Grotto Falls trail in Gatlinburg is a family-friendly hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that is under 3 miles round trip. Located just outside of Gatlinburg, views are gorgeous, with at least 3 stream crossings along the way. The endpoint of the trail is the fabulous Grotto Falls which has the unique distinction of being the only waterfall in the Smokies that you are able to walk behind. It really doesn’t get cooler than that!
Of course, each family has its own unique needs. You know your family best and are ultimately responsible for discerning the safety and appropriateness of this hike. Please read our full disclaimer here.
Grotto Falls Parking
The Grotto Falls trail has its own parking lot, which is located on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The lot is listed in Google Maps for easy directions and identification. There are also directional signs for Grotto Falls after you enter the loop.
The one downside is the lot is extremely small. If you want to get a close spot, you will have to arrive early in the morning. If you don’t. you’ll have to park further down the street, which can add up to a half-mile or more of additional walking distance.
If you have kids, you know that even the slightest increase in length means you may not reach your final destination. Trust me when I say, you’ll regret it if you have to turn back before you reach the falls.
Taking the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail to Grotto Falls
The very scenic Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is located just outside of Gatlinburg. This driving loop is a popular spot to look for bears and other wild animals, so if you keep your eyes peeled, you may see a fun surprise!
This area of the national park does not have a picnic area, but it is close enough to Gatlinburg that you could grab some lunch after your adventure! Alternatively, you could eat on the trail or near your car, just remember to pack out your trash.
Periodically around the loop, you will find public restrooms, equipped with hand sanitizer. There is a restroom right in the Grotto Falls parking lot.
Grotto Falls Trail Review
For the majority of the trail, the ground is fairly level which makes the hike pleasant for both kids and adults. When there is an incline, it tends to be gradual and relatively brief. If you do get tired, there are plenty of fallen trees along the path for resting. With a baby in a carrier, we only stopped a couple of times.
Related Read: 20 Family-Friendly Hikes In The Smoky Mountains
Throughout the trail, you will need to tread carefully, due to these awesome blocks of tree roots that appear often. To date, I have never seen such large groupings of roots anywhere else, even in other states. They were truly visually stunning.
3 times during your travels, you will cross over a small stream. The level of difficulty varies at each location due to the variation in size and steadiness of the rocks available for you to step on. You will need to closely supervise your younger kids during these crossings and perhaps lend a helping hand.
As you approach the grand waterfall, you will pass a couple of smaller cascades on the left. At this point, it starts to get a little rocky and the wet rocks are pretty slippery. Once you make it up to the main waterfall, you will notice that you can follow the rocky path behind the falls. This is an awesome photo spot!
It’s a popular trail, so there will always be someone around to take a family shot for you! We didn’t take the baby behind the falls, because it was cold and the waterfall splashes.
Related Read: Discover Clingman’s Dome
Erica has lived in East TN for over 10 years. She enjoys exploring this gorgeous region with her husband and 3 lively children. As a former teacher turned homeschool mom, she loves finding fun and affordable activities the entire family will love, especially if they cultivate a love for learning!
Hello! We are traveling next month with 6 adults and 8 kids ranging in ages from 15-6 can you suggest some fun ideas or tips for us in the Smoky Mountains. We are staying in Pigeon Forge area but looking for ideas all around that area
How exciting! I definitely suggest a visit to the Sugarlands Visitor Center. If you want to cool off, Dollywood has a great water park. There is also a huge indoor water park, inside a hotel called Wilderness at the Smokies. You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to go to the park. I would also look at Schoolhouse Gap trail to see if it would be a good fit for your family, becasue it is one of the easiest and shortest trails. Lumberjack Feud would also probably be a great dinner show, since you have kids in such a wide age range. You can also view my Smoky Mountains page for other activities. Wishing you and your family a wonnderful vacation!
Planning a girls trip with my cousins, Aunts & grandmother to this area. Your blog has been super helpful! Thank you for sharing so much info! Wondering if this waterfall would be appropriate for my 88 year old Grandmother to join us on. Do you know how long of a hike it is? Or what waterfall would you recommend as being an easy hike near Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge?
If your grandmother is shaky on her feet, this would not be a good trail for her. I would check out some the easy hikes here instead. https://easttnfamilyfun.com/15-best-family-hikes-in-the-smoky-mountains/
Unfortunately the waterfall hikes are all listed as moderate to difficult. You can see Cataract Falls right behind Sugarlands Visitor Center, which is just slightly off the main road. It is one of the smaller falls, but that might be the best option for your grandmother.
Do you think you could take a 3 and 5 year old on this hike? The 3 year old can be worn? Thank you!
If you are an experienced hiker that doesn’t mind a little challenge, I would say yes. But realistically, I’m not sure if your 5 year old will make it the whole way to the falls without wanting to quit. If your family is newer to hiking, I would stick to the one of the trails in the easy category. The hike to the Walker Sister’s cabin is fantastic!