Best Hikes in Tennessee

Tennessee hiking centers on the Great Smoky Mountains (the most-visited national park in the US) but extends to the Cumberland Plateau, the Blue Ridge in the east, and the Western Highland Rim.

Great Smoky Mountains: Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte (8.8 miles)
The premier Smokies hike — from the Alum Cave trailhead near Newfound Gap, the trail passes through Arch Rock (a natural tunnel in the bedrock), beneath the massive Alum Cave Bluffs (100-foot high concave cliffs of mineral-rich black shale), and up exposed ridgelines to the summit of Mount LeConte. The trail is strenuous and the summit views are outstanding.

Appalachian Trail: Charlies Bunion (8 miles)
From the Newfound Gap parking area on the AT, the trail east along the ridge passes one of the most dramatic exposed viewpoints in the Smokies: Charlies Bunion — a rocky outcrop where a gap in the spruce-fir forest opens to sheer drops on both sides. The panorama of the Smokies and NC ridges is exceptional.

Fall Creek Falls State Park Trails
Tennessee's finest state park for hiking, Fall Creek Falls (256 ft) is the tallest waterfall in the eastern US. The Gorge Overlook Trail gives rim views; the Paw Paw Trail descends into the gorge to the base of the falls. The park's 34 miles of trails cover gorge, plateau, and creek habitat.

Savage Gulf State Natural Area (South Cumberland)
Part of the South Cumberland State Park complex, Savage Gulf's trail system descends into three major gorges cut through the Cumberland Plateau sandstone. The remote backcountry — 13,500 acres — includes old-growth forest, waterfalls, and geological features unique to the plateau edge. Multi-day camping is excellent here.

Laurel Falls Trail (Smokies, 2.6 miles)
The most-visited trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — a paved, gently graded walk to the most-visited waterfall in the park. Laurel Falls drops 80 feet in two tiers over a moss-covered sandstone ledge. The easy access makes this a good choice for families or those less capable of strenuous hiking.