Things to do in Gatlinburg, TN

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in Tennessee near several different cities, one of which is Gatlinburg.

Sugarland Visitors Center is located in Gatlinburg. Here you can get lots of information about the Smokies, including maps and trail locations. You can also purchase a parking pass, which is required for parking anywhere inside the Great Smoky Mountains National park for more than 15 minutes. Also dogs are not permitted on any of the trails inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park except the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.

There are many sites to see on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail including waterfalls and historic cabins. While most known for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there’s also a lot to explore around Gatlinburg.

Waterfalls

Laurel Falls – Laurel Falls is an extremely popular destination within Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to the fact that it has a paved trail leading up to it. Please note, that while this trail is paved it is not easily traveled by strollers or wheelchairs. There are many sections that have large cracks or gaps that are unpaved. The hike to Laurel Falls and back is 2.6 miles round trip. Hikers will climb roughly 314 feet in elevation before arriving at the 80-foot waterfall.

Grotto Falls – Grotto Falls is an amazing 25 foot waterfall. The trail is scenic and tranquil. Grotto Falls is the only waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that you can walk behind. The trail is 2.6 miles round trip and is moderate difficulty.

Cataract Falls – Cataract Falls is an easy, family friendly trail that is perfect for a beginning hiker. It only takes about 15 minutes to hike to the base of the waterfall. The trail is located behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

The Sinks – The Sinks is a pretty waterfall that is very easy to access. It is a small waterfall that includes the entire flow of Little River. You can walk right up to a close-up overlook to the waterfall right from the parking lot. Swimming near The Sinks can be dangerous and is not recommended by the Park.

Meigs Falls – Meigs Falls is a 30 foot waterfall that can be seen from a pull-off on Little River Road between Cades Cove and Sugarlands Visitor Center.  The view is partially obstructed by trees in the summertime; otherwise the view is good, if not great. The best thing about this waterfall is that you can literally sit in your car and look at it.

Mannis Branch Falls – Mannis Branch Falls can be seen roadside from a pull-off parking area on Little River Road between Cades Cove and Sugarlands Visitor Center. However, most of the waterfall is obstructed in the Spring and Summer.

Place of a Thousand Drips – The Place of a Thousand Drips is a wet weather waterfall is located inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Roaring Fork Nature Motor Trail at the very end, near post #15. The road is a one-way, winding road that travels about 6 miles through spectacular scenery that you can see from the comfort of your car.

Baskins Creek Falls – also located on the Roaring Fork Nature Motor Trail on the left across from the Trillium Gap Trail, this 3 mile round trip hike includes 953 foot elevation gain. The trail includes creek crossings and the last 50 yards going down to Baskins Creek Falls is fairly steep.

Rhododendron Trail Falls – The waterfalls on Rhododendron Trail are not the easiest to find, however there are 8 named waterfalls and numerous cascades that run alongside the trail. Each waterfall is bigger than the previous in height, although even the small ones are pretty. It is a 1.6 miles round trip, moderate hike to see the waterfalls. Parts of the trail are very narrow, so this trail not be the best to take with children. Also some of the paths leading down to the waterfalls are a little bit steep. This trail is not maintained as frequently as a lot of other trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so you may not be able to view all of the waterfalls.

Rainbow Falls – Named after the rainbow that frequently appears at the base of the waterfall, this 5.6 mile round trip is strenuous. The trail has an elevation gain of 1,500 feet from the trailhead to the waterfall and is pretty steep and rocky. This waterfall is also located in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Ramsey Cascades – This strenuous 8 mile round trip hike will bring you to the tallest, 105 feet, waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail starts on an old roadbed and ascends more than 2,000 feet in elevation. The trail becomes narrower and rockier as you continue your hike and crosses multiple bridges and streams along the way. Rangers caution hikers to not attempt to climb to the top of the falls for their safety, as it is slippery and unsafe.

Lynn Camp Prong Cascades – This mostly easy, 1.4 mile round trip, trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park follows an old railroad bed along the Middle Prong of Little River. The trail is mostly wide and flat, although it is narrow in a few sections. The trail can be accessed at the Middle Prong Trailhead at the end of Upper Tremont Road.

Looking for a day trip of waterfalls? Here’s one that and allows you to see five. Only one involves a hike of over a mile, so it is a very family friendly trip.

