about midday. I might suggest going early morning to avoid some of the crowds and to find closer available parking. We had to park about a 1/2 mile from the trail head. We did see several families with young children (even some carrying babies or pushing strollers), but be sure to watch young children very closely. The trail gets a bit narrow in some areas, and it's a steep drop off the side. All in all, it's a nice family hike - definitely recommend.

Overall a nice hike - quick and can be out and back in less than 2 hours. We read online how crowded it was, so we arrived at 715 shortly after sunrise. There were 2 other cars parked at the trailhead. We passed both of these groups coming down, so when we arrived at the falls, we had it to ourselves! Plenty of time to enjoy and take pics. On our way down, we passed a lot of people coming up, and when we got back to the parking lot at 845 AM, it was full (maybe ~30 spaces total).
The trail is overall pretty easy - mostly paved but some broken areas. I think novice hikers would find this reasonable - more experienced hikers may be a bit bored. Nice views at a few points along the trail. We heard and then saw a medium-sized black bear in the woods about 10 yards from path (and we got down the trail pretty quickly once we saw that). The water level was low compared to some of the pictures we had seen, so would love to go back at some point after some rain. Would definitely recommend the hike!

We went the day after a big snow, the trails were pretty quiet for the most part. We got some great pictures by the falls! The trail just keeps winding through the forest so we turned around after going 3 miles.

I have hiked this trail 3 times before my hike today. All 3 times were 10 or more years ago and I have to say that this trail has seen better days. I wouldn't consider it all the way paved anymore because the asphalt is breaking up and eroding due to excessive weathering. It's so narrow in parts that other parties can't even pass without one party stopping and going to the extreme side to let people by. 10 years ago, this trail didn't have these issues. To me...it's getting dangerous.

Vacationed in the Smoky Mountains this Thanksgiving. One of our planned activities was to hike a couple trails. To accommodate all fitness levels we settled on Laurel Falls as our first choice. On the NPS website the trail is described as easy and suitable for family and kids. A passing mention is made regarding shear dropoffs, etc.

The views, the Falls, the foliage are all gorgeous. The trail is an easy hike. That said....this is not an appropriate hike for small children. There are no safety measures taken to prevent falls from the drop off....and the drop off is real. At the half way point there is a danger sign alerting hikers to the deaths that have occurred as the result of falls. The last warning is to control small children.

We had an 8, 10 and 12 year old with us. The trail was very crowded and at times required that we move very close to the unprotected edge. If we had known, we might have reconsidered and chosen differently.

1.3 miles uphill, paved sidewalk. The falls were beautiful! The best part we had a bear come out on the trail about 5 feet in front of us!

You want a smooth pavement, go somewhere else. The walk through the woods is enjoyable but not good start in few car park spaces available means you are fighting with other hikers for the spaces.

Got the last parking spot at 8am. Took 30 mins and one rest stop to hike up the 1.3 mile “paved-ish” trail with our 10,13, 16 year olds. We felt like this was our easiest hike in the park, other then a quiet walk trial just north of the Sugar-lands intersection. Falls were lovely and started to get crowded at the falls as more large groups made it to the top. The actual trail didn’t feel crowded. We spent 1 hour 25 mins Round trip.

The falls are truly beautiful! It's a Wonderful way to spend part of a day. There's room at the top to spend a few minutes enjoying the view. Some people climbed down close to the water. That being said, plan on about 1.5 miles hiking, mostly going up. Take water! It's a narrow path that's partly eroded. I wouldn't take a pet or small children as it's so narrow and there's no rail.

This trail is paved and only a little over a mile. Fairly easy and a big reward. The falls are beautiful. Is crowded later in the day and parking is near many trailheads and limited. I would definitely go early in the day.

A lot of the reviews say “easy hike”. Just think twice before taking this on with kids. We had a 10 year old and 6 year old. The trail was very narrow for the most part and with a lot of people on it even in the middle of January. Consequently, we were policing our kids constantly (“STAY TO THE RIGHT!!”) to make sure we were not in people’s way and it was annoying for all of us. Fairly steep incline. We made it about .6 miles up before we turned around. Not very scenic on the beginning of the trail which added to the kid misery.

Cataract Falls is much better with kids.

Short hike but it is uphill. Nice easy walk with shade. Highly recommend following the signs and not climbing on rocks. I saw a girl climb the rocks and fall because they are slippery and wet.

We went early (8 am) to avoid crowds. Glad we did, easy parking & maybe 15 folks at the falls when we arrived. The trail is mostly uphill on the way to the falls & steep drop offs so please watch children closely. The paved path is very worn in many places. We thoroughly enjoyed it & our kids (8 & 6) enjoyed exploring as much as they could along the way.

The falls are breathtaking but getting there is killer. The trail is 1.2 miles and it is badly washed out. It needs repairs.

We hiked to Laurel Falls with our kids (7 and 9) and loved it. It is very busy so recommend going early to find parking. It was 2.6 miles (round trip took just shy of 2hrs) with awesome views throughout! Def recommend if going to the Smokies.

This waterfalls and trail is amazing. We had a bit of trouble finding a place to park. There was a lot of people on the trail. But the scenery is so so pretty. The pathway is halfway paved and could use attention the whole way up. The trail is narrow and at places, very steep drop offs are alongside. But, you are hiking in the mountains and this is expected. The falls are gorgeous. Just breathtaking. I could do this hike many times over before tiring of it.

Beautiful and fairly short hike! The parking lot is very small but there is lots of parking alongside the road. The hike is uphill most of the way up. It is paved though in places the pavement is poor. We saw several people trying to push strollers up and struggling or not making it. There are steep drops offs near the end.

Go early in order to ensure parking because there are not many parking spaces. Bring water, wear good hiking shoes for the uneven surfaces, and know that there are some areas along the trail (especially near the falls) where there is a steep drop off on the side of the trail.

We were visiting with half of our party excited hikers, and the other half crabby, or lazy, or having a rough time with physical tasks. We looked for a place to hike where we could take in nice views and get some family photos without pushing the crab apples too far out of their comfort zone. It worked. We hoped to see wild animals, but only saw a few squirrels. We were surprised to not see any birds at all. The good news, though, is we didn’t see any snakes or creepy crawlers either. We went up around 1pm on a weekday and found about 20 people at the top when we arrived. The top area has about as much standing room near the waterfall as your typical Starbucks coffee shop has floor space. We highly recommend using a walking stick to help yourself balance, as the ground is not level - you’ll rise about 330 feet in elevation as you walk the trek that is over a mile one way. But it doesn’t seem like a mile, and the views are worth it! Enjoy!

We did this on our mom/son trip. So much fun and not a terribly difficult hike. Beautiful views and and falls at the end was worth every step. Be sure to go EARLY to bear the rush

This was beautiful but soooooo many people. Very populated place and tight track which is paved in and out. Go super early to try and avoid crowds for sure.

This is a relatively easy/short hike but if you are out of shape or have knee trouble be forewarned that there aren’t many places to rest along the trail. The path is paved but cracked and worn in many places so be careful where you walk. It’s also very narrow and is only wide enough for single file each way. I saw several families with squirmy toddlers and strollers which gave me pause because of the steep drop offs and slippery rocks. Right now (fall 2020 - Covid) it was very crowded and about 80% of people weren’t wearing masks. Very pretty view at the top! Parking was tricky even on a week day. You basically have to stalk people that are leaving to get a parking spot.

We took a stroller. It’s not ADA accessible. At times it’s narrow and bumpy along the way. It’s a steep hike at times. The key is to take plenty of breaks and bring some water. The destination is gorgeous!

Wear good walking shoes/boots and be prepared to do a fairly strenuous climb up hill for about 40 minutes. The path is paved but narrow in many places, not recommended for strollers or wheelchairs and there are few places along the way to rest. The falls are pretty and a good spot for photos but only a small area that had LOTS of people the day we hiked up. The walk back down was faster and less strenuous. Was overall a good workout for the legs. One of the few free activities you can do in the area. The park could certainly stand to install a few benches for resting along the way for those up in age, toting children in carriers, and/or not regular hikers.

Laurel Falls is a very popular hike as it is just a few miles from the National Park Visitors Center. There is a large Parking area on both sides of the road at the trail head as well as overflow parking along the road. The hike itself is pretty much uphill all the way but is a paved surface. The falls are very pretty and the picture does it justice.

