The closest national park to where we live is also the most popular one! With no admission fee and easy access from several sizable cities, it’s no surprise that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is visited often! I’ve pulled together a list of kid friendly hikes in smoky mountain national park from the ones we’ve hiked ourselves and the ones on our “to hike” list, including two stroller friendly trails that are perfect for stops if you’re on a road trip through the area or have itty bitty babies on the trail. If you want to do more than hike, check out this larger list of top ten things not to miss in smoky mountains national park! Scroll all the way to the bottom for a custom google map of all the trailheads I’ve listed, to see what’s closest to wherever you’re staying.
**NEW for 2023- make sure to get a parking pass from the national park!**
This post focuses on this specific trip we took, but be sure to read about the more general top 10 mistakes to avoid when planning a national park trip, too!
If you like this post, you might like these too!
Asheville is just an hour away from some sections of the park – check out kid friendly things to do in Asheville + family friendly Asheville hikes if you plan to go there too!
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A few things you might consider taking with you- in a busy park like the Smokies I don’t think you need much for crowded little 1 mile trails, but once you get further out or on longer trails you’ll want to carry the ’10 essentials’ {Navigation, a light source, sun protection, first aid stuff, a knife, a way to make fire, an emergency shelter, extra food, extra water, and extra clothes.] and ideally an extra grocery bag to pack out any trash you see along the way!
In more specific terms, some of our favorites:
- We love these REI kid backpacks; of course fill it with snacks + water
- A spare fair of merino socks, in case you get wet feet on a creek crossing; we love Darn Tough brand, they have a lifetime guarantee
- A pocket guide to identify animal tracks along the way (they also make these for regional wildflowers, snakes, etc. and can often be found in the visitor centers)
- A pair of binoculars, these are great for viewing bears from afar or birdwatching!
Also, ahead of time here are some cool regional books, many of which can be purchased in the smokies visitor centers:
A fun picture book about animal poop and regional animals, a big hit with my kids! [Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Amazon] A hiking journal of sorts to keep track of rocks spotted on the trails [Shop: Amazon ] A middle grade mystery set in the smokies, this is a popular series with books set in different national parks. [Shop: Malaprop's in AVL - Amazon - Bookshop] A local folklore and story book, not specifically for kids so pre-screen for family friendliness! We own it but haven't read all of the stories in it. [Shop: Malaprop's in AVL - Target - Amazon - Bookshop] A sweet picture book celebrating the salamander, this has lovely illustrations. [Shop: Malaprop's in AVL - Target - Amazon - Bookshop] Aimed at late elementary students, this is a non-fiction book about the park. [Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Amazon – Bookshop] A non-fiction book geared at early elementary, learn more about the park. [Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Target – Amazon – Bookshop] This is an activity/coloring book with area trivia and illustrations. [Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Target – Amazon – Bookshop] There are lots of hefty, at-home reference guides for birds, mushrooms, [Shop: Amazon ] This is a sweet picture book focused on counting and introducing native species to the area, written by a local author. [Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Target – Amazon – Bookshop]
Who Pooped in the Park? Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Rockhounding in North Carolina: Rock Gathering Log Book for Local Backyard Geology Enthusiasts
Night of the Black Bear: A Mystery in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mountain Ghost Stories and Curious Tales of Western North Carolina
The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball
Great Smoky Mountains (True Books: National Parks)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Rookie National Parks)
Great Smoky Mountains Activity Book (Color and Learn)
Local nature guides
wildflowers, etc. but we love these little folding guides for in the
backpack. You can find them at local gift shops or order online.
Blue Ridge Babies
kid friendly hikes in smoky mountain national park
I’m linking to the Alltrails link for all of these – I always recommend checking in and seeing recent reports before you head out for a trail in case of closures or issues! Do not forget that parking is very limited in some locations so go early and have a backup plan, and also that cell service will be non-existent or unreliable so download trail maps, etc. beforehand.
Last but not least, stay on the trail and don’t stack rocks, it hurts the salamanders!!
1. Grotto Falls – 2.6 miles, this is a great hike for anyone coming from Gatlinburg! It has minimal elevation gain and no treacherous creek crossings, making it a great family hike. The pretty waterfall at the end is the only one in the park that you can walk behind, too! You get to also drive the beautiful Roaring Fork Motor Trail on your way out. We really enjoyed this hike; read a more detailed expectation on Hiking In The Smokys.
2. Deep Creek waterfall loop – About 5 miles if you do the whole loop but you can shorten it easily if preferred; the whole loop will show you: Tom’s Branch Falls, Indian Creek Falls, and Juney Whank Falls. We haven’t ever bumped into many people on this trail, and it’s a decent workout! There is shallow water at the beginning that is fun to play in and you’ll often see people floating in tubes past the waterfall. Read more about what to expect on the trail in this walk through from Hiking In The Smokys.
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3. Laurel Falls – 2.3 miles roundtrip, this is one of the most popular hikes in the park, so expect heavy crowds. There are a few drop-offs but the trail is relatively flat. Bear sighting are frequent and the waterfall at the end is beautiful! Read a more detailed expectation on Hiking In The Smokys.
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4. Porter’s Creek – 2 miles round trip, this trail takes you over narrow bridge creek crossings, past an old European settlement, and ends at a pretty waterfall. This is a less visited trail! Read a more detailed expectation on Hiking In The Smokys.
5. Abrams Falls – A little over 5 miles, this hike is super popular and ends at a short but full waterfall. You may see folks swimming but it’s considered to be very dangerous due to busy currents and not recommended especially for children. The main drawback to this trail is battling Cade’s Cove traffic to get to the trailhead; keep an eye out for river otters, there are frequent spottings on the way to the waterfall! Read a more detailed expectation on Hiking In The Smokys.
6. Mouse Creek Falls – A little over 4 miles, this trail has lots of side trails and big rocks to climb in addition to a beautiful waterfall at the end! The swimming hole nearby is very popular in warmer weather but this tends to be a quiet trail in fall. Read a more detailed expectation on Hiking In The Smokys.
7. Oconaluftee River Trail – 3 miles long, this trail is pretty close to civilization but still peaceful along the river. It’s stroller friendly and has lots of wildflowers in season. We spotted elk in the river when we visited! It’s right off the visitor center and makes for a great pit stop on a bigger road trip. Read a more detailed expectation on Hiking In The Smokys.
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8. Gatlinburg Trail – Another trail I’m including just because it is stroller friendly, this is also one of the few trails in the park that allows dogs. We’ve done a portion of it with our pooch when we were traveling but I didn’t snap any pictures; this one is nice and wooded but very busy. Read a more detailed expectation on Hiking In The Smokys.
See where all the trails are, below! If you haven’t visited GSMNP before be aware that these trailheads/areas are hours away from each other in some instances, and traffic is heavy during summer!
Did I miss any of your family favorites? Let me know in the comments!
Rachel says
Thank you for this info! It was really helpful figuring out what hikes we want to take when we go this fall. (Love the links to the other website for more info too.) So many of the websites don’t even mention actual length or what would work with kids.
swoodsonsays says
Rachel, I am so glad that this post helped you plan and I hope you had a lovely trip 🙂