b'roomfacilitiesandbenchesassistinShort Hikes navigatingthepath.Whenyoureachthe(Distance is Round Trip) summit, you will be standing on the secondhighestpeakeastoftheMississippiRiver.Abrams FallsT-1 The tower is reached via a wide ramp, mak- Distance: 5.0 MilesDifficulty: Moderate ing this trail an immediate favorite amongstOneofthemostpopulartrailsinthe families and groups with children.Smokies, Abrams Falls is in close proximityto Cades Cove. Beginning at the wooden Grotto FallsT-6bridge over Abrams Creek, the trail takesDistance: 3.0 MilesDifficulty: Moderatehikersalongapleasantandlevelcourse. ThistrailislocatedofftheRoaringForkThe trail does become steep when you near Motor Trail and offers the only waterfall thatArbutus Ridge and climb into a gap in the visitors are able to walk behind. Though theridge. The path then leads to Abrams Falls, trail isprimarily traversing a hemlock forest,one of the parks largest falls and a thing of itisasuitabletrekfornovicehikes.Theabsolute beauty. distance to the falls isrelatively short andthe slope is easy to travel. Located close toAlum Cave BluffT-2 Gatlinburg,GrottoFallshaslongbeena Distance: 4.6 MilesDifficulty: Moderate tourist favorite.Alum Cave Bluff is one of the finest shorthikes the park has to offer. It includes the Hen Wallow FallsT-7natural arching Arch Rock and three moreamazing sites. First is Huggins Hell, named Distance: 4.4 MilesDifficulty: Moderateby settlers who were detoured by the areas Located in Cosby, Hen Wallow Falls beginsrhododendronsandlaurel.Youwillthen almost immediately with a steady climb upreachInspirationBluff,whichhasa Snake Den Mountain. Although rugged, thespectacular view of the Little Pigeon Rivers trail passes through a lush, green forest ofupperbasin.YoufinishthetrekatAlum rhododendrons and ferns, with hemlocks andCave Bluff, a massive ledge of black slate polars as a canopy. At roughly 0.7 miles fromhigh above the trail. the trailhead you will pass a social trail thatAndrews BaldT-3 leads right, stay straight. Again at 1 mile youwill reach Messer Gap, another side trail, andagain stay straight. At 2.1 miles you will reach Distance: 3.6 MilesDifficulty: Moderate the short and steep side trail that leads downThistrailfollowstheupperendofthe to the Falls. Check out the small cave just toForneyRidgeTrail,beginningwherethe the right of the falls also.pavedpathtoClingmansDomeTowerleaves the road. The trail ends at Andrews Laurel FallsT-8Bald, the highest bald in the Smokies. On aDistance: 2.6 MilesDifficulty: Moderatepleasant day the view can be breathtaking, Laurel Falls offers the easiest waterfall accessoffering an endless landscape of mountains intheSmokies.Followingapavedtrail,stretching all the way into North Carolina. hikerswalkthroughaprogressionofChimney TopsT-4 cascadesbeforearrivingattheflat,rockybaseofthe60-footwaterfall.Thistrailis Distance: 4.0 MilesDifficulty: Strenuous moderately accessible by stroller and offersNational Park This hike is short and very steep. But, dont the perfect spot to sit and take in the beautylet the quick ascent detour you from one ofthe Smokies finest views. Relatively easy for of the falls and mystifying sounds of rushingthe first mile, you will endure a 600-yard water. Because of this, Laurel Falls is one ofclimb to the Chimneys before experiencing the Smokies most visited trails.a view that rivals any other. This trail is not Rainbow FallsT-9particularlydangerous,butisnotDistance: 5.4 MilesDifficulty: Moderaterecommended for small children. Though this trail is a bit challenging, it takesClingmans Dome TowerT-5 visitors to the highest waterfall in the SmokyMountains. Beginning at the upper end of Distance: 1.0 MileDifficulty: Easy CherokeeOrchard,thepathtakesvisitorsThistrailisawide,pavedcoursethatis through a field of boulders, hardwood andmoderately accessible with a stroller. Rest128 SmokyMountainNavigator.com'