SMOKY MOUNTAINS HIKE PICKER

Tell us your group size and ages — get the Smokies trails that actually fit, linked to full trail details. Free, no sign-up.

Your group

Adults (16–64)
Young kids (0–7)
Steers toward easy, short, kid-friendly
Older kids (8–15)
Seniors (65+)
Include strenuous / long hikes?
e.g. Alum Cave to Mt LeConte or Ramsey Cascades (steep, all-day)
Bringing a dog?
Dogs are banned on nearly all Smokies trails (only the Gatlinburg & Oconaluftee River trails allow them)

No exact matches — here's the closest

Suggestions are based on our trail database and grow as we add more hikes. Browse all Great Smoky Mountains hikes →

Great Smoky Mountains Hiking FAQ

What is the easiest hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Short, gentle trails like Laurel Falls (a paved 2.6-mile round trip to a waterfall), the Gatlinburg Trail, and the Sugarlands Valley nature trail are the easiest options, while Grotto Falls and the Cades Cove area paths are family favorites. Use the picker above with young kids in your group to see the gentlest hikes that fit, with full trail details.

What is the best Smoky Mountains hike for families with young kids?

Look for trails rated easy, marked kid-friendly, under ~3 miles, with modest elevation gain — waterfall hikes like Laurel Falls and Grotto Falls are ideal because there's a clear payoff at the end. Abrams Falls in Cades Cove is a bit longer but still manageable for steady older kids. The Hike Picker filters to exactly those when you add young kids to your group.

What is the hardest hike in the Smokies?

Strenuous Great Smoky Mountains hikes include Alum Cave Trail to Mt LeConte, Rainbow Falls to LeConte, Ramsey Cascades, Chimney Tops, and Charlies Bunion — long, steep climbs with major elevation gain, often on rocky, root-laced trail. Only include them if your group is fit and ready for a full, demanding day.

Do any Smoky Mountains day hikes require a permit?

No — day hiking in the Smokies needs no permit, and there's no permit lottery for trails. A backcountry permit is required only for overnight backpacking trips. Remember that every vehicle parked for more than 15 minutes needs a Park It Forward parking tag. The picker flags a hike only if our trail database marks it as permit-required.