Great easy hike. Easy in that it's about 2.6 miles without much elevation change. It is kind of paved, but it's really torn up in some places. I am by no means an expert, but I would not count on the pavement for a wheelchair, stroller, etc. Only reason I mention that, we saw a stroller on this trail.... Waterfalls is very nice, highly recommend. Gets very crowded. Note that there is additional parking about 0.25 miles down the street, which is where we parked.

Get here early or prepare yourself for TONS of people walking the same path. The falls were beautiful, but so many people made this not very authentic or a real hike.

The hike is moderately easy and well marked. The falls are nice and there's a pool you can dip your feet into. However, it's extremely crowded, even in the early morning. Parking can be difficult to find as well and there's no restroom at the trailhead. Definitely a hike worth taking but there are still better ones in the park.

This was my first ever hike and I'd give it an A+ for beginners, the fresh air and sounds of the falls were definitely worth my while. I took heed to other reviews saying to go early and they were spot on, there were loads of people coming up on our way down so YES go early!

Definitely a moderate to moderate-plus hike for two senior citizens in moderate shape. Gorgeous views are worth the hike on this just under 3 mile loop.

So glad we decided to hike to this waterfall! We visit in the summer of 2018. If you have young kids bring swimsuits so that they can enjoy the waterfall when they get there. It's absolutely beautiful!

Hiked this trail on a Sunday afternoon in early Nov. It's a 2.5 mile round trip, paved trail, steady uphill but easy. Took us about 1.5 hour, including looking at the falls and a bear along the way. It's a beautiful trail but it's very popular. That means lots of people and difficult to find parking. Would recommend early morning or late afternoon on a week day.

parking was a little challenging, we ended up at Maloney point and then went to the falls from there.. beautiful hike!!! straight up hill but the grade wasn't too killer! not well paved for anything with wheels though.. the view was worth the climb!!!
was a TON of people so we didn't linger too much at the top

The walk up is not a strenuous as the one to clingman dome, but just barely. You get one nice Vista along the way and the waterfall is spectacular. We arrived by 9:00 and got a nice parking space. Enjoy the scramble as cars contend for your space when you leave! Oh and, no bears this time, disappointingly.

Tough hike up and when you make it, it really wasn’t worth the hike. Small area, over crowed. Can’t even really get any good pics. Probably would t do again or recommend.

This is a fairly easy paved trail that has an incline so if not in shape, your thighs will definitely be burning. It was definitely worth the view. We went early on a Saturday morning and had no trouble with parking. However, the parking lot was packed when we left.

This trail is mostly paved and kind of steep at times. It's pretty much straight up on the way there, so I would definitely encourage you to bring water.

Parking was tough. Even though we were there by probably 9:30 AM, I think that we parked 3/4 of a mile away down the road. If you have kids with you, make sure that they understand that there are no walkways, so they will need to stay close to the edge of the road.

The view at the top was pretty! The water was so cool and felt like natural air conditioning after the hike up. We stayed up there for a little bit just to enjoy the view and rest.

We visited Tuesday July 27. No one could get to the falls because there was a mother bear with 2 big cubs very close to the trail. It was very crowded and most people hiked until they heard there was a bear (or until they got close to the bear) and then turned around. I wanted to see the bear but I heard that she was agitated and vocalizing. That was enough to turn me around, but most people kept going. I was afraid someone would get hurt.

the incline walkway for the walk up to the falls was long and not super worth it compared to all the other falls I saw in the area but still a nice view just not a lot of space to walk around the top

LOVE this hike! It was a fun, quick hike with a great pay-off: beautiful Laurel Falls! We were surprised by how many strollers we encountered on this hike, though. It is somewhat paved on the lower part of the trail, but the concrete is in pretty bad shape. This is definitely not a hike for pushing a child in a stroller! That being said, it is a great hike for kids... just long enough to push them, with a wonderful waterfall at the end that they can splash in! And, of course, the return to the car is all downhill!

Pretty waterfall and reasonable hike. You hike up to the waterfall and then hike down to get out of the park. Trail and waterfall gets crowded. Go early or later in the day. Our five year old had no issues with the hike, but we did go slower than most. Towards the falls there are some pretty mountain views and opportunities for nice pictures

It's a fairly easy hike but I recommend going early if you want to avoid tons of people, especially if you want to try to photograph the falls. We didn't realize this and went at the wrong time of day to photograph the falls. people have access to the water so there can be large crowds of people in the water and doing moderate climbing of rocks to obstruct any clean shots you might have gotten otherwise. Parking can also be difficult if you wait to visit and the crowds have started the gather.

If photographing them isn't important though, the falls are breathtaking to see at any time of day and I highly recommend taking the hike up! On our visit, we happened to see a momma bear and two cubs on the rocks near the top of the falls and it was pretty fun to watch the clumsy darlings try to navigate fallen trees to follow their mom up and down the rock face.

This was a Short hike for a great reward! The falls were beautiful but the hike wasn’t that interesting.

We visited Laurel Falls on a Friday morning two weeks ago. Very easy to get to- just a few minutes from the Sugarlands Visitors Center. We arrived around 8:30 and got the last parking spot. When we left, people had parked up and down the road near the lot. We took our boys (ages 4 and 7) with us. The trail is paved and steep on the way up, but obviously easier on the way down. There are beautiful views of the mountains at some spots through the trees. Toward the end of the trail close to the falls, the trail becomes very narrow with a vertical drop down the side. We kept hold of both boys during this part.

This was a great hike. Not too difficult, not too hard. Nonstop trip to the falls at the top, good exercise and pretty along the way as well.

If and when you come to Gatlinburg it’s a must do bucket list 2.6 mile hike round trip in God’s Country !🇺🇸

They are going to soon redo the path because it is a mess. Lots of hikers so it feels safe. I couldnt go to the end due to heart issues but my husband did. The falls was small.

had a wonderful time got to see the beauty of the smoky mountain's and Laura falls so awesome love being in Gatlinburg and pigeon forge we stayed for a week and going back in April 2023

This is definitely a hike for those that don’t hike at all. Like myself. We wanted to see waterfalls on our vacation. And after our first hike earlier in the week we needed an easy hike but just as beautiful.

Go early if you want parking & to get ahead of the crowds! This hike ends with a stunning waterfall and a lovely area that many dip their feet in. So much cooler as you approach the falls with water coming from higher up the mountain. Wear shoes that have a great grip as this area can be very slippery!

Tip: Kids can easily do this hike, just bring water & pace. Snacks not recommended due to bears.

It’s a beautiful hike. (October) re: children…The trail is broken in many places and is not great for strollers. There are very steep drop offs at some places and at the fall itself keep kids away from steep drops. The water feels great on your feet and we saw a bear on the way down. It seems a bit farther than 1.3 miles each way. A beautiful adventure.

I had originally planned to see a diffrent waterfall in the area but changed my itinerary to see this one which is closer to and more accesible from pigeon forge. This is a very busy trail but is very scenic and highly recommended. The falls are beautiful and only a mile hike from the road.

We got here early for a parking spot knowing that parking was limited. We actually liked that parking was limited as it kept the crowds at the falls down compared to our last visit a few years ago. The falls were well worth the hike. We also were lucky enough to see a small bear on the trail on the way up.

This is not "paved" as advertised! The asphalt has been eroded by water and tree roots. I don't recommend this hike at all during busy times and especially not during a pandemic. Most of the kids on the trail were complaining or crying. The waterfall itself was so crowded I didn't bother to take a picture. Even if the crowds weren't there there are so many other hikes in the Great Smoky mountains that are so much better and more "peaceful".

Great hike. DO NOT TRY TO PUSH STROLLER. It’s paved but not stroller friendly. Just wear baby carrier.

This is a nice trail for first timers hiking in the Smokies, 2.6 miles round trip, the Falls are refreshing when you get there…however it is a popular trail and parking fills up quickly so go early

Surprises me to see all the high reviews to this hike. The path itself is terrible, broken up cement/asphalt in some spots, dirt in others, nowhere to sit along the way for older people that may need a break here and there, and SO SO crowed it was like standing in line waiting to get into a concert. Once we got up to the falls I thought, this is it? People were standing in masses of at least 100 ppl trying to take photos. I guess we see lots of falls on our hikes in Michigan and to us this was a big let down. We spent the rest of our week hiking in Crosby Nature Trails where the trails were beautiful, no crowds, beautiful streams and little bridges. So many choices in the park beside this spot.

