Gatlinburg, TN

Smoky Mountain National Park

Laurel Falls (currently closed, set to reopen Spring 2026)

    This set of falls is probably even more popular than Abrams - or maybe it just seems like it is because it's a shorter hike and not near the room at the falls for people to spread out.  Because of this and of trail conditions, this hike will be closed until Spring 2026 to improve trail conditions and viewing platforms.  This is an easier moderate trail that is only about 1.25 miles roundtrip and is paved so it allows strollers access (although there is quite a bit of uphill).

Cataract Falls

    These falls are located on a short, 1 mile roundtrip trail at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.  This is a very easy trail and would be great for strollers and possibly wheelchairs - the trail surface is asphalt, cement or packed dirt.  Even though these falls are small, it's a really pretty walk through the woods.

 

Clingmans Dome, Cherokee, NC

Great Smoky Mountains, Cherokee NC

I wanted to include these hikes together because they are all easy to hit in the same day.

Clingman's Dome

    This is the highest point in the Smokies and is on the TN/NC line.  The good news is that you get to drive to the top, then it's a short 1/2 mile up on a paved path.  The bad news is, it's uphill the whole way.  However, with frequent breaks, it's not so bad and the views are amazing!! even from the parking lot!

Socco Falls

    This is a short walk down to the observation deck for this double waterfall.  However, to get down to the base requires a little bit of scrambling down a bank.  There are some ropes to help get down and of course trees and roots help also.  

Mingo Falls

    This is also a pretty short hike at only 1/2 a mile round trip, but does require about 160 stairs to climb.  These falls were so pretty, even with lower flow.  Would recommend going in the rainier season.

 

Kingsport (Bays Mountain, part 2)

 Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium

    For more information about the park, see previous post :)

 

Holly Loop

    This is a great short trail!  It's relatively easy and only about 1 mile in length.  You access it from Lakeside Trail - make you loop and head back.  It is a good option if you want a quick hike or even to extend Lakeside a little more.  

Bays Ridge Road to Lake Road

    This trail is best used when the leaves are off the trees so that you get the best view.  It's definitely a climb, but not steep and offers beautiful views from the top.  You can hike back down the same way or make a loop and go back Lake Road.  To make the loop is about 2.25 miles

Bays Mountain to Laurel Run

    There are several options for this hike - which can be from 12 to 15 miles if you choose to hike up to the radio towers first - there and back.  When we hiked, we only went one way and had someone pick us up at Laurel Run and bring us back to Bays.  We hiked up to the fire tower, which is the hardest part because the rest is practically down hill from there.  We kept to the upper trails (looking at a map) and had no problems navigating it.  We probably hiked close to 7 miles one way.  If you want to hike there and back, I would recommend starting at Laurel Run, so that you can get the uphill in first - then hike to the fire tower or radio towers and then turn around.  

Dolan Branch Falls

    I did not even realize there were falls at Bays when I started hiking - and while it isn't a true waterfall - because it is dam controlled, which means if there hasn't been rain, there is no falls.  But, it's still pretty when there has been and it's a neat area to explore.  It's only about 3/4 mile roundtrip and you have to walk across the road at the park to access it, so just be aware of that. The trail is just across from the dam.   

Cliffside Trail

    This trail is on the steeper side and goes along the edge of the mountain.  It's short at only 1 mile roundtrip and ends at a lookout tower that you can climb up and have a picnic or just enjoy the view.  You can continue up to the radio towers for another 1.5 miles or just return back down.  

Orchid Trail

    This trail is a short 3/4 mile trail between Lake Road and Bays Ridge.  Even though it is short, it's challenging because it is on the steeper side.  

Moonshiners Delight

    This is primarily a mountain bike trail, but it's a great one for trail runners and for hiking.  It's not overly strenuous, however, you're looking at at least 7 miles.  When I hiked it, it was 8 - that's accessing it from Big Oak and hiking to River Mountain Road.  There was .30 at the beginning that I missed and I cut out the last .5 mile because I actually thought it ended at River Mountain.  It's a great trail and easy to navigate.  There are several options if you wanted to only hike half, hike the entire trail or just most of the middle.  

