Grotto Falls is a unique waterfall hike located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Trillium Gap Trail takes you through an old-growth hemlock forest and continues behind the 25-foot waterfall. This 2.8-mile roundtrip hike is a great adventure for you and your family!
Keep Grotto Falls in mind when you are on your summer vacation in the Great Smokies. The coolness from the waterfall splashing on you as you walk behind the falls will be so refreshing on a hot summer’s day. It’s a popular touristy destination, so please bring your patience and kindness. Get there early if you want to enjoy this beautiful natural spot without the crowds!
Table of Contents
Know Before You Go
Great Smoky Mountains – Parking Tag
Parking tags are required in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are three different tags you can purchase. Daily pass for $5, weekly pass for $15, or an annual pass for $40. Tags may be purchased online, or on-site. Parking tags will NOT be required for motorists who pass through the area or who park for less than 15 minutes, or while parked at their designated campsite. Entrance into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is FREE, but a parking tag is required.
Unique Feature of this Waterfall
What makes Grotto Falls so unique is that you can walk behind it! It is the only waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that you can walk behind. How cool is that!?
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
To reach the trailhead of Grotto Falls, you must drive along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This is a 5.5-mile-long, one-way, loop road that offers a relaxing drive through an old forest and scenic sights of mountain streams and historic buildings within the Great Smoky Mountains.
Road Conditions: the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a narrow, winding, one-way road. Buses, RVs, and large trucks are prohibited on the road.
Winter Closure: the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trial is closed during the winter from December through mid-March. Don’t worry, you can still hike to Grotto Falls starting from the Rainbow Falls Trailhead. This will be about a 7-mile roundtrip hike.
Be Safe
This goes for all waterfalls, but do not climb the rocks around Grotto Falls! The mist and algae causes the rocks to be very slippery. The risk of falling and sustaining a broken bone or worse (death) is not worth it! Stay safe out there, friends. And keep a close eye on your kids!
Black Bears
Black bears are active within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Follow these guidelines to avoid any negative interactions with a black bear.
Leave No Trace
Before you go, please make sure you understand the Leave No Trace principles. These seven principles help reduce our environmental impact from outdoor recreational activities. Nature is meant to be enjoyed and respected. 🌱
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of others
About the Trail
Grotto Falls via Trillium Gap Trail
Location: Grotto Falls is located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
Length & Elevation Gain: It’s about 2.8 miles with an elevation gain of 585 feet.
Hiking Time: It takes an average of 1.5 to 3 hours to complete this hike.
Route Type: This is an out-and-back hike.
Difficulty Rating: Easy to moderate depending on fitness level.
Terrain: This trail consists of dirt, rocks, and rocky steps.
Pet-friendly? No, pets are not allowed.
How to Get to the Trailhead
From the Gatlinburg Parkway, turn onto the Historic Nature Trail. Veer right onto Cherokee Orchard Road then turn onto the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. There will be a small parking area to the left. The Grotto Falls trailhead is located at the end of the parking area on the other side of the road.
Due to this trail’s popularity, the main parking area can fill up fast. There is additional parking available further up the road. Our best advice would be to arrive early in order to get a good parking spot!
Put this address in Google maps: Grotto Falls Parking, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Trail Directions
Begin your hike from the trailhead sign off the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
You will be hiking a very short distance on an access trail until you reach a trail sign pointing you towards Grotto Falls. You will now be hiking along the Trillium Gap Trail.
This hike can be considered easy for many well-fit hikers. However, there are a few sets of steps along the way that can get the heart pumping making this hike moderate for some people.
As you reach closer to Grotto Falls, you will see a cascade that might trick you into thinking that is the actual waterfall. My husband and I seriously thought that was the waterfall (we didn’t look at pictures of Grotto Falls prior, so we got fooled).
A short distance after the “fake falls”, you will finally reach Grotto Falls! It’s a fairly small waterfall, but still beautiful.
The fun part is being able to walk behind it! Pretty sure, I went back and forth behind the waterfall like 6 times. It was exciting and made me feel like a kid again.
To return back to the parking area, simply retrace your steps. Congrats, you did it! 🥳
Avoid the Crowds
If you’re like me and my husband, you want to avoid crowded places at all cost! Here’s a few tips to (hopefully) help avoid all the people.
Get there early! You can start hiking to Grotto Falls at any time. We recommend arriving as early as possible. Most people start coming into the parking area around 8-10 AM. Beat the crowd and get there before everyone else!
Go on a weekday! The most popular days people hike to Grotto Falls is on the weekends and most days during the summer. Kids are out of school and families are on vacation. The weekdays are the best days to go to avoid crowds.
Go in the offseason! This is the time of year when fewer people are traveling. Usually around late fall through the winter to early spring when the weather is not very ideal for outdoor activities. Be aware, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is closed during winter! Start your hike from Rainbow Falls in order to hike to Grotto Falls in the offseason.
Get a late start! Rather than hiking early in the morning, you can choose to hike later in the afternoon before sunset to avoid the crowds.
READ THIS: 15 Ways to Avoid Crowds in the Great Outdoors
We Vlogged Our Experience!
More Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains
There are a bunch of awesome hikes to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Below is a list of some of our personal favorites.
Clingmans Dome – take a hike to the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s a short yet very steep 0.5 mile-hike to an observation tower that offers beautiful 360-degree views.
Andrews Bald – hike 1.8 miles one-way to the highest grassy bald in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Escape the heavily congested crowds of Clingmans Dome and find more solitude at Andrews Bald. Enjoy the amazing views of the southern Smokies and Fontana Lake.
Abrams Falls – this is a very popular hike along the Cades Cove Loop. It’s a 2.5-mile one-way hike to a 20-foot waterfall. Although small, Abrams Falls has a large volume of water flowing over with a beautiful open pool at the base making it a great photo opportunity. Swimming can be dangerous due to strong currents and an undertow. Be safe and have fun!
Charlie’s Bunion – hike 4 miles one-way to one of the most picturesque spots along the Appalachian Trail and capture the breathing taking views from the unique rocky outcrop known as Charlie’s Bunion.
Chimney Tops – get ready for a tough, short hike! In the 2 miles heading towards Chimney Tops, you will gain about 1,400 feet in elevation. Unfortunately, due to fire damage and safety issues, the last 0.25 miles (which was the best part) is closed off. But there is a viewing platform which offers nice views, and you can see Chimney Tops from there!
Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte – this is a very popular hike yet strenuous hike clocking in at 11 miles roundtrip with almost 2,800 feet of elevation gain. It’s an awesome adventure, and you will see Arch Rock, Alum Cave Bluff, Mount LeConte Lodge, Cliff Top, and Myrtle Point along the way!
Rainbow Falls – take a hike to a beautiful 80-foot waterfall. This 5.5-mile roundtrip hike is the perfect family adventure as the trail is rated moderate to hard difficulty. You might even see a rainbow at the waterfall!
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