This is a trail alongside the fighting creek gap road in the great smoky mountain area. It is a easy trail with around 400 feet if elevation gain. The trail is asphalt paved general with some rocky paths in between. Trail is around 1.2 miles one way. At the end there is a small water fall. Overall a nice trail to be done.

We decided it was such a beautiful February day that it was perfect day to see the falls.
The trail has a moderate slope and while I will use the word paved loosely. There is pavement but in spots its getting down to almost nothing. So mind your step. The trail winds and twists its way up to the falls. it's 2.6 miles round trip. Remember the trip down is easier as it is mostly down hill.
The falls are really beautiful. You can feel the cooling air flowing out from them. I can only imagine how nice that would feel on a sunny hot day in the summer time. So refreshing! The scenery during the winter is just as beautiful as other seasons, providing glimpses that you might not otherwise be able to see due to foliage.

Please take note: (I can hear my parent voices) While there are multiple signs stating that both PETS and bicycles are prohibited. Strollers, wheelchairs etc are not suitable for the trail due to its rough broken pavement and narrow passage. Yet despite both statements obviously people feel that it doesn't apply to them. We encountered 1 family with their dog. (we read up and left ours behind in the cabin because they were not allowed on the trail). And we encountered no less than 4 or 5 strollers.
Rules are there to protect all who visit. The narrowness, crowds can make it very tight in places.
Carry your trash back out with you if you feel like you cant go without food for a couple of hours. If you take water please use a refillable container or take your trash back out with you since no one coming behind you wants to see the garbage that you were to lazy to take back out with you.
We need to take time to remember that we're all here to share the same things, btw your TAXES go to fund the park.

This was a great destination hike for my college-aged son and me. It wasn't too long including the .5 mile additional trek from the car to the trailhead. The weather was perfect with a light jacket and short-sleeved shirt. There were many young families on the hike which was fine. However, I wouldn't recommend bringing a baby or toddler in a stroller. The terrain is not conducive to that at all. The ones that did were struggling quite a bit. This is truly an uphill hike almost the entire way so be ready for the incline. Obviously, it was much easier on the way back.

On the day we visited, there were 3 bears walking across the top of the Laurel Falls-mother, cub, and 3-year-old. Maintain the proper distance from the bears.
Parking is extremely limited in this part of the National Park. Oftentimes, you will observe people parking in the shoulder and walking along the road.
This is not an ADA-compliant trail. Strollers are not recommended. Pay attention to the details of the trail, and analyze your fitness level before you decide to go. People have been known to fall to their deaths when they slip and fall down the side of the mountain. The area near the Laurel Falls is slippery.
There are trails that extend beyond the initial 1.3-miles long trail.
Wear proper footwear. Drink water. There are no bathrooms. No cellular signal. Use the bathroom at the Sugarloaf Visitors Center.

I always love coming up here. It is a great and easy hike to do when you are getting back/begin hiking. 🥾 ⛰️😍 can’t wait to visit more trails!

Enjoyed my hike to Laurel falls, despite the incredibly large amounts of people hiking it. Parking was a challenge to find. Just for those that may need to know, while many websites state this trail is paved, I would say it truly isn't and is similar in terrain to a typical dirt trail for a hike, some spots looked like they were paved back at one time, however, the pavement has not been maintained, you definitely would have a very hard if not impossible time pushing a wheelchair or stroller on this trail. worth the hike, just come with patience for the many others on the trail, especially gathered at the falls.

My first hike!! It was nice and exciting! Perfect amount of difficulty for us. Beautiful reward to see the waterfall. We loved it.

This was a moderate hike for any level of hiker on a paved incline most of the way up. It’s 1.3 miles each way and you get gorgeous views of the Smoky Mountains on the way up. My 6yr old nephew handled this hike very well. Once you reach the waterfall there’s an option to climb down the the base of the waterfall which makes for great pictures. You can also choose to keep taking the trail up which gets a little bit more intense but worth the trip. We went during off season so it was not crowded at all, the earlier you get there the better. Parking is limited so Maloney Point is a little ways up the road and a short walk to the trail.

First, the trail is eroding and you cannot get an electric scooter up to the falls. We had to lift up the scooter over two areas and then abandoned the scooter about 1/4 mile from the falls.
Second, the hike is a good distance (2.3 miles round trip) and can be scary in places.
Third, there is only ONE bench along the trail and it is more than half way up.
Fourth, the water falls are beautiful.

We tried this trail as trying to see as many waterfalls as we could. Very busy trail that does have paved trail but broken up in some areas. It is a steady grade up to the falls. There was more sunshine on this trail so it was hotter than other trails we did. Definitely not difficult but does get one winded. Out and back trail.

Paved trail. If you are looking for a real "hike" try a different trail. This one is great for families with strollers or people wearing flip flops.

Kept telling myself this was a bad idea the whole way up.. (my pregnant hips were not cooperating with the incline).. once we got to the first waterfall.. there were so many people there you couldn’t get a picture.. just to turn around and walk back (downhill was much easier) but it was pouring down raining.. and we were not prepared to keep things dry (like our phones).. also a big log fell from one of the trees on the way to the car from the bad weather.. fell on my two year olds head and I had to rush her to the hospital to get staples. Was an unfortunate day for our family.

This was a great trail in the Smoky Mountains. We enjoyed it more than Clingman's dome and Grotto Falls. It's not strenuous, but you need to be careful near the top to be paying attention as the drops are steep if you were to lose your footing and step off the path. This trail should be at the top of your list if visiting the park.

We'd been there with three-year-olds. Nice little hike, and the kids had fun. Crowded on a weekday, also the falls as everyone stepped into the water. The complete trail took us three hours. Most of the trail is paved, so good for all ages. The falls are not spectacular and we were missimg some nice lookouts.

This hike was a paved uphill climb. I would say moderate in effort. Get there early as it gets busy. Every step was worth it to get to the end to see the falls.

Get there before 10am so you have a place to park. The trail gets crowded. The climb up was mild. There are narrow areas of the path, making it difficult to pass others without stepping too close to the steep edge. The falls area gets rather crowded. If you're feeling adventurous, you can follow a small path down the mountainside to the bottom of the falls for a better and less crowded view.

While in Pigeon Forge we decided to check out a few waterfalls locally in the GSM. This was our first waterfall on this trip. The trail is listed as easy to moderate I believe. The information states paved trail suitable for wheelchairs/strollers. Yes, the trail has been paved in the past, but, due to weather and I'm sure foot traffic the pavement has broken in several areas, therefore I would think it would be difficult for wheelchairs or strollers in all reality now.

There is some slight inclines on this trail, but overall a very easy walk.. The walk to the falls is about 1.2 miles, so prepare for a little over a 2 miles round trip walk.

Due to popularity there were several people at the falls, we even saw one couple get engaged. The falls are small but beautiful.

Be sure to watch along the way for wildlife too. Before arriving at the parking area we saw a bear cub. And to mention the parking area is very small, and the later in the day the more crowded the falls were, many parked along the highway side.

Very easy waterfalls to access in the GSM

This was my 4th time visiting this trail....making sure all my kids get a chance to see it (have a wide range in ages)

Good -- easiest trail there is. It is paved (some parts falling apart) and easy to navigate. Falls are nice, and plenty of areas to explore once you are there.

Bad -- this one gets PACKED because it is so easy. So you will see people of all ages -- and skill sets. Flip flops I would never recommend on a hike, but on this one it would not be a big deal at all.

If you are worried about social distancing, I would stay away from this one during peak hours, or wear a mask the whole time.

We enjoyed this relatively easy hike on a Sunday afternoon. The trail was not quite crowded, but it was rather busy. At the trailhead a ranger warned us about copperhead snake activity near the trail and encouraged us to stay on the middle of the trail and to avoid stepping into vegetation. There were also signs warning about bear activity. Lo and behold, during the hike we saw two copperheads sunning themselves in vegetation very close to the paved trail, and as we were returning we saw a black bear with her cub walking through the woods above the trail.

The falls themselves were pretty, but not terribly high. I imagine the flow of water is probably more impressive in spring and earlier in the summer. The trail is paved, but the pavement is in need of some repair and maintenance. There were several points along the trail offering pretty views for great photo-taking opportunities. Overall, well worth two to three hours for a pleasant walk in the Smokey Mountains.

