Sugarlands Visitor Center / Gatlinburg, TN
Easy
Distance (One Way)
1.9 miles
Elevation Gain
164 feet
Trailhead
Sugarlands Visitor Center
Location
Gatlinburg, TN
Trail Description Written by Caroline Sullivan
The Gatlinburg Trail is an easy, accessible trail that runs from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and follows the river to the border of Gatlinburg. It is one of the only two dog-friendly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bikes are also allowed on this popular trail.
Parking for the Gatlinburg Trail can be found at either the Sugarlands Visitor Center or in a small parking area on River Road. The trail can be hiked in either direction and offers visitors easy terrain with beautiful river views. This trail is perfect for those with little ones who might want to explore the river or older guests that might not be as mobile as they once were. This trail is also ideal for trails runners as it is a quick out and back with rolling hills through the National Park.
Notable sights along the trail include remnants of an old homestead and rock structures, a bridge that goes over the river that is a lovely photo-op, small burn scars on the landscape from the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires, the historic park headquarters, and the trailhead to Cataract Falls. Cataract Falls is an easy waterfall hike near the Sugarlands Visitor Center that is kid-friendly and short.
+ Elevation Profile
#dog friendly
#easy
#easy
#gatlinburg tn
Gatlinburg Trail Elevation Profile
Trail Difficulty Scales Explained
Elevation Grade
2%
Fairly Flat
Paul Petzoldt Scale
2.2
Easy
5
10
15
Shenandoah Scale
25
Easiest
50
100
150
Photo Gallery (4)
Trail Map
Read More
Are Dogs Allowed in the National Park?
You'll find tons of pet friendly lodging in Pigeon Forge as people love to travel with their dogs. But are dogs allowed in the Smokies? The simple answer is yes, but only in designated areas. Here's what you need to know about bringing your...
Read This Post
Beginner Hiking Trails in the Smokies
While the Smoky Mountains have certainly assembled an impressive collection of attractions, theme parks, resorts, restaurants, and unique businesses, the real draw has always been the mountains themselves. If you book a cabin in Pigeon For...
Read This Post
Easy Hikes In The Smoky Mountains
Hiking is a fun activity for any visitor to the Smokies, regardless of experience level. If you're brand new to exploring the National Park or you are looking for a quick and easy stroll to get out in nature, these hikes are perfect for you...
Read This Post
Stroller Friendly Hiking Trails In The Smokies
Believe it or not, there are a few stroller friendly trails for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We've talked about kid friendly hiking trails in the past, but that doesn't always mean stroller friendly trails. A few of th...
Read This Post
Gatlinburg Hiking Trails
There are a handful of Gatlinburg hiking trails that are easy to reach from the parkway. If you're visiting this popular mountain town, plan for a day of your trip to go explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you're a beginner,...
Read This Post
Complete List Of Hikes & Trails (90)
- Abrams Falls Trail (4.2 mi)
- Ace Gap Trail (5.4 mi)
- Albright Grove Loop Trail (0.7 mi)
- Alum Cave Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5 mi)
- Andrews Bald via Forney Ridge Trail (1.8 mi)
- Anthony Creek Trail (3.5 mi)
- Appalachian Trail Smoky Mountains Segment (71.7 mi)
- Baskins Creek Trail (2.7 mi)
- Baxter Creek Trail (Mt. Sterling) (6.2 mi)
- Big Creek Trail (Mouse Creek Falls, Midnight Hole) (5.8 mi)
