Best Hiking Trails near Townsend

"This is one of the more popular hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to the sheer beauty of the waterfall. Abrams Falls is only 20 feet (6 meters) in height, but it is the most voluminous waterfall in the park. The trail begins by passing over Abrams Creek by bridge and then turning left to head towards the waterfall."

"A moderate 5 mile hike leads to one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains near Cades Cove. From the trailhead near the halfway point in Cades Cove, hikers will descend down a stunning river gorge to this high-flow waterfall in the park. Otters are known the frequent this section of the river on Abrams Creek."

"This 5-mile round trip trail ends at the 18-foot high Abrams Falls named after a Cherokee chief whose village was downstream. The pool at the bottom of the falls has an undertow, so don’t swim there."

"At the 25-foot-high Grotto Falls, you can enjoy the unique experience of walking behind the falls, which can be a welcome refreshment on hot, humid summer days. The trail leading to the falls is beautiful as well, as it passes through old-growth forests and ecosystems and gives visitors opportunities to see animals such as black bears, elk and deer. To access the falls coming from Gatlinburg on the parkway, turn onto the Historic Natural Trail at traffic light #8, which will lead to Great Smoky Mountains National Park."

"Grotto Falls is accessible via the Trillium Gap Trail, the trailhead of which can be found on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. On the 3-mile round trip, which is of moderate difficulty, hikers will traverse old hemlock forests in a peaceful atmosphere until they reach the falls. The trail actually leads directly behind the cascading water of Grotto Falls, offering a unique and gorgeous point of view for visitors, and the 25-foot-tall waterfall is a cool and beautiful destination."

"We thoroughly enjoyed our hike to Grotto Falls, and excitingly on this hike we had our first bear sighting, at a safe distance off the trail and there was a ranger nearby. The hike is a 1.3 mile round trip and our kids handled it easily. And the cool thing about this waterfall is you can walk right behind the falls."

"On this hike you get the benefit of seeing two Smoky Mountain Waterfalls. The first is the 80 feet high Toms Branch Falls. The park service has installed benches so you can sit and admire the falls."

"Edible cookie dough has exploded in popularity over the last couple of years, and with places such as Knox Dough offering up delectable bites of chocolatey goodness, it’s easy to see why. Another somewhat new innovation in the world of sweets?. Rolled ice cream, which is also on the menu at Knox Dough."

"Froyo has been exploding in popularity, due in large part to it being touted as a healthier alternative to ice cream without a big difference in taste. ​Sweet Frog​ is one of the places to eat in Pigeon Forge that’s definitely found a following. Founded in 2009, they have a superb selection of your favorite sweets in frozen yogurt form — but without much of the guilt that comes from the treats they taste like."

"Looking for an alternative to ice cream that is just as delicious?. sweetFrog offers one of the best frozen yogurt experiences around. Choose from dozens of flavors of soft-serve premium frozen yogurt then pile on your choice of toppings."

"When you visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, why not start off by hiking up to Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the Smokies at 6,643 feet. From the car park, it’s a relatively steep half-mile walk to the observation tower on the summit, but our kids handled it no problem and on a clear day you get spectacular 360° views of the Smokies and beyond – a great spot for sunrise and sunset."

"The highest point in the Smoky Mountains provides some of the best views you will ever see…period. Once you travel the 7 miles up Clingman’s Dome Road, the views become amazing. There’s a steep walkway up to the observation tower about half a mile from the parking lot."

"At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That’s why it’s no secret that the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower offers the best views of the mountains!. On clear days, views can expand over 100 miles."

"If you’d prefer to see a waterfall without even getting out of your car, Meigs Falls is a great choice. You can stay in the comfort of your vehicle and pull off the road to enjoy the falls, which are located roughly 500 feet away and can be seen through the trees. During the late fall and winter, when all the leaves are gone, the falls become even more visible, making the view even more dramatic."

"Juney Whank Falls is divided into an upper and lower section. Both can be viewed from the footbridge which crosses Juney Whank Branch at the falls. Together they drop 90 feet from top to bottom."