Hellacious uphill hike over fairly stable concrete terrain but it is missing chunks throughout so would be very hard to push a wheelchair or a stroller but some people managed to do it.
Your heart will definitely be beating as you go up the mountain to the waterfalls. The falls themselves are nice, not exactly Niagara but still pretty to look at and get in the water if you want. Rocks can be slippery obviously so be cautious if you do. Probably the only place I did not mask up while out and about because of the uphill hike involved but not too crowded, maybe 20-25 people right at the falls and you will see sporadic people come up/down the trail as you go as well. Did not see any wildlife but this was about 3pm in the afternoon on a busy Saturday.

I was so excited to come here based off pictures and other reviews. We did this trail with 2 kids ages 4 and 6. Difficulty-wise, it was fine. However, it was so crowded!! I definitely wasn’t expecting so many other people and families. It was completely my fault for not researching more and I take full blame. And if crowds are ok then that’s good too! Not trying to diminish anyone’s experience. I also saw many people who brought their dogs despite the very large sign at the trial head saying no pets, plus lots of litter along the trail and people smoking at the falls was just a huge turn off. The falls were beautiful but having to actually wait in line for a picture just left a bad taste. Lesson learned: do your research if you want a more pristine experience.

The good and the bad thing about this hike is the asphalt paved trail. While this makes it more accessible to more people, the path is quite crumbled in parts which takes away from the enjoyment of the hike. Saw many parents pushing strollers but it gets quite challenging near the top as the asphalt is broken away.

It's extremely tough getting parked to hike up to Laurel Falls ... also, the drive up can be quite challenging with very little (if any) shoulders on the roads ... so, be aware and take your time. The hike took about 1 1/2 hours out and back ... the upper falls are beautiful and the view of the Smoky Mountains (even after Fall colors) is beautiful!!!

Beautiful hiking in the nature. The Falls are worth the hike. The good news is this wonderful hike through the woods is not to far from Gatlinburg, TN.

It was very pretty and an easy hike because it was paved. Be cautious though with children because of steep drops along the trail.

The hike to the falls is fairly easy with the majority of the trip to the falls being uphill but just take it easy and slow. The path is paved with the only problem with the path, and this the reason for downgrading to 4 stars, is the fact it needs work. It’s a mixture of asphalt and bare dirt with a lot of holes and missing asphalt in the paved areas one really needs to watch their step to make sure an ankle isn’t twisted but the end destination is well worth the unkept path.

The falls are beautiful with a bridge over the middle of the falls allowing one to walk from one side to the other. Plenty of photo opportunities and can even put your feet in the water to cool off when it heats up.

I’d suggest going early before the crowds as it can be busy and finding a parking spot might be a little difficult. Otherwise, enjoy the hike and views!

Decided to do this hike during Fourth of July week. Worst decision ever. I wanted a nice trail run up to see the water falls, instead there were no parking spots, and about 2,500 people on the narrow path, slow going. Water falls were covered by people swimming. I smelled more people than trees. Sat in traffic for two hours to get to the main road coming home. I will choose hikes off the beaten path next time.

This is a short 1.3 mile hike into the mountains to see the falls. Most of the hike there is uphill but is mostly paved. Easy enough for little kids. We went in July and once we got to the falls, there were lots of people playing in the water. The hike back is much easier. Go early as it is very popular and take some water to drink

This is a lovely hike but it's definitely a challenging walk 1.4 miles up a winding rocky pathway. Young kids who tend to run ahead, parents pushing strollers and people with difficulty getting around should use caution.

They list this hike as moderate, but I would say easy instead. There is a bit of an incline at spots, but all in all not that difficult. The falls are beautiful though, worth the walk

My son and I went around 7 am and there were a few people already on the trail, but we had it to ourselves mostly. A couple of places to stop and take some nice pics.

No parking spots will be available for you unless you arrive at “O’Dark Thirty”. It’s very sad to see such a beautiful place that you can’t go to. National Parks Service: why can’t you add more parking to help us out so not so early early people enjoy as well. Again, this is a very sad situation.

We walked the paved trail to the waterfall and back. Well marked trail that is fully paved. 1.2 mile to the waterfall and then back the 1.2. Beautiful waterfall with a few rocks to sit on to enjoy the view. A Smoky Mountain must!

It was a bit challenging, at first, but we got acclimated and easily made the hike. The waterfall was beautiful and the mountain air was wonderful. It wasn’t very busy so we took our time and sought out all the best views. We loved it.

Laurel Falls is a fairly short, moderate hike. We went around 3 in the afternoon and it was packed. The trail is mostly incline going up and often has very uneven ground, which is to be expected. The waterfall is pretty, but can be underwhelming compared to others in the area. We did this one first and were glad because it was a good starter trail and we didn’t have anything to compare it to at that time.

We love hiking and the hike to the falls was beautiful. It’s uphill so bring your hiking shoes. We didn’t see any wildlife but just being in nature was worth it. The closer you get to the falls you can see a beautiful view of the mountains. Definitely worth the hike. Yes

The falls was definitely worth the hike but it was not easy. Myself and a few others almost gave up.I only saw one lady that didn't make it. It was definitely worth it but it took us about two and a half to three hours. Being from the Gulf coast everywhere we usually walk is flat.So that was an entire one poi6nt three miles uphill. I would say most people had a easy time but not us.

Arrive early! Parking fills up fast. The walk is very pleasant and doable for littles as well. The path is well paved and easy.

Paved hike& nice falls
I loved hiking a paved trail! We went on a rainy day and it was a bit crowded; therefore, difficult to take pictures with everyone hogging up the falls but it was beautiful! It wasn’t a long trail but it was steep

I thought it was a great simple hike. Really rough path for stroller but better than no path. Waterfall is awesome! Yes it's busy but still worth it in my opinion.

A mile and a half climb up to the falls on a kind of paved trail. It gets a little rougher towards the top. I am 50+, overweight and not in the best shape. I stopped a few times on the way up, but it was still an enjoyable hike. The views from the top are worth the climb! There is no platform to stand on at the top. There isn’t a lot of room by the falls and it is pretty uneven. We were careful and it was fine. If you are struggling to get to the top, don’t lose hope. The hike down is very easy and all downhill.

Did this Hike with our 2 year old Toddler. Highly recommended!! The path is steep and narrow on some occasions.

short, Paved, easy trail to falls. This was recommended on a rainy day, since the other trails would have been muddy and slippery. Ok for kids too

This was a pretty trail. A few neat vistas. Falls were pretty but super crowded at the very end viewing point. (May be a reflection of Covid and everyone seeking outdoor activities.) Our troop was 3 adults and 2 five year olds. Overall the kids did well- it was a little long for them. But we made it fun by stopping to let them climb low rocks and go “off trail” where it was safe to do so (well beaten paths beside the paved one). Get there early for sure! We went mid week and got there before 10. When we finished, parking was very scarce.

We decided to hike Laurel Falls since it had probably been about 10 years since we last hiked the trail. We got to the trailhead early and were able to secure parking across the street from the trailhead. We started hiking the 1.3 mile paved path to the falls. It probably took us about 35 minutes to hike to the falls without stopping. Once there we hung out on the wooden footbridge and then carefully navigated the rocks and dirt path down to the base of the falls below, which we had not done previously. After hanging out for about half and hour, we decided to hike back down to the parking area. On the way back we took our time, so it took about 40 minutes to get back down.

Overall, this is a nice short hike for those seeking a waterfall trail without a huge time investment. The trail is rather short at only 1.3 miles each way. The path is pretty torn up and in need of repair. The paved portion is broken and in poor condition. However, it is pretty wide at the beginning of the trail. As you near the top, it becomes more narrow with steeper drop off on the sides of the trail. The waterfall itself is not huge, but a decent sized waterfall. It is nice and cool at the waterfall. There are limited benches for seating at the falls as well as along the trail. The path to the base or bottom of the falls is not paved or easy to navigate without climbing on/around rocks/boulders. Once down there, there is not much to see or really anywhere to stand/sit. I would not probably waste my time climbing down there again. You get a perfectly good view from the top/paved trail. I would recommend the Laurel Falls trail, but beware the path is in much need of repair at current time.