- Bote Mountain Trail (6.6 mi)
- Boulevard Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5.4 mi)
- Bradley Fork Trail (7.3 mi)
- Brushy Mountain Trail (Mt. LeConte) (4.9 mi)
- Bullhead Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5.9 mi)
- Cataract Falls (Fighting Creek, Cove Mountain Trail) (0.5 mi)
- Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail (4.2 mi)
- Charlies Bunion via Kephart Prong Loop (14.2 mi)
- Chestnut Branch Trail (2.1 mi)
- Chestnut Top Trail (4.3 mi)
- Chimney Tops Trail (2 mi)
- Clingman’s Dome Trail (0.6 mi)
- Cooper Road Trail (10.5 mi)
- Cove Mountain Trail (8.5 mi)
- Crooked Arm Ridge Trail (2.2 mi)
- Cucumber Gap Trail (2.4 mi)
- Curry Mountain Trail (3.3 mi)
- Dry Sluice Gap Trail (4.2 mi)
- Eagle Creek Trail (8.9 mi)
- Elkmont Nature Trail (0.8 mi)
- Finley Cane Trail (2.8 mi)
- Forney Ridge Trail (5.4 mi)
- Gabes Mountain Trail (Hen Wallow Falls) (6.6 mi)
- Gatlinburg Trail (1.9 mi)
- Goldmine Trail (0.8 mi)
- Grapeyard Ridge Trail (7.6 mi)
- Gregory Bald Trail (Gregory Bald) (7.3 mi)
- Gregory Ridge Trail (Gregory Bald) (5 mi)
- Grotto Falls (Trillium Gap Trail) (1.4 mi)
- Hannah Mountain Trail (9.5 mi)
- Hatcher Mountain Trail (2.6 mi)
- Huskey Gap Trail (4.1 mi)
- Indian Grave Gap Trail (3.7 mi)
- Jakes Creek Trail (3.7 mi)
- Kephart Prong Trail (2 mi)
- Laurel Falls Trail (4 mi)
- Lead Cove Trail (1.8 mi)
- Little Bottoms Trail (2.3 mi)
- Little Brier Gap Trail (Walker Sisters Cabin) (1.4 mi)
- Little Greenbrier Trail (4.3 mi)
- Little River Trail (6.1 mi)
- Low Gap Trail (5.4 mi)
- Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail (7.4 mi)
- Lumber Ridge Trail (4.1 mi)
- Lynn Camp Prong Trail (3.7 mi)
- Maddron Bald Trail (Albright Grove) (7.3 mi)
- Meigs Creek Trail (3.5 mi)
- Meigs Mountain Trail (6 mi)
- Metcalf Bottoms Trail (0.7 mi)
- Middle Prong Trail (Indian Flat Falls) (4.1 mi)
- Miry Ridge Trail (5 mi)
- Mt. Cammerer Trail via Low Gap + AT (5.6 mi)
- Mt. Sterling Ridge Trail (5.3 mi)
- Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome (7.9 mi)
- Noland Creek Trail (9.2 mi)
- Old Settlers Trail (15.8 mi)
- Old Sugarlands Trail (3.9 mi)
- Panther Creek Trail (2.3 mi)
- Porters Creek Trail (Fern Branch Falls) (3.7 mi)
- Rabbit Creek Trail (7.8 mi)
- Rainbow Falls Trail (Mt. LeConte) (6.6 mi)
- Ramsey Cascades Trail (4 mi)
- Rich Mountain Loop (8.7 mi)
- Roundtop Trail (7.5 mi)
- Russell Field Trail (3.5 mi)
- Schoolhouse Gap Trail (Whiteoak Sink) (2.1 mi)
- Shuckstack Fire Tower from Fontana Dam (4.6 mi)
- Spence/Russell Field Loop (13.7 mi)
- Spruce Flats Falls Trail (Buckeye) (1 mi)
- Sugarland Mountain Trail (11.9 mi)
- Swallow Fork Trail (4 mi)
- Sweat Heifer Creek Trail (3.7 mi)
- The Jump Off (Boulevard Trail) (3.3 mi)
- Thunderhead Mountain (Rocky Top) (6.1 mi)
- Trillium Gap Trail (Grotto Falls, Mt. LeConte) (8.9 mi)
- Turkeypen Ridge Trail (3.6 mi)
- Twentymile Loop Trail (2.9 mi)
- Twentymile Trail (5 mi)
- West Prong Trail (2.7 mi)
- Whiteoak Sink via Schoolhouse Gap Trail (2.3 mi)
The above list of hiking trails in the Smokies is incomplete and constantly being updated. If you have information or photos you would like to contribute, please contact [emailprotected].
Featured Posts
Jun 24, 2024
Things to do in the Smoky Mountains extend beyond East Tennessee and the national park. While the Great Smoky ...
Read This Post
Jul 25, 2024
Unleash your inner adventurer across 900 acres of mountain terrain at WildSide! This Pigeon Forge adventure pa...
Read This Post
Jul 11, 2024
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a creative community in the Smoky Mountains that seeks to enrich lives ...
Read This Post
