The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is absolutely FREE to enter making it one of the best US National Parks for a family vacation. Since hiking is a great way to get the kids excited about the outdoors, we put together this Smoky Mountains Vacation Guide with our pick for the best Smoky Mountains Hikes for Kids
In this guide to Smoky Mountains hikes for kids we share some of the best hikes in Gatlinburg for kids. These short hikes in the Smoky Mountains offer a big reward for a small effort and are perfect for the kids.
Best Hikes In Gatlinburg For Kids
There are more than 800 miles of hiking trails in Gatlinburg, including over 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail that runs through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
As you can imagine, the variety of hiking trails and skill level is tremendous. The good news is that there are plenty of easy hikes in Gatlinburg for families with kids of all ages.
Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls Trail is a VERY POPULAR kid-friendly hike in Gatlinburg accessed near the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Black Bears are active in this area, so prepare accordingly.
- Parking: Located on both sides of the road at the Trailhead
- Features: 80 foot cascading Laurel Falls at the end of trail
- Skill Level: EASY
- Elevation Gain: ~300 feet
- Length: 2.6 miles out and back
- Time to Hike: About 2 hours
- Stroller Friendly? YES( but it does have points that are narrow and bumpy)
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Gatlinburg Trail
Easy kid-friendly, bike-friendly, and pet-friendly trail leading from downtown Gatlinburg to the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
If you or the kids are too tired to walk back, you can catch the Gatlinburg Trolley at the Visitor’s Center. The trail does run along the road partially, so noise can be an issue.
- Parking: Trail access begins at Traffic light 10 in town or the Sugarlands Visitor Center
- Features: Runs along the Little Pigeon River
- Skill Level: EASY
- Elevation Gain:164 feet
- Length: 2.8 miles out and back (1.4 miles to Sugarlands Visitor Center)
- Time to Hike: 2 hours if hiking out and back
- Stroller Friendly? YES
- Dog allowed? Yes, on a leash (ONLY PET FRIENDLY TRAIL IN THE PARK)
Little Brier Gap Trail to Walker Sisters Home
Easy hike accessed from the Little Greenbrier School parking from April-November.
The Little Greenbrier Road closes in the winter so you must hike to the road after either parking on Wear Gap Road or in Metcalf Bottoms. This adds an additional 1/2 to 3/4 mile respectively.
- Parking: At Little Greenbier School
- Features: Walker Sisters Home/Historic
- Skill Level: MODERATE/EASY (Mostly level, but some roots on parts of the trail)
- Elevation Gain: 285 feet
- Length: 2.6 miles out and back
- Time to Hike: 2 hours if hiking out and back
- Stroller Friendly? NO
Tremont on Middle Prong Trail
This is my favorite trail to hike with kids in the Smoky Mountains. The entire trail from Gatlinburg to Townsend is over 8 miles, but I recommend enjoying the trial for 1 to 2 miles from the Gatlinburg side.
There are three cascading waterfalls, plenty of climbing features for older kids, and the trail is level the entire way. You can read more about our experience on this trail in the Seasonal Guide to Hiking in the Smokies
- Parking: Follow directions to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and then take another 3.1 miles past the institute to the parking for the Middle Prong Trailhead
- Features: 3 cascading waterfalls/historic
- Skill Level: EASY
- Elevation Gain: 285 feet
- Length: 8.3 miles (we only walked in about 2/3 mile in to reach all three waterfalls)
- Time to Hike: 1-2 hours if hiking out and back
- Stroller Friendly? Yes (Hard packed dirt road)
Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail
This short hike in the Smoky Mountains is perhaps the most well known and popular trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Clingmans Dome Observations Tower Trail is a steeply inclined paved short trail that leads to the top of Clingmans Dome.
Fun fact: Clingmans “Dome” is actually the name of the top of the mountain NOT the observation tower itself.
- Parking: The trail is located about 40 minutes south Gatlinburg on the Bryson City, NC side of the park. Take Hwy 441 to the parking area located at the bottom of the trailhead.
- Features: 6,643 foot mountaintop that lies within both Tennessee and North Carolina
- Skill Level: Moderate/Easy- Steep incline but short and not too technical
- Elevation Gain: 457 feet
- Length: 0.8 miles
- Time to Hike: 1 hour
- Stroller Friendly? NO (I would recommend carrying infants/toddlers)
These are just a few of the easy hikes in the Smoky Mountains for kids, but as you can see, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place to take a family hiking vacation.
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