Really wish we hadn’t done this hike. Yes, it’s only 1.3 miles up and 1.3 back, but it’s ALL UPHILL to get to waterfall. The path is paved, but very narrow in places so you have to step off when you pass groups (and it is CROWDED). Parking is a nightmare no matter when you go, so you have to park in a further lot and walk that much farther away and walk. We did this the first day of our trip and despite the fact we are very active and hike a bit regularly, my kids’ legs were sore, I had sore feet for days, and my husband who works outside and walks 10+ miles a day was sore too. The reviews here do not do this miserable hike justice. The falls view isn’t even worth it. Don’t do it.

Nice fall but very crowded with people everywhere so little space to take pictures and sit by the fall without overstepping on someone else

We hiked with a large group aged 4-30's, well worth the hike. The hike was not challenging at all, other than the crowded and crumbling walk way; which happens. I would recommend not taking strollers or wagons on the trail.
When we got to the falls the kids quickly made their way down to the water and had so much fun crawling across logs and rocks. We spent a lot of time exploring the area.

2.6 miles round trip. Paved path but some areas are eroded. There are plenty of caution signs when there are drop off areas to watch your children. Gradual uphill walk. The view of the falls is worth it! Just watch your step. There's a lot of uneven areas.

This is an easy trail with a made pathway to the falls. It takes 20-30 minutes to get to the falls and I grade it as a simple walk. You follow the trail (you can’t get lost) which leads to the falls.

We visited in September, knowing the falls would be lighter than in the spring but still good to see them.

There is a small (20-25 places) car park at the entrance to the trail, I’d recommend arriving early to get a spot. We arrived at 8.30am and the car park was only half full. As you approach the trail (coming up the mountain) there are a couple of small car parks 0.3 - 0.5 miles from the trail entrance if needed.

I’d recommend taking water with you as you enjoy the views and falls as your reward.

I would give it a better rating if they would of kept it up. Blacktop is horrible and dangerous to break or twist a ankle. 18 years ago this was a must see and now I can't say the same.

When you’ve been to many majestic falls, these pale a bit in comparison. However, it is a nice hike and scenic walk to an average falls...and you might experience some wildlife along the way. There are plenty of resting points along the 1.3 miles up to the falls. It was crowded at the falls, with lots of people in the water and hanging out there. Several sighted black bears along the hike.

This hike did not take much over an hour with our two children. It was extremely crowded. Most of the trees have not budded out yet.

Nice moderately uphill hike to the top, sign says 1.6 miles. Waterfall was flowing and very pretty. Trail was crowded at the waterfall with people at around 11 am on a Thursday but it never felt to crowded on the trail going up and down. Parking is extremely limited so get there early.

The hike was 1.3 miles. It is paved. You do have to be careful not to get too close to the edge. Many people were making the trek. People of all ages, some carrying children . We saw a man bear and 2 small cubs. She was not aggressive at all. The falls are beautiful but you have to be careful not to slip. Not that you would fall down the falls but some of the dry rocks are a bit slippery for some reason. We are 62 and we enjoyed it. There are some beautiful vistas as well.

The trails were very busy for the holiday weekend, but the views are a must see and the trail makes it doable with young kids! The trail leads to a waterfall that is crossed by a foot bridge with a sealed bottom so the kids can play in the water pretty safely. We were able to go off the trail in several places for more of a challenge.

This was a great easier hike for me and my wife with a paved path. The trial was steep at times and also offered some nice views of the park and waterfall.

Like all the trails in SMN park, Laurel has its fair share of up hill climbing. This one is a relatively short upward hike (about 1 mile is up hill). The biggest difference is that the trail has been paved...well kind of. The paved parts are not good enough for most strollers or ANY kind of wheel chair. Key points:
*There are no bathrooms at bottom of the trail.
*Parking can be a challenge.
*It can get busy.
*There are some drops that might be intimidating if you are with small children.

Small waterfall uphill both ways. Not treacherous but it was crowded. The path is semi paved with a few streams with rocks. Nice to see but not “all that”. (Personal opinion only)

Did this hike with my family over spring break. The only downfall is that it is packed with people. Paved the majority of the way and uphill to the falls. It was a beautiful hike and we were lucky enough to see a young bear!! There are many spectacular views on this trip. Highly recommended but as others have stated go early in the morning.

An impressive waterfall and a good hike with vistas. For this and all hikes in the Smokeys you’ll want a light rain jacket. Storms come up quickly — but go away fast too. Hiking in soaking clothes is not as much fun. We saw a bear cub up in a tree along the way. COVID wise this trail is very crowded, go earlier to avoid them. Very few people wearing 😷 masks. Also limited space at the falls themselves so it was hard to distance. Also made it a challenge to get a picture with just our family in it and not people in the background. Worth the work with those caveats.

Good family hike, very popular. 2.6 miles round trip pretty falls at the end. Parking was an issue and it wasn’t during peak visiting

This was a pretty easy, paved hike up to Laurel Falls, gentle incline. Lots of pretty photo ops along the hike. It’s a popular spot so expect to share with other groups but there is plenty of room to space out and enjoy the views.

Nice little hike with gorgeous views that ends at the waterfall. It is somewhat paved but can still be a little rough in places. Kid friendly but leave the strollers at home.

First thing I want to say is it's a hike and you're outside take your mask off and enjoy the fresh air.
It is a short hike but if you have children I would not bring a stroller be prepared to carry them The pavement is broken up in many parts of the trail.
I would get there early in the morning before 9:00 and you will find parking right in the parking area.
Even if you're not in the best of shape give it a try. There are many places to sit down and take a break.

This is a pretty easy, family friendly hike with a beautiful falls at the end. Wear swimsuits so you can walk and play in both the upper and lower portions of the falls. Older kids will love climbing on the rocks. It is a popular feature in the park. Expect lots of people, so parking and social distancing will likely be a challenge during peak season.

I’ve done this hike multiple times. It’s best in the off season. It gets very crowded and impossible to get pictures of the falls without someone being in your shot. That being said, it’s an easy hike. My 2.5 year old walked it with very close supervision due to the edge of the trail. It’s very beautiful when not busy.

First time climbing a mountain. Its 2.6 miles round trip. I'm not even going to lie. It's mostly uphill and some areas of the pavement are torn up. Wear good shoes.

My family and I walked up Laural Falls, it was fun and exciting— it does get tiring at first because it’s an uphill paved asphalt trail. I recommend water shoes to prevent slipping on the rocks. Waterfall was absolutely gorgeous!

This is a 1.3-mile hike up to the Falls within the Smoky Mountain National Park. The hike is pretty much uphill all the way and can be rather strenuous in parts. It was also crowded, both climbing and returning. Since we were here in March, there was no foliage and we didn’t see much wildlife. The views along the way were fabulous so I guess the lack of vegetation helped. March 9, 2021

Great workout going up the mountain to get there if you hike at a good pace. When you get to the top there is a steep drop off the side of the trail. I would not take small children unless I held on to them the whole time. Parking is tight so I would go early.

We arrived at 8:am and found parking across from the entrance. This hike was chosen because my wife cannot hike a strenuous route and so this hike was perfect. The path is paved but the some of the adjacent path are washed out near the dropoffs so care has to be taken.
The Falls were beautiful and not too crowded at this time so photo ops were easy. Many people with children climbed down the rocks and played in the pools of water - not recommended for people our age 70yrs. We took all of our photos and headed back down the trail. There was almost a constant flow of people hiking up to the Falls at 9am so we thought where are all these people going to stand when they arrive because the viewing area is not very large. Advise is to go early!

A picture is worth the hike I just ❤everything about Tennessee I hope to move One day there is so much beauty to this state🤗

1.3 mile walk one way, pretty much uphill on way up. Super crowded at the falls. Spent maybe an hour at the falls taking pictures, resting, and enjoying the scenery. Beautiful! Not a large waterfall but worth the walk. Parking is luck of the drawl on the side of rhe road, very small parking lot.

Probably not the best fall in the smoker but it was a short hike with beautiful views. I didn't see any wildlife, but enjoyed the hike nonetheless.

Great introductory hike to Smoky Mountains. Be sure to arrive as early as possible to get parking. Waterfall was great and fun to climb on rocks below the main falls. Pavement on trail is crumbling and, at times, gone.

