Dan Wagner

Rising high above the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the hike to Mount LeConte via the Alum Cave Trail is widely considered the best hike in the Smoky Mountains. The popular 13-mile round-trip trek combines moderate-to-strenuous elevation gain with nonstop scenery, including rushing mountain streams, old-growth forest, unique rock formations like Arch Rock and Alum Cave, and sweeping panoramic views from iconic overlooks such as Myrtle Point and Cliff Tops. Whether you’re...

The hike to Grotto Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in the Smokies, known for its unique feature as the only waterfall where hikers can walk directly behind the cascade. Following the scenic Trillium Gap Trail, this moderately easy Smoky Mountains hike passes through dense old-growth forest, towering Eastern hemlocks, and seasonal wildflowers before reaching the 25-foot falls tucked into a shaded hollow. Accessed from the narrow and often...

If you’re searching for one of the best short but strenuous hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Chimney Tops Trail delivers a powerful punch. The popular hike packs steep elevation gain, multiple scenic creek crossings over Road Prong and the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River, and a relentless climb that ranks among the toughest in the park. While access to the iconic Chimney Tops is now closed due to damage from the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, hikers are still...