Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Looking for the best hiking in Great Smoky Mountains? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Great Smoky Mountains. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Great Smoky Mountains

  • Canton, North Carolina

    Sam Knob Trail

    5.0
    2.45 mi / 558 ft gain
    Sam Knob Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Canton, North Carolina.
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  • Canton, North Carolina

    Tennent Mountain

    5.0
    3 mi / 285 ft gain
    Park at the Lot at the end of Black Balsam road, and start your morning in the dark, down the old dirt road at the end of the lot. Take this road until you get to Ivestor Gap and make a right onto the Art Loeb, try and time it so the sun is just about to rise here. Hike or trail run The Art Loeb ...
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  • Haywood County, North Carolina

    Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail

    5.0
    1.56 mi / 305 ft gain
    The parking area for Black Balsam Knob is at mile marker 420.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's free to hike here. Take the Art Loeb Trail a half mile until you reach the knob. Along the way you will be walking almost entirely on the bald which is a very pleasant experience. You feel like you're ...
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  • Highlands, North Carolina

    Hike the Whiteside Mountain Loop

    5.0
    2 mi / 595 ft gain
    Whiteside Mountain is simply breathtaking, there is no way around it.  Views of the mountain from the South expose its sheer granite face, which runs almost its entire length East-to-West.  However, the views of the mountain are just the beginning, as this hike climbs to higher heights than just ...
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  • Balsam Grove, North Carolina

    Hike to Courthouse Falls

    4.7
    0.07 mi / 40 ft gain
    First off, I want to say although the road is gravel it is accessible for 2WD cars you do not need a 4WD car to access this hike. The trail begins just over the bridge that crosses Panther Branch Creek. Just over the bridge there is a pullout where you can park that should fit at least 3 cars. Th...
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  • Highlands, North Carolina

    Satulah Mountain

    5.0
    Just a stone’s throw from downtown Highlands, North Carolina, the Satulah Mountain Trail offers a rewarding hike to one of the most iconic vistas in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. This moderately challenging route leads hikers to a rocky summit with sweeping views of Georgia, South Carolina...
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  • Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

    Hike to Schoolhouse Falls and Little Green

    5.0
    3 mi
    Trail signs in Panthertown Valley are limited. Be sure to bring a map! Starting at the Cold Mountain parking lot, hike to Schoolhouse Falls. This is a nice waterfall with a pool at the bottom. In the summer, you are bound to run into other fellow hikers here.  From Schoolhouse Falls, you have the...
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  • Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

    Hike to Warden, Jawbone, and Riding Ford Falls

    4.5 mi
    Warden, Jawbone, and Riding Ford Falls are three waterfalls located along the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River in Panthertown Valley. Not far from the Cold Mountain trailhead, these falls are quite popular in the summer. On a weekend, you will often find people playing in the pools below the fa...
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  • Canton, North Carolina

    Graveyard Ridge Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail Loop

    3.89 mi / 623 ft gain
    Graveyard Ridge Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Canton, North Carolina.
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  • Canton, North Carolina

    Graveyard Fields-Black Balsam Knob Circuit

    4.4
    9.83 mi / 1522 ft gain
    When the weather is in your favor, these treeless mountain tops will have your jaw on the floor with layers upon layers of Blue Ridge Mountains. This hike can be done in one day, but with panoramic views at multiple points, you'll want to take your time along this link of trails. This ~10-mile l...
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  • Cashiers, North Carolina

    Hike to Chimney Top

    3.3
    1.7 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Upon entering High Hampton Inn, follow the entrance road past the registration building, cart shed and parking lot. Take a right down a gravel road that follows alongside Hampton Lake. This gravel road continues for half a mile, even winding through part of the golf course and crossing over the c...
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  • Canton, North Carolina

    Shining Rock via Shining Creek Trail

    4.3
    8.69 mi / 2569 ft gain
    There are several ways to access the Shining Rock Wilderness Area, but go for the main trail head off of Hwy 276. The trail is split by the Pigeon River, providing a seemingly infinite combinations of trails and routes, keeping in mind that this area intersects often with the well known Art Lobe ...
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  • Canton, North Carolina

    Hike Big East Fork Shining Rock Loop

    4.0
    14 mi
    We began this trip by camping overnight in Graveyard Fields. Those camp sites are .5 miles from the car, so we kept our food there over night. Bear activity has increased, so it's strongly advised to bring a bear canister and be wise about food storage. We woke up early the next morning made bre...
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  • Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

    Rhapsodie Falls

    2.98 mi / 623 ft gain
    Rhapsodie Falls is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina.
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  • Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

    Hike to Raven Rock Falls

    5.0
    0.5 mi
    If you want to see a great waterfall without hiking all day, this is the perfect trail for you.  Getting there - The trailhead is about 2 miles from the intersection of Cold Mountain and Panther Ridge Road (exact coordinates: 35.1594, -82.9801). There is a small grassy pull out where you can park...
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  • Highlands, North Carolina

    Explore Cashiers Sliding Rock

    0.2 mi / 70 ft gain
    This waterfall is located just outside of Cashiers, NC. The trailhead to the waterfall is right off of the road and has a good amount of parking. The trial itself is very nice and has new steps at the beginning of the trail. The trail is very wide and is mostly flat the entire way there. Once you...
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