Roundtrip is approximately 2.6 miles. The trail is paved at the trailhead but the pavement becomes rough & broken as you get closer to the falls. There are some short sections that are steep but overall a moderate trail. Beautiful views along the way. Falls are 80 feet tall with a pedestrian bridge separating the upper & lower sections of the falls. This is a very popular trail that currently has extremely limited designated parking with no roadside parking allowed. Recommend going on a weekday either early in the morning or late in the afternoon & preferably in the off-season. I went late on a Monday afternoon & when I arrived there were only two available spots. Remember to take water. No pets allowed.

Our family hiked to Laurel Falls, the trail was very good, it took us about an hour to make it to the top, we took our time and enjoyed the scenery, the hike is well worth the gradual little climb, you will be glad you kept going to the end!

We got to the trailhead for Laurel Falls around 9:30am. The parking lot was already full, but fortunately someone happened to be leaving, and we got their spot. This was an easy hike on a mostly paved trail. There are spots where the pavement has broken away over time. The rise is gradual, so I did not think it was difficult (I am in my 60s) and there were lots of trees. There was a decent amount of people on the trail, but it wasn't crowded. Beautiful falls at the end with water running under a bridge

True there's a lot of people. That's because it's a pretty waterfall and not too tough of a hike. It's paved but inclined and some pavement is broken off. Parking is an issue so be prepared to park down the street and possibly have to walk to the entrance. Just because it's not a very long hike doesn't mean you shouldn't have on hiking attire. Many twisted ankles were seen this day from people coming out there in inappropriate attire. You're hiking up a mountain folks. Wear good shoes.

This is a lovely hike, if you aren’t constantly avoiding hordes of people. I should have known from the amount of cars parked up and down the roadside that it wasn’t going to be that enjoyable. During the busy season, unless you are going super early in the morning I would avoid the crowds and choose a less crowded trail.

This was an easy hike for a family. The whole trail is paved. We went on a Wednesday before 10 which made it less people filled. When we drove past it on Friday, there were a ton of cars. You can go beyond the falls, which is pretty but we didn’t see much else.

While this trail is not very long it is at a higher altitude so plan accordingly. It is an absolutely beautiful hike! Stunning views.
Please carry out what you carry in. There no trash cans once you are on the trail. Pets are not allowed, no strollers allowed either.
Absolutely recommend this trail!

My family had a great time hiking up to the beautiful falls in early August. The path was well paved and well suited for both by 5 year-old and 70+ mom who was with us. We also appreciated the shade and cool air of the early morning. When we got back down, the park rangers had said there had been two bear sightings between markers 5 and 6 earlier in the day but unfortunately we didn't get a glimpse (from a comfortable distance)! Get there early because the parking lot is not large and by 8:30 am when we arrived was already mostly full. Would come back again if ever in the area.

Very nice hike to pretty waterfalls! The path is described as paved but it was rough in spots. It has lots of places to stop, rest if needed, enjoy the scenery. There are some dangerous places where one could fall but this is posted so just be aware. Watch your kiddos! 2.6 roundtrip hike. Waterfall area was crowded, fyi.

The views was amazing. Love the trails. We took so many beautiful pictures. Kids loved the water fall and the walk to it

Absolutely beautiful and worth the uphill climb! We must have gone at a good time - no problem with parking a d was busy but not over-crowed feeling. We continued on about a 1/4 mile up the trail just to check it out, that part of the trail does not take you above the falls, just another trail in this beautiful park. Highly recommend!

After reading everyone’s reviews I thought it would be super easy and well worth the hike... not so much! We are a very fit family and it definitely felt longer than the 1.3 miles. I didn’t get out of breath but it just seemed to take much longer to get to the falls than anticipated. My kids (8, 7, 6) enjoyed the creek along the path better than the falls!

When we got to the waterfall, it felt very unsafe to walk around. My daughter (7) immediately said the hike was not worth it (which surprised me bc my kids typically love any new experience!) Anyone with young children should use caution. There were around 50 people at the waterfall itself so there wasn’t a great place to stand and enjoy the falls.

The day before this hike we went to the Pearson falls in NC and we loved it.

I saw several wheelchairs, strollers and 65+ people along our hike. It’s supposed paved but I would say that’s not accurate. There is some asphalt but it’s barely 2-3ft wide, broken & missing in several parts. There are not benches for rests along the way.

what a beautiful place to visit a waterfall. The trail gets a bit dangerous as you go up and it becomes narrow. Not a good place for stroller and/or wheelchairs. It can be very slippery when it rains. The pavement was very broken in numerous parts.

We walked this path on Wednesday, July 15. Started at 8:40 and it was very crowded. We should have turned around but didn’t. Very few people wore masks despite all of the tight squeezes and huffing and puffing, and the falls ended up being on the same side of the trail so you don’t get a good view. Several unobservant parents along the way not watching their kids. People with strollers even though it says no strollers. This hike/walk was not worth the one hour it took us. Too crowded and not much to see at the end.

No doubt about it - a very pleasant hike that ended up at a scenic Waterfall. Good exercise for the avid Walker and just enough distance to get the heart flowing. I’d go back.

The trail is a bit rocky in parts so be sure to wear proper footwear NOT FLIP FLOPS. The view is amazing, the waterfall is Gods beauty on full display and the walk/hike goes faster with a group of friends and if you chat along the way. Be sure to rest if you need it and take plenty of water to drink. We rested and sat down at the top and enjoyed the view. We were happy we did the hike. Well worth the the effort!

This is a pretty challenging 1.3 mile trail. While most of it is paved, there are several places where the pavement needs some serious work. it is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. We went on a hot day. We took it slow and stead on the uphill portion going in. Remember to take plenty of water and be sure to take your swimsuit so you can cool off when you get to the falls. Everyone seemed to be having a great time cooling off at the falls. The people who brought swimsuits were having the best time of all. We’ll be going back here next summer. And, yes, we’ll bring our swimsuits next time.

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. A 1.3 mile hike one way to an 80 ft waterfall. Enjoyed the falls, but it would have been better if there were less people.

It was a really nice experiance, is easy for old people isn't to long but super pretty, poor park tho, there's a bridge at the end where you can watch the fall and also you can climb down to the river and take pretty nice pictures

This would be a good hike if you had only a short time to visit the Smokies and wanted a short jaunt off the beaten path. Plenty of parking at the trailhead. Trail marker says 1.2 miles (each way) to the falls. The path is paved and in good condition about 90% of the time, but there are a few areas that are broken up or very narrow that would present some challenges for strollers/wheel chairs, but can still be navigated with assistance. The falls are beautiful and this is definitely worth the hike.

Fun hike, not difficult, nice waterfall. Highly recommended for families and even older people.
One of the easy trails in Smoky Mountain

1.2 miles to get to this waterfall. The hike isn't rigorous by any means, but like most places in Smoky Mountains there isn't any parking so you need to add another .3 miles to get from the road to the trailhead. No bathrooms anywhere. Long trudge up an modest incline and a meh waterfall. There are better waterfalls for half the price.

This was a relatively easy hike in and out on a paved trail with moderate inclines.gorgeous views along the way, and the falls were rockin' after two days of rain. Very pretty.

We hiked the 1.3 miles to the falls. It was cool the morning we hiked to the falls.(50 degrees) The hiking path is "paved" in most places. You rise in elevation a few feet as you hike to the falls. It was an east hike. Most of the people we saw along the path were handling it very easily.

The falls are absolutely beautiful and well worth the hike.

The hike and falls were very good. We have a ten and five year old. I would not recommend for younger than five years old ( and five is pushing it). It is paved, but lots of spots, the pavement is nearly gone and there are very steep drop offs / cliffs. Overall very good, but lots of people taking kids that in my opinion were way too young for this hike. Also parking is challenging, recommend getting there as early as possible.

We stopped by laurel falls on the way back to the hotel

About a mile from the parking area took about 40 minutes to get the falls trail could use a little work

Falls were nice had quite a few visitors while we were there

Free of charge

Second time for this hike (last time was over 16 years ago) and it’s so pretty! Warmer day and when you reach the falls the temperature drops and it’s so refreshing. Saw two snakes sunning themselves on the side of the trail. Would recommend taking water if it’s a warmer day. Definitely a must do!

