Hike to the Ramsey Cascades

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

4.9/5
based on 10 reviews

Details

Distance

7.83 miles

Elevation Gain

2254 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Joshua Contois

Hike to Ramsey Cascades, one of the tallest waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (100 ft) on a challenging trail through an old-growth forest.

This multi-tiered waterfall is known as the tallest in the park – a worthwhile reward for the steep and sometimes tricky terrain you'll face on the way up.

The popular route to the falls also passes through an impressive old-growth forest, which apparently boasts some of the tallest trees in the park. You will also see smaller waterfalls and pools along the way.

Keep in mind that about 2 miles into the hike you will need to pass over a fairly long, narrow footbridge. Also please remember that climbing is prohibited on the rocks around the falls.

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Features

Hiking
Forest
Scenic
Waterfalls

Hike to the Ramsey Cascades Reviews

This trail was so beautiful I would recommend to anyone🤩 the waterfalls and creeks and giant trees. Just wow. If you love nature you will love this trail.

This hike is worth the effort and is a right of passage of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I have visited it in all seasons.

This hike truly shows the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains and what they have to offer.

This hike was amazing. It was difficult for my family but considering it was only our second hike we did very well. We made an entire day of it and did not get into a hurry. Packed a lunch to enjoy at the top. We refilled our water bottles along the way as so not carry so much weight. Our family was kids ages 8, 10, 11, 12. GrandParents ages 67/68, and I’m 35! We went in around 10:45 and finished up a little after 6pm. According to my Garmin Forerunner we hiked a total of 9.73 miles. So it’s a little longer than 4 miles to the top. Enjoyed it!

A challenging but beautiful hike to the falls. You follow a gushing stream along the way and a bit of a scramble near the falls. Every step is worth it!

Getting to the trailhead can be tricky for anyone with a sports car, as the road that leads through the park is gravel and bumpy at points. Be prepared for single car width portions of the road. The hike begins with a gradual incline which may fool some into believing that this is an easy hike, psyche!The last half mile is killer, be prepared for a lot of stone steps. This is definitely a hike where you want to wear high ankles boots. I recommend bringing aqua socks, because at the top you can walk right up to the falls, since it plateaus directly underneath. The hike totaled 8.2 miles on my Fitbit Surge. The difficulty of the hike is only surpassed by the reward of the falls.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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