    

Kingsport, TN (Bays Mountain, part 1)

 Bays Mountain

    There are at least 20 miles of trails at Bays and options for everyone!  It's $7 to get into the park, but you could also opt for a yearly membership for $35 and go as often as you want.  They also offer barge rides, planetarium, nature center and animal habitats.  They are also working towards lots of park improvements.  Here are some trail options

Lakeside Trail

    This is an easy to moderate trail that travels all the way around the lake.  It is about 3 miles long (even though it felt like 5 miles the first time we hiked it).  If you start across the dam - the trail is a little easier.

The Fire Tower 

    This one starts on Lakeside (either side will work as the trail up to the tower is about halfway around).  This trail is moderate (even though the park guide says advanced) and is about 4 miles.  The majority of the uphill is switchbacks, so it's mostly a gradual incline up the mountain.  You can (at your own risk) climb the fire tower and get amazing views at the top.  

Radio Towers

    There are several options on trails to get to the radio towers.  My favorite are Chestnut or Big Oak.  I think they are the prettiest and probably the most gentle.  If you go up one and down the other, you're looking at about 4.5-5 miles.  Azalea is probably the roughest - there are lots of rocks and ruts in the trail.  You can also hike up Bays Mountain road, but it's all gravel.  

Chinquapin Trail

    This has become one of my favorite trails.  The backside of it is quiet and beautiful with the big trees and the pines.  You have some uphill in the beginning but then it is a pretty easy trail for the rest of it.  You even get to see remnants of an old moonshine still.  This one is about 3 miles with the connector trails you also have to take.

                                              

Cherry Knobs East

    This used to be one of the most challenging trails in the park, but there have been improvements made and while it would still considered to be on the more challenging than some of the other trails, it's much better than it used to be!  It's close to 3.5 miles if you go up and back down.  I like to make it a loop and take Lake Road back, which gives you about the same mileage.  

Little Rock, Arkansas

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

    This was one of the hardest hikes in the shortest distance that I have done.  It is only .75 miles to the top, but at times it is very steep and you literally are climbing up rocks.  It was fun, but very challenging and a very technical hike. And the views from the top are amazing!  I would not recommend this one for young children or anyone with poor balance or to be done on a very hot day.  Make sure you take lots of water if you go!  There is a West Summit Trail, which is located at the Visitor Center and that is a much more gradual hike and you still get to climb some rocks, but not as steep.  We hiked up the East Summit and down the West and around the Ouachita Trail back around to our parking area, which was around 3 miles total.  

 

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Catherine Lake State Park

    Fall Branch Trail - This is a beautiful, easy, short hike!  The waterfall is dam controlled, so unfortunately there was no water when we went, but it was still a nice walk!  You hike the entire 2 mile loop or do the shortcut, which makes it only a mile roundtrip.  

Hot Springs National Park

    There are lots of great trails inside the park.  We hiked Goat Rock and Upper Dogwood trails.  I would recommend driving to the top access point and hiking down Goat Rock, across Gulpha Gorge Trail (which was the most moderate part of the hike), across to Hot Springs Mountain Trail (this is the only issue we had.  It is a really short connector, but their sign was missing) to Upper Dogwood Trail.  Most of it is very well marked and the entire loop was about 2.5 miles and considered moderate.

 

Branson, Missouri

Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area

    For the most part, this park has well marked trails.  There was only one point where we had to backtrack and did not connect where we wanted to.  There are several trail options and we hiked Bluff Trail to Taneycomo to Owen Drive Trail, which ended up only being 2 miles roundtrip.  Unfortunately, it had not rained in a long time, so the waterfall I was hoping to see was non-existent.  This is considered a moderate trail and there are 300 stone steps on the bluff trail.  There are a few other trail options throughout the park.