It was rather easy hike for us, but could be considered moderate for some people due to elevation gain. Path was crudely paved allvthe way. Falls were rather average.

visited multiple times over the years while on vacation, there are two falls one under the other, it is roughly 1.3 miles each way and while there is an incline during the hike it is very manageable for most. the larger falls at the top is where families stop to take beautiful pictures however (and this is not recommended for families with smaller children) there is a second falls just below which to get a good view of you do need to be able to climb down over and through rocks to get to but well worth it for the sights and sounds of this nice little falls

The trail is beautiful but a bit crowded. A nice beautiful hike …try to go early hoping to beat the crowds. No good place to park. Falls is pretty at the end. 2-3 hrs round trip. But we took our time. What a good way to appreciate god creation.

Loved this, not so much for the hike itself - because it's a paved trail with a lot of people - but the waterfall at the end. We were already tired from having hiked the 5.5 mile Rainbow Falls trail, so maybe it seemed even more steep to me than it actually is, but it is steep.
The waterfall at the end is amazing! You get to see it from such a close proximity!
Keep in mind the pavement is broken in spots, and there is a sign that says wheelchairs and strollers are not recommended on this hike.
I would definitely recommend this hike, for the reward at the end!

We hiked the "trail" up to the falls in the rain, with our 4 kids 11 & under. We do not advise this for other families! The asphalt trail was in awful condition. In some places it is about 12" wide. There are no railings to protect against falling off a cliff. It is not till you get to the very top that there are signs that deaths have occurred from falling. The actual falls are completely open to walk wherever you want, the rocks are smooth & slippery. It was beautiful but too scary with young kids.

My wife and 2 daughters enjoyed the trail and waterfall. Do not use trip advisor map for location. Go past Sugarland Riding Stables to the visitors center, turn right directly after the visitor center. Go about 3.5 miles to up the road, there is a sign and parking on both sides of the road. It was a paved (partially crumbling) trail. The hike up & back takes about 1.5 hrs depending on how much time you spend at the falls. The hike/trail is relatively easy, but it’s uphill the whole way there.

About a 2.5 mile walk/hike round trip from the parking area. The trail is somewhat paved but degrading (paved sometime in the 1960’s I think to prevent erosion. Not great of you are pushing a carriage. Not to mention it is “up hill”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 waterfall has an upper and a lower section, divided by a short wood walkway. The NPS warns to not walk out on the rocks - one could easily tumble over. Looked to be a pretty straight forward fact…

The only reason i rated this 4 stars is because of how crowded the trail is. To me, that makes it more on the unpleasant side. If you want a cool trail that's not super crowded, drive further and find Indian Gap road. Reading about Indian Gap's interesting history before you start is an added bonus.

This 2.6 mile round trip hike took us just over an hour. The climb is relatively easy but you do increase elevation, which makes it a little harder. We were warned to get there early as parking is limited and they were right. We got there at 7:30 and there were only a few spots left. By the time we were leaving around 9 am, there was no parking available.

A tree has fallen over the falls but it is still beautiful. This is a very popular hike because it is near the entrance to the park.

Went with my 65+ yr old in laws, also with my fiancé and we all absolutely loved it! Fun for the whole family

This is a very good trail and the waterfall at then end is worth it. Is it the best waterfall in the world? No!

The entire trip to the falls is uphill. Some reviews state this is NOT a moderate trail and should be rated strenuous. I have done many strenuous trails and this is no where close to that level.

There are NO safety barriers. Welcome to a typical mountain trail.

At the trail head it clearly states NO PETS. This includes YOUR PETS. The National Park website CLEARLY explains the reasons for this. They also explain this is the case on most trails in ALL the National Parks. Pets are only allowed on 2 trails within this National Park. The website tells you what these two trails are.

The trail is paved and the further you go the worse the condition is of the pavement. It is still a far easier walking surface than if they had left it natural. Should they fix it, probably. However, it is a well known fact that the National Park Service does not have enough money for all the deferred maintenance that needs to be done in the system.

This is the most popular trail in the park. Plan accordingly. We got there early and got a parking spot at the trail head. Going later would probably work as well. Early in the 2nd week in May meant arriving before 9 AM. In peak season, probably needs to be much earlier. With our early arrival for the most part we had the trail to ourselves. When we arrived at the falls we had no problem getting pictures of just the falls without strangers in the shots. When we got back to the trail head people were parking a long ways away and having to hike to start the hike.

Plan and research. If possible, don't go during the peak seasons. If you do, expect lots of people.

Best news of the day was parking did not require a reservation. The trial is over! Started the hike around 3pm and the timing this day worked out great. The crowds had thinned and we walked with plenty of distance from other hikers. The trail is easy/moderate and paved altho watch your step in a few areas. The views as you get closer to the Falls provide outlooks (from the path). The destination was beautiful and didn’t disappoint. On the way down we encountered a few bears, they weren’t interested in anyone and made our day!

The falls were nice but not spectacular- i have seen many a lot nicer. The hike is quite a long way - and obviously uphill - i wouldn’t say it was easy as it was rated. i guess having a paved path (which is pretty broken up) did make it easier.

We really weren’t planning to visit Laurel Falls. Everyone had warned us about it being mobbed and impossible to access due to limited parking. Indeed, when we had to be strategic in terms of selecting the right destination first thing in the morning, knowing that our second destination would face even greater parking challenges, we opted to skip Laurel Falls in lieu of longer hikes with similar if not superior ratings. But Laurel Falls was always at the back of our minds, and when we happened to drive by on a Saturday afternoon, whilst six miles of heavily congested car traffic was headed in the opposite direction towards Gatlinburg, we noticed a few open parking spots nary a quarter mile from the Laurel Falls entrance.

The Laurel Falls trail lacks a bit of the charm that others in the Great Smoky Mountain offer simply by virtue of it being partially paved. The tar is sufficiently aged so that it no longer qualifies as handicap accessible, but it’s not a clean dirt trail either. As such, it’s perhaps easier for walking, but, by definition, also in need of maintenance. Even at this off period, there was plenty of foot traffic – along with Clingmans Dome, the most heavily trafficked in the park. But it was to be expected. This wasn’t a trail for being intimate with nature – it was one to see a celebrated waterfall, one perhaps most easily accessible for families with children and people getting up in age. So we accepted the traffic, walked the relatively easy (but longer than expected) trail, and eventually reached a magnificent waterfall, approachable, somewhat but not exceedingly crowded, and had fun.

Several younger folks climbed down the rocks below the falls to an area somewhat open for wading, but the views didn’t seem as glorious down there. Where we stayed, the photo ops abounded, and people of different nationalities congregated to ponder the awes of nature, listen to the running water, take self-perspective and scenic pictures or videos, and contemplate the existential soul of being.

Our hike back was uneventful. Along the way (in both directions), there was only one especially grand spot for filming the scenic vistas in the mountains below. That along with the heavy foot traffic and difficult parking account for the Cherry Wonderdog rating of four stars instead of five.

It was a great little hike. It’s not that long but a good steep incline especially for people like us that live where everything is flat. But the views were worth it. The views along the way were just as amazing as the waterfall. My husband and 20 yr old and 11 year olds climbed down to see the bottom fall and liked it. One thing I can recommend to make it more enjoyable is getting there early. We got there at 7:30 and people were already there and it was very busy by the time we were on our way down.

It’s a nice, paved trail which is rated as easy on the AllTrails app but I’d venture to say moderate is more accurate. It’s pretty steep and is uphill most of the way. The falls at the end are beautiful but it’s likely to be packed with families trying to get pictures. Probably strongly recommended to visit early.

Arrived at 7:15am shortly after sunrise, it was just us and one other couple at the falls! We stayed a total of 2 hours with hike and enjoying the falls and scenery. We did come upon a momma bear and her cubs in a tree and a rainbow in the mountains. Would strongly recommend come early in the morning and avoid crowds!

I continue to be amazed that people "hike" so unprepared. Please wear proper footwear, take a simple backpack with some supplies, water and sunscreen. Hiking any trail is serious. People on this trail were totally unprepared for the elevation. It was crowded and noisy. We ended up hiking another 2 miles past the falls to the virgin timber about 2800 ft. That was totally worth it. I was also shocked that the National Park had asphalted the lower trail. It was in bad condition. The upper trail was more fun.

This is a moderate hike with partially paved paths, but they are deteriorated so be careful or you an twist an ankle. Its about 1.3 mile long and mostly up hill on the way i. Fall were cool but it was a bit crowded.

the falls are worth the short trek. the trail is well maintained, and asphalted for first half. alot of people had strollers, toddlers, dogs, and the such. its short, easy, and close to a major tourist area, so expect tons of people.

