Where Is Laurel Falls?
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
I just returned from hiking to Laurel Falls in the Great Smokey Mountains. We had a great vacation and for me the coolest day trip we had was the one where we hiked up to Laurel Falls. I need to warn you that they do not allow dogs on the trail any more. We had someone in our group bring their dog and there was a Ranger at the falls who asked him to leave and get that dog off of Laurel Falls trail. You may have pets in the parking area but you must leave them in your vehicle, so it would be best to leave them back in your cabin or wherever you are staying.
Laurel Falls Warning
Watch Out For Bears At Laurel Falls
We were told by another hiker Dad that was coming down the mountain trail at Laurel Falls that he had seen a momma bear with her cub at the 1 mile mark. We looked around the area but they had moved on by the time we made it up to that point.
It is not recommended to feed any black bear on the trail to Laurel Falls or any other trail in the park for that matter. The most injuries are inflicted by Black Bears and that is the species of bear in the Laurel Falls area.
Although Black Bear are known to be in this area I suspect that they keep their distance from humans as much as possible as long as we do not feed them human food. If hikers start to leave food on the trail or feed bears then the Black Bear in the area will become beggars for food and eventually attack hikers at Laurel Falls.
Bring The Kids Along On The Trail To Laurel Falls
The trail to Laurel Falls is only 1.3 miles long so it will be a great day hike for you to take the kids along. When we went it was the perfect day, not too hot or cold. The experience brought me closer to my girls and I highly recommend this hike for families. Bring your camera or iPhone and take lots of pictures. Be ready to carefully climb down to the bottom and take some awesome family photo’s at Laurel Falls.
Laurel Falls
I say bring some drinking water along for the trip and maybe have a few snacks in the car because you may be a bit hungry after burning up energy on the hike up to Laurel Falls.
Where exactly is Laurel Falls located? The falls are located in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in Sevier County Tennessee on the trail leading to the summit of Cove Mountain. The trail is paved for the first 1.3 miles leading to the falls because it is so travelled being the most popular trail in the whole park that erosion and just being beaten down was a factor before it was paved. The paving is rough in places so be sure to watch your step so you do not twist an ankle.
In closing I had a blast hiking up to Laurel Falls with my wife and 2 girls this past week and you can too when you visit the trail. This family vacation has brought me closer to my girls in a time when they are growing up and soon to drift away if we let them.
See you on the mountains of the world,
Tom Husby
Laurel Falls Hiker
If you have been to Laurel Falls or have any questions about the falls leave a comment under this post.
More on Laurel Falls Here