Sugarlands Area Hiking Trails

The following trails can be accessed near the main Sugarlands Visitor Center, just outside downtown Gatlinburg. Most people pick up their backcountry permit here.

Cove Mountain Trail

This 8.5-mile trail starts at the Sugarlands Visitor Center and follows along the parks boundary going westward, where it links up with Laurel Falls Trail.

Gatlinburg Trail

This small, 1.9-mile trail links the city of Gatlinburg to the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Laurel Falls Trail

Starting at the parking lot at Fighting Creek Gap on Little River Road, coming out of the Sugarlands Visitor Center, Laurel Falls Trail leads to Laurel Falls and to two other trails.  It is about 1.3 miles to Laurel Falls, one of the most visited waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  This section from the road to the falls is paved for easy accessibility.  From the falls, the trail goes 1.8 miles to where the Little Greenbrier Trail goes off to the left.  The trail then continues 0.9 miles to where it meets Cove Mountain Trail at the park boundary.  Laurel Falls Trail is 4 miles total in length.

Little Brier Gap Trail

This 1.4-mile trail leads from the Little Greenbrier School to Little Greenbrier Trail. The school is located off Little Walker Sisters Road.

Little Greenbrier Trail

A 4.3-mile trail coming off Laurel Falls Trail, Little Greenbrier Trail connects to Little Greenbrier Road, which turns into Lyon Springs Road, heading out of the park toward Wears Valley, Tennessee.  At 2.4 miles from Laurel Falls Trail (1.9 from the road), the trail meets Little Brier Gap Trail.

Metcalf Bottoms Trail

This small, 0.7-mile trail leads from the intersection of Little River Road and Little Greenbrier Road and goes to the Little Greenbrier School on Little Walker Sisters Road.

Old Sugarlands Trail

This 3.5-mile portion of the trail links the Sugarlands Visitor Center to the Roaring Fork Motor Trail area.

Roundtop Trail

Roundtop Trail links Little Greenbrier Road to Little River Road, near the intersection of Tennessee State Route 73. The 7.5 miles of the trail are along the park boundary.

View the main Smoky Mountain Trails here