Directions to Trailhead: The hike to Cove Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains begins from Laurel Falls Trailhead at Fighting Creek Gap. Furthermore, there is a wooden post at every 0.1-mile (0.16 km), giving the many visitors who walk the 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to Laurel Falls an indicator of just how far they have to go. The nearest bathroom seems to be the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a 10 minute drive away. Sugarland Mountain Trail is across the street from the Laurel Falls Trail trailhead. Big Laurel Falls: the hike. Enjoyed the falls, but it would have been better if there were less people. Do not climb on rocks around the waterfall. The trail has short, steep sections which can be slippery in wet weather. Finally the day came when, in search of a handout, she bit a visitor and had to be euthanized. Portions of the trail have steep drop-offs. • Do not feed wildlife. There are no bathroom facilities directly at the Laurel Falls trailhead. Laurel Falls Trailhead travelers' reviews, business hours, introduction, open hours. The Laurel Falls Trail is an American hiking trail, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Sevier County, Tennessee. Laurel Falls Spur Trail (from trailhead, 3.3 miles one-way to end of trail) Mile 0.0 (1.6) Split from the main trail at Mile 1.7, taking the right fork. • Do not approach within 50 yards or any distance that disturbs a bear. What can you do to protect bears? Laurel Falls Trail is a popular short out-and-back hike to an 80 foot waterfall. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. The area is especially busy on weekends year-round and on weekdays during summer. At the Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn towards Cade’s Cove, and the trailhead is 3.5 miles down on the right. The 55' waterfall (also known as Laurel Fork Falls) is powerful and stunning after some heavy rains. Order Online Tickets Tickets See Availability Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. The 55-foot Laurel Falls is one of Northeast Tennessee's most breathtaking waterfalls. Laurel Falls - 2.5 Miles Round-Trip Laurel Falls is located 3.8 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Due to the steep grade and roughness of pavement, this trail is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. The Big Laurel Falls Trail is the perfect “little” hike for people of almost any age. To reach the trailhead from the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, drive 3.8 miles to the top of Fighting Creek Gap. The easiest way to access the Laurel Falls trail is to enter the park from Gatlinburg, TN, and head towards the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Laurel Falls Trail. Furthermore, there is a wooden post at every 0.1-mile (0.16 km), giving the many visitors who walk the 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to Laurel Falls an indicator of just how far they have to go. Menu & Reservations Make Reservations . 37738. • If you see another visitor breaking these rules, or encounter a bear on a trail, please call (865) 436-1230 or stop at a Visitor Center to report it. As the hiker approaches the falls, s/he should begin to hear the roars of both tumbling waters and a host of visitors who have made the trip to the surprisingly powerful cascade. Website. Black bear sightings in the park are amazing, but you need to be safe. The Laurel Falls Trail extends 2.6 miles and is the longest of four paved trails in the national park. When asked about how to get to Laurel Falls (a.k.a. Access trail: Laurel Falls Trail This is also the main road out to Cades Cove if you’re headed out that way.. Finding the trailhead is easy. Over the years, several people have fallen to their deaths and many others have suffered serious injuries from climbing on rocks near waterfalls or along the riverbanks. The trail continues to gain significant elevation. Check out updated best hotels & restaurants near Laurel Falls Trailhead. This hike can be found along the Little River Road between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and the Elkmont Campground. Locating the Laurel Falls Trailhead. The hike begins at a trailhead located off the graveled Upper Nantahala Road (view maps and driving directions).The gravel road to the trailhead can be a bit of an adventure itself, but it’s particularly scenic in the golden hues of fall. The waterfall was beautiful and definitely worth the effort. Because of this the national park service has had to pave this segment trail with a dark concrete, so as to prevent further erosion of the trailside. Laurel Branch and the 80-foot high Laurel Falls are named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub which blooms along the trail and near the falls in May. Opening & closing timings, parking options, restaurants nearby or what to see on your visit to Laurel Falls Trailhead… Black bears are often active in this area! Directions to Laurel Falls Trailhead From Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It’s marked well and is right off of the main parking area. Not only is it illegal, but feeding a bear guarantees its demise! Please read What Do I Do if I See a Bear. Trail Notes: The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 2.6 miles and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. The trail ascends Cove Mountain (elev. Please make sure that your actions don't contribute to the death of a bear. And you can also read the sign about the Self-Guiding Nature Trail. Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the park and parking at the trailhead is limited. Trip.com provides tourists with Laurel Falls Trailhead attraction address, business hours, brief introduction, open hours, nearby recommendation, restaurant, reviews etc. Originally, the Laurel Falls Trail was built in the 1930s as an access trail for fire crews in the event a blaze broke out in the Cove Mountain area. Trail Notes: The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 2.6 miles and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. The trail crosses over the midsection of the waterfall via a bridge, as the gushing waterfall sprays mist overhead and dives into a narrow gorge below. Bears pay the price for visitors' mistakes and carelessness. Pets and bicycles are prohibited on the trail. Laurel Falls is one of the more popular waterfalls in the park, and the trail to this point can be a bit crowded, but the falls are worth the hike to see them. This multi-tier fall tumbles 80' down Laurel Branch, a heavily forested drainage on the south slope of Cove Mountain.The fall is named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub with prolific blooms. Although much has been mentioned of how heavily trafficked the trail can be at times, the waterfall is popular for a reason: it is one of the most magnificent in the national park. Hikers threw their litter by the side of the trail-apple cores, candy wrappers, soda bottles. The other trail to the falls, which starts from just north of Hampton, TN, is described here. The main parking lot for Laurel Falls will be on your right, with additional parking across the street. From the trailhead at Fighting Creek Gap Road, the distance to the waterfall is 1.3 miles. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}35°40′19″N 83°34′50″W / 35.6720°N 83.5805°W / 35.6720; -83.5805, Laurel Falls to Cove Mountain lookout tower, "Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Plan Your Visit: Laurel Falls", "Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Maps", Hiking information for the Cove Mountain Lookout Tower, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laurel_Falls_Trail&oldid=977469058, Hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Protected areas of Sevier County, Tennessee, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 2.6 mi (1.3 to Laurel Falls); 6.4 km (2.1 to Laurel Falls), Fighting Creek Gap, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, inside of the, Easy (to falls); Moderate (to lookout tower). This 80’ cascade tumbles down Laurel Branch, a heavily forested drainage on the south slope of Cove Mountain. The Laurel Falls Trail is the most trampled, beaten, and worn down path in the entire national park– at least to the waterfall. It is, however, one of only three remaining lookout towers in the park (not including the fire tower of Mount Cammerer), the other two being at Mount Sterling and Shuckstack. General Information Directions: Via Hampton Blueline (#501): Directions: from Hampton follow TN-67 E/US- 321 S to Laurel Falls trailhead on right. .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}"Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Plan Your Visit: Laurel Falls". 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