book now
Home  ›  Local Guide  ›  Best Hikes & Outdoor Adventures
into the hills
Smokies Guide · Hikes & Adventures

Best Hikes & Outdoor Adventures in the Smokies

A note from your hosts

The Smokies are the reason most people come, and these are the trails and adventures we point our guests to. Start with the waterfall hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then add something with a little more adrenaline: ziplines, whitewater rafting, UTV tours, mountain coasters and more.

DavidDream Cabin Getaways
Our favorite waterfall hike

Rainbow Falls Trail

Waterfall hike · 5.6 miles round trip

Just outside of Gatlinburg in the Orchard Creek area, the Rainbow Falls trail is one of the most popular routes to Mt. LeConte. By hiking 2.7 miles on this trail, you can reach Rainbow Falls, an 80-ft tall waterfall that’s known for forming large icicles.

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Metcalf Bottoms Trail

Easy trail · 1.5 miles round trip

You can enjoy this easy 1.50 mile, out and back trail between Townsend and Elkmont. It takes an average of 44 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking, trail running, and walking. Open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Laurel Falls Trail

Waterfall hike · 2.3 miles round trip · Temporarily closed

Currently closed. Check the National Park Service for reopening dates before you plan around it. This beautiful 2.3-mile round trip trail takes visitors to the stunning multi-tiered waterfall, an excellent place to see lovely ice formations during the winter season. The aging pavement of the falls trail is rough and broken so it can be rough for wheelchairs and strollers. Due to this and the moderately steep to very steep grade, it is not marked as wheelchair or stroller friendly.

View on Google Maps →Visit website →
More of our picks

The rest of the list

Cataract Falls

Short waterfall walk · about 3/4 mile

This hidden gem is only ¾ of a mile long. The paved trail turns to gravel. Kids will love the bridges that crosses Fighting Creek, which runs alongside the trail. Hikers will see Cataract Falls, a 20′ waterfall!

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Baskins Creek Falls

Family waterfall hike · 3 miles round trip

With a roundtrip length of only 3 miles, Baskins Creek Falls is a fun, easy hike for families! You’ll have amazing mountain views. You’ll come to a footbridge crossing Falls Branch, and at 1.1 miles you can take a side trail to Baskins Cemetery, a great historical site.

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Alum Cave Trail

Hike · 4.5 miles round trip

This 4.5 mile round-trip hike will pass through Arch Rock. You will have gorgeous views of Anakeesta Ridge! You’ll love Inspiration Point, which offers beautiful snowy views during the winter. During the winter, you can see large icicles hanging from the ledges!

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Porters Creek Trail

Wildflower hike · 4 miles round trip

This relatively flat hike features beautiful wildflowers, two hand bridges, a river, plenty of historical remnants, and even a waterfall at the end! The roundtrip of this hike is only 4 miles.

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster

Mountain coaster · Pigeon Forge

Ride this mountain roller coaster day or night and feel the thrill! Check the Groupon app to save some cash, and don’t forget to check out the cute bakery right across the road!

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Pink Jeep Tours

Guided jeep tour · Pigeon Forge

See the Smokies like never before from the back of a custom, open-air Pink® Jeep® Wrangler. Experience America’s most visited national park with local, certified adventure guides who bring the history and magic of the mountains to life.

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Outdoor Gravity Park

Zorb & gravity rides · Pigeon Forge

Run down the hill in a ball! Good for kids five and older. Great family fun…if you can handle it! Gravity park has 4 different tracks! Including zig zag & down hill courses! Enjoy water zorbing in the summertime & dry zorbing year round! Climb inside the human hamster ball & let it roll! Free WiFi. Wheelchair accessible entrance! Located in Pigeon Forge.

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Rocky Top Mountain Coaster

Mountain coaster · Pigeon Forge

Another great mountain coaster option and one of the cheaper things to do in Pigeon Forge is Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, featuring the longest coaster in East Tennessee. Try it at night!

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

Foxfire Adventure Park

Zipline & adventure park · Sevierville

Zip-lining, bridge walking, UTV rentals, and whitewater rafting! Nice five-point harness for zip-lining, so you feel safe. Check out the scenic waterfall tour. Gotta try it!

View on Google Maps →Visit website →

CLIMB Works Smoky Mountains

Zipline tour · Gatlinburg

TripAdvisor rates this as the #1 outdoor tour/activity in the region. Spectacular views, safely and professionally run. They also have canopy walks, and mountain-biking trails

View on Google Maps →Visit website →
Book direct with the owners

Planning a Smokies getaway?

Our cabins put you close to the trails and the fun. See what is open for your dates.

Check dates & book direct

Hours, seasons and trail conditions change, please confirm directly with each business or the National Park Service.



Cabins

Magical bunk room. The forest canopy ceiling glows and shimmers with magical colors. Magical forest dreamscape: two queens and four XL twin beds. Plus a hobbit door!

Ridge Creek Cabin

Lazybear Lodge
spectacular views from the front deck all summer long

Dream View Lodge
Game area featuring a full-size pool table and arcade machines—perfect for family fun and friendly competition.

Smoky Mountain Bearadise