 

Middle Brook, Missouri

 Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    This is another great park in Missouri with opportunities to climb on rocks and play in the water.  I did not know what a "shut-in" was before this trip.  It happens when the water erodes the rock creating gorge like pockets in the stream.  At this park, there are 3 access points to the shut-ins.  This is only a 1 mile roundtrip hike.  To get to the first two access points, it's a very easy walk, to get to the third point, you have to walk up some stairs and down the bank, but it makes a great area to wade in.  There is a paved .8 mile paved walkway from the visitor center to the trailhead, or you can follow the road to the parking area in the back of the park.  

    The park offers other trails to hike as well.

Belleview, Missouri

Elephant Rocks State Park

    

     This park is so neat and offers an easy 1 mile paved trail.  It begins at the end of the parking lot and goes all the way around the rocks with lots of opportunities to climb up and explore the rocks.  There is a small spur that goes to an old engine house and a dirt trail to your right when you enter the park that goes around additional rocks and a pond.  

 

Lincoln City, IN

Lincoln Boyhood Home National Historic Site

    While this isn't what I would normally consider hiking, it really is a great place for an easy walk or trail run.  There is no parking fee for the site and it offers two nice one mile loop trails.

 

Duffield, VA

Natural Tunnel State Park

    Not far from Kingsport, is Natural Tunnel.  There are several hiking trails in the park - you can hike down to the river or up to overlooks - most have pretty decent elevation gain.  There is a $5 parking fee for the park

    Stock Creek Trail - The hike down to the creek is about 2 miles roundtrip and the trail switchbacks several times down the hill.  You also have the option of riding the chairlift, which is a lot of fun and is only $3 a person.  The creek makes a great place to set up hammocks for the afternoon and playtime in the water.  You might even have a train go by.    

    Lover's Leap - This one is about 3/4 of a mile and offers great views of the tunnel and rock cliffs.  It's uphill to the lookout.

    Purchase Ridge - This one is at least 5 miles roundtrip if you do the entire trail with the loop - because it seems you have to add the beginning connector trails.  It's a pretty trail and you reach a lookout near the beginning of the loop section - I'm not sure how well you can see in the summer with the trees put out - we went in the winter.  It's definitely uphill most of the way up.  

    

 

Lebanon, VA

Mendota Fire Tower

    This is a short hike - only about 1/2 a mile roundtrip and takes you to some of the best views in the area.  There is a small parking lot off the road and the trail up isn't super well marked, but still easy enough to follow.  There is a lot of rocks you have to scramble over to get to the top, but lots of fun.  Also to note - there is a lot of vandalism on the rocks at the top, but the views are still worth it!  If you want to get some more walking in, check out the Mendota Trail, which is only about 10 minutes from the fire tower.  

Roan Mountain, TN

Carver's Gap

    Hiking to the balds at Roan Mountain is a bit challenging because you have to hike up and down the balds both directions and there are 3 if you hike to the end, which is totally worth it.  It's a 5 mile roundtrip moderate hike and the views are amazing!  It's beautiful in the spring and early summer because of the azaleas, rhododendrons and lilies.  And at the beginning of the hike, you get to hike through a pine forest.

 

Brevard, NC

 Cove Creek Falls

    This hike is an easy hike, until you get to where you hike down to the falls, which requires a little bit of a scramble down.  It's about 2.5 miles roundtrip and the falls are beautiful!  Follow Cove Creek Trail until you see the sign for the falls.  Stay to the right (or you'll end up at the top of the falls) until you get to the bottom and then follow it to the left.

Cedar Rock Falls

    This is a short hike at a little over 1.5 miles roundtrip.  You need to follow Cat Gap trail, which is an easy hike until you get to where it cuts up the hill and then you've got a short climb until the trail looks like it splits - go to the left and hike down to the falls