Attractions

Anakeesta – features the highest point in Gatlinburg, tree top skywalk with 800-feet of connected bridges hanging 50 to 60-feet in the air, two mountain coasters, zipline, BirdVenture Play Area, and Astra Lumina. Reach Firefly Village by gondola or ridge rambler. Please note that while reaching the top is wheelchair accessible, most of the attractions are not.

Gatlinburg SkyBridge – is the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America, which stretches almost 700 feet. In the middle of the bridge is their famous 30 foot glass panel.

Ober Mountain – ride one of America’s largest aerial tramways from downtown Gatlinburg to the top of the mountain. You can also bungee jump on a trampoline over 20ft through the air, ridge a mountain coaster, ice skate year-round, ride in bumper cars on ice, see animals at their wildlife habitat, carnival rides and much more. Their wristband covers the aerial tramway and most attractions. Wristbands DO NOT include mountain biking, snow tubing, snow sports, whitewater rafting and ziplining.

Ripley’s has their own assortment of attractions at various locations, which you can bundle together to save money, including:

• Aquarium of the Smokies – view fish and other aquatic animals in themed exhibits, walk through the shark tunnel and watch the penguin parade. The main exhibit changes periodically. Extra paid experiences include: glass bottom boat tour, behind the scenes tours, and special events with the animals.
• Believe-It-Or-Not – see hundreds of rare and unusual artifacts and try their interactive displays while you journey through themed galleries.
• Mirror Maze – make your way through seemingly endless hallways with LED lights and infinity mirrors.
• Davy Crockett Mini Golf – features 2 frontier themed 18 hole mini golf courses.
• Moving Theater – experience movies in a whole new way in this five-dimension motion simulator ride. Two movies are available to choose from that change periodically.
• Haunted Adventure – venture in the dark for a suspenseful experience featuring live actors in this terrifyingly fun adventure.
• Mountain Coaster – operate your very own gravity-propelled cart. Cars can fit one or two riders.
• Super Fun Zone – play an ’80s themed indoor mini golf course and laser-tag.
• Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf – features 3 farmed themed mini golf courses and an arcade. This attraction is located in Sevierville, but included since it can be part of the Ripley’s combo ticket.

Gatlinburg Space Needle – ride the glass elevators over 400 feet to a breathtaking 360 degree view of the Smokies.

Gatlin’s Fun Center – located in downtown Gatlinburg’s Reagan Terrace Mall. Features six unique escape rooms (in multiple locations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge), two award winning mini golf courses, a ropes course with 38 challenges, Gel Blaster Nexus which is like paintball meets laser tag, single rider bumper cars with steering controls that allow you to go in any direction including spinning in circles, the largest laser tag arena in the Gatlinburg area, a 9-hole undersea themed blacklight mini golf course, and Atomic Rush which combines Simon Says with Whack-A-Mole with three game selections to choose from.

Mysterious Mansion – Gatlinburg’s oldest and scariest haunted house. Experience this a self guided tour through a classic “turn of the century” three story haunted mansion with live actors.

Hillbilly Mini Golf – Ride the incline railway 300 feet above the city to the first hole. Features two 18 hole courses that go downhill, so remember to grab extra golf balls.

Museums

Gatlinburg has several museums including:

• Hollywood Star Cars Museum – features iconic movie and television cars in recreated settings including lights, sound, and action. They also have panoramic full-motion simulators featuring cars displayed in the museum.
• Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not – see hundreds of rare and unusual artifacts and try their interactive displays while you journey through themed galleries.
• Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum – see over 20,000 sets of Salt and Pepper Shakers from around the world.

Festivals

Several times a year, Gatlinburg will host different festivals including:

• Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival  – annual festival featuring over 130 acts of songwriters and musicians held in August.
• GatlinBURGER Week – annual event held for one week in September. Participating Gatlinburg restaurants will feature a unique burger that is NOT on their menu that you can order to win prizes.
• Taste of Autumn – annual event held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in September.
• Oktoberfest at Ober – festival featuring Bavarian-style food, drink and music, starting at the end of September and running through October.
• Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair – annual event in October with almost 200 booths featuring local arts and crafts. There is also live country and bluegrass entertainment.
• Winter Magic Kickoff and Chili Cookoff – annual event held in November with mouth-watering recipes of homemade chili ranging from mild to wild.
• Winter Smoky Mountains Tunes & Tales – through the holiday season, there will be characters and storytellers and caroling along the Parkway on Friday and Saturday evenings.
• Gatlinburg Winter Magic – Gatlinburg magically lights up the winter nights with millions of spectacular lights and lighted displays from November through February. You won’t want to miss the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade.