3 to 4 Mile Round Trip Trails in the Smokies

The Smoky Mountains offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, particularly in the fall when the leaves are changing. Spring in the Smokies is also a beautiful time of year, with mild weather, blossoming dogwood and a plethora of wild flowers. Although these hikes are within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are other great three- to four-mile hikes in the Smoky Mountains outside the boundaries of the park.

  1. Gatlinburg/Mount LeConte

    • The popular tourist area of Gatlinburg, Tenn. also offers two trails in the three- to four-mile range, and two others just over two miles. Baskins Creek Falls off the Roaring Fork Motor Trail is an easy hike lasting three miles round-trip. The elevation rises 953 feet and the hike offers views of the falls. The Chimney Tops hike on Newfound Gap Road is a moderately difficult hike of four miles round-trip. Elevation rises 1,350 feet, and you'll find panoramic views of the area at the top. The Alum Cave hike at four and two-tenths miles and the Huskey Gap hike at four and four-tenths miles are both found off Newfound Gap Road. They are both moderately difficult hikes, with the cave hike offering interesting geological features, and the gap hike providing a quiet walk through the woods.

    Clingman's Dome

    • The Clingman's Dome area is a popular hiking destination in the Smoky Mountains. However, only one of the hikes there is between three and four miles long; most are significantly longer. The Andrew's Bald hike, however, is three and a half miles round-trip. Arrive at the trailhead by taking Clingman's Dome Road, and enjoy the panoramic views as you hike. The elevation rises 899 feet during the hike, which is rated at the bottom of the moderately difficult scale.

    Cade's Cove

    • In Cade's Cove, especially popular for the amount of wildlife found there, you'll find one hike in the three- to four-mile range. The Schoolhouse Gap hike originates at Townsend and is a rambling three and eight-tenths mile round-trip hike that wanders through wildflowers in a quiet forest setting. The elevation on the easy hike only rises 513 feet.

    Cherokee/Deep Creek

    • The Cherokee/Deep Creek portion of the Smoky Mountains is rich in native American heritage as well as natural beauty. It also offers several hikes that are around three- to four-miles round-trip. The Goldmine Loop off of Lakeview Drive provides views of the lake and areas of historical interest on the easy three-and-one-tenth-mile trail. The Kanati Fork Trail starts on Newfound Gap Road, and is best enjoyed in spring when the profusion of wildflowers is at its peak. The four-mile trail is moderately difficult and rises 1,495 feet. The nearby Kephart Prong Trail is slightly longer at four and two-tenths miles, giving views of a stream and historical sites during the moderately difficult hike. The Oconaluftee River Trail begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and wanders easily along the stream and back for three miles.

    Greenbriar/Cosby

    • There are two moderately difficult hikes of about four miles near Greebriar in the Smoky Mountains. The Porters Creek Trail is four miles round-trip, beginning in Greenbrier. Along the easy hike you'll see waterfalls, streams, flowers, historical sites and old-growth forests. The Hen Wallow Falls trail begins in Cosby, and is four and four-tenths miles round trip. It is a moderately difficult hike that gives views of the Hen Wallow Falls.

    Fontana Lake/Balsam Mountain

    • This area, which includes not only the lake and the mountain, but also Big Creek and Cataloochee, features two trails of four miles round-trip. The first is the Flat Creek Falls trail that begins in Balsam Mountain and features views of the waterfalls. It requires only light exertion as you gain 600 feet in elevation. The Big Creek/Mouse Creek Falls trail begins in Big Creek and also features views of the waterfalls and stream. This trail also requires only light exertion, and has a nearly identical elevation rise at 580 feet.