Very busy place and we can see why. Hike up was not bad and well worth the trip. Walking path is paved and easy to do and the sights of the falls make the trip up and back well worth it.

Pretty walk along the mountainside to the falls. "Moderate" hike, not "easy," with broken asphalt. Not many stops to sit and rest, but there a few.

Great trail to walk in the Smokey Mountains. Trail is paved so it was easy for the kids to walk to the waterfall. Parking lots are small but roadside parking is available.

This 1.3 mile hike each way is moderate & an uphill incline almost the entire way. Not steep, but uphill. A little incline on the return then it’s downhill. A little hard on the knees. It’s a Beautiful waterfall and worth seeing. There are pull off areas you can stop to rest if needed. The trail starts out fairly OK, but by 1/2 way the paved path becomes very broken In lots of areas and towards the end really bad. We crossed 3 people with strollers & were fighting pushing them well before the path gets bad. The babies were being seriously jostled. Others carried their kids or with back packs, definitely a better choice if you have little kids. We crossed many with 5 yrs on up & they seem to do ok. There are also some serious drop offs as well. The area around the falls is not big & although not overly busy when we were there, too many stay too long & not allow others time. Be considerate of others.

Visited Laurel Falls during a family outing in the Smoky's. We were looking for a short morning hike to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains. The Laurel Falls trail exceeded our expectations. The hike takes about 1 1/2 - 2 hours return and the falls are gorgeous. Expect to see wildlife, we saw a mother bear and two cubs. The trail is paved however very uneven so proper footwear is needed.
Parking at the trail's entrance is limited so if you do not want to park along side the road you will need to arrive early. We arrived at 9 a.m. and had to park down the road aways and walk back. Highly recommend!

Nice hike. Going to the falls, it's all up hill.The walk back from the falls is downhill, so that's nice. Busy pathway, so try to go early before everyone gets there. Close to Gatlinburg.

This was a decent hike of 1.3 miles, but has a nice incline to it. We were super pumped to see the waterfall. Once we hiked up to it we were disappointed that so many people were crowded into a tiny space. Children not being monitored and were allowed to trample over everyone. People littering and leaving water bottles etc in the water to be cleaned up by others. Multiple people on a small bridge making it hard to get through. You basically had to squeeze into an unoccupied space to claim a spot for a moment long enough to get a picture. Then you get to hike back down. We did get to see a momma bear and her two cubs on the way down though.

We hiked to the top of Rainbow Falls, which was a challenging and unique hike but the waterfall at the top was a huge disappointment. Laurel Falls was spectacular and an easy hike. We hiked a mile past the falls and that was well worth the extra steps!

This is a popular hike for a reason. It's fairly easy, and it has a major payoff: the falls are beautiful.
But I feel like there are some mistaken impressions about it. It's not just a nature walk. And we saw a lot of people bringing strollers up. And while it is "paved" it is certainly not stroller friendly. There are a lot of places where the pavement is completely broken up and not stroller friendly at all.

It's an easy, paved trail with good views along the way. The trail parking was full but there were additional parking spots down the road. The area by the falls was very crowded and, of course, nobody was wearing masks. Overall, that was a nice hike.

This falls is close to the road so it is easy to reach and thus very popular. I'd recommend that you get here between 8 and 9 to beat the crowds. Otherwise it will be hard to see the falls with everyone else there. the paved walkway is at times steep but doable. It is not really accessible since it is so steep. You can continue on up to the fire tower but that is a few miles further. I would definitely recommend this hike and these falls.

Our family make a last minute trip to the mountains before the start of school. We decided to make the 1.3 mile hike to Laurel Falls. It was fantastic!

The trail is listed for “moderate” activity, but we found it to be very comfortable. Winding pathways carry you though a canopy of dense forests and beautiful scenery.

The falls are 80 feet tall and are breathtaking. We loved it.

We even saw black bears on the way back.
Definitely a part of mountain vacations for our family... from now on!

Great way to enjoy the Smokey Mountains, is a long walk, wear comfortable and waterproof shoes. We were able to see a bear.

We visited in the off season. Limited parking. Easy, short hike, basically a path. We got there & almost back before dusk. Hardly anybody else by then.

A great hike to the waterfall. I have several autoimmune, arthritic and cornary artery disease and I was able to complete the hike up to the waterfall simply by taking some short breaks along the way. The waterfall is beautiful and we seen several bears.

Simply beautiful! I love waterfalls and this is a very pretty one. Less water right now due to drought conditions but, still a beautiful place.

I did not enjoy this "hike" at all. It's VERY easy, so VERY crowded - anyone without a walking disability can do it. It was like a conga line up and back. I only made it to the lower falls because I was so annoyed with how crowded it was. Even with the crowds, I was up and down in 45 minutes. Perhaps it's a lovely stroll when you're not in the height of tourist season following a pandemic.

We visited Laurel Falls in January with unseasonably warm weather. We have been here numerous times. The weather was in the high 40’s and perfect for hiking. It’s an easy hike with only moderate elevation. The falls are very pretty and there is a nice area for photos and to catch your breath. For the more adventurous people, you can hike on past the falls but it is not paved. Haven’t been on that section yet.
Parking is limited but is available on both sides of the road. Early in the morning or lunch time are good times to visit. Think....visit while others are having a meal 😊

Great 2.5 mile hike. We did it with our six year old and he enjoyed it as well. Once you get to the falls we were able to climb down and view the falls from the bottom. Highly recommend.

Parking is limited or be prepared to hike a little at peak times. We drove past about 12:30 and decided to come back later (around 4:45) no problems!

It’s alll uphill the first 1.3 miles, but I was able to with multiple sclerosis and a torn ligament on my foot. Come back down was harder in my opinion, the path is broken up and hard to have people going down and up at the same time at some parts. Once at the top, there are several opportunities for taking a load off, taking pictures, etc. people even go down to the lower edge to step in the water. Beautiful falls, and although our 12 yo son complained the whole way up...he agreed it was worth it. Takes about 2 hours and that was with breaks for me in total. Definitely recommend this!

Nice hike with my 7 year old. We got to the trail by 9am and there was plenty of parking. Took us 1.5 hrs round trip. The waterfall was pretty. Heading back down it was easy to see how busy the trail was going to be later on in the day. There was no parking when we left by 10.30 am. Get up and go early

My husband and I went hiking first to Laurel Falls to start off our hiking adventures. It's an easy hike with twists and bends, uphill and downhill, and beautiful sights. Along the path is sign posts listing numbers. We believe it's the tenths of a mile but most of the posts were good photography spots. The scenery is breathtaking and there's a few good spots that are good to sit & take a break. The falls are small but that doesn't take away from any of its beauty.

Stopped here on an afternoon midweek & it was crazy busy. Be prepared for an uphill walk to the falls. Path is paved and fairly narrow as it winds upward but has seen better days. We ended up walking on a dirt path off to the edge to get around folks. Some families were pushing strollers & struggling. We wore masks but many weren’t. It was too busy at the actual falls to take decent photos or enjoy it. There were people in the water & not considerate of others. I would try to go at an off time or accept the limitations as noted. The parking was a mess too and many people park along the side of the road.

We started this hike about 6:30 in the evening, having just arrived to Gatlinburg. It was not too crowded at that time. Definitely the easiest hike we took while there with our 9 & 15 year olds. The waterfall is pretty, though we did not go down to the lower part as it seemed too dangerous for me.

When we arrived, the parking lot was full, so we parked down the road. You will need a Great Smoky Mountains National Park parking tag. Information regarding parking can be found at: recreation . gov where you then do a search for: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parking Tag (I am not allowed to post a direct link).

The hike is 2.4 miles, there & back. It’s a mostly paved path, although parts here and there are crumbling, so watch your footing. It is a gradual uphill slope, so it’s a moderate climb, but if you haven’t done much hiking, it could be considered edging towards being difficult.

It's not the biggest or most dramatic falls, but it was worth our time and we enjoyed the experience!

It is a moderate climb but the trail is paved. We went on a hot humid day so I would suggest bringing water and take your time. The views on the way up to the top are breath taking. Once you get to the top the waterfall is definitely worth the trip. Take your shoes off and get in the water. Splash around and cool off.
The kids really enjoyed the hike and took plenty of selfies.