Best Trails of Tennessee

This list represents the most popular trails in Tennessee. Use this list to plan your next Tennessee outdoor trip. Select a state and/or activity below to find even more top trails.

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  #1 Virgin Falls Trail at Virgin Falls State Natural Area

  18 Reviews

  Sparta, TN

  

  The trail into Virgin Falls is a favorite among backpackers inTennessee because of the abundance of sights along the trail. Not only do you get the spectacular Virgin Falls, but also Big Branch ...

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  •  6 to 8 hours
  •  8.4 miles
  •  Guide

  The trail into Virgin Falls is a favorite among backpackers inTennessee because of the abundance of sights along the trail. ...

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  #2 Mount LeConte via Rainbow Falls and Bull Head

  16 Reviews

  Gatlinburg, TN

  

  The only way to hike to Mount LeConte and return to your car without backtracking or long road walking is by utilizing Rainbow Falls Trail and Bull Head Trail. The first 2.7 miles to Rainbow ...

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  •  8 hours or Overnight
  •  13.6 miles
  •  Guide

  The only way to hike to Mount LeConte and return to your car without backtracking or long road walking is by utilizing Rainbow ...

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  #3 Abrams Falls Trail

  24 Reviews

  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

  

  Abrams Falls Trail is a hiking trail in Blount County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is 4.2 miles long and begins at 1,708 feet altitude. Traveling the entire ...

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  •  4.2 miles

  Abrams Falls Trail is a hiking trail in Blount County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is ...

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  #4 Alum Cave Trail

  21 Reviews

  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

  

  Alum Cave Trail is a hiking trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is 4.9 miles long and begins at 3,851 feet altitude. Traveling the entire trail ...

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  •  4.9 miles

  Alum Cave Trail is a hiking trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is 4.9 ...

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  #5 Laurel Falls Trail

  21 Reviews

  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

  

  Laurel Falls Trail is a hiking trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is 4.0 miles long and begins at 2,290 feet altitude. Traveling the entire ...

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  •  4.0 miles

  Laurel Falls Trail is a hiking trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is ...

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  #6 Wilderness Trail

  17 Reviews

  Nashville, TN

  

  This trail, which is the most difficult trail in this entire guidebook, extends along rugged bluffs of the Cumberland River at Cordell Hull Lake. The trail, also known as Cordell Hull Lake Horse ...

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  •  6 hours
  •  12 miles
  •  Guide

  This trail, which is the most difficult trail in this entire guidebook, extends along rugged bluffs of the Cumberland River ...

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  #7 Mount Cammerer via Low Gap

  11 Reviews

  Hartford, TN

  

  Formerly called White Rock by Tennesseans and Sharp Top by Carolinians, this mountaintop rock outcrop was renamed by the park service after Arno B. Cammerer, a former director of the National ...

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  •  5.25 hours
  •  10.8 miles
  •  Guide

  Formerly called White Rock by Tennesseans and Sharp Top by Carolinians, this mountaintop rock outcrop was renamed by the ...

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  #8 Frozen Head State Park Campground

  3 Reviews

  Wartburg, TN

  

  Frozen Head is a little-known jewel of a state park tucked away in the Cumberland Mountains, a mountain range west of the Smokies. Steep, forested peaks and deep valleys diffused with rock formations ...

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  •  Guide

  Frozen Head is a little-known jewel of a state park tucked away in the Cumberland Mountains, a mountain range west of the ...

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  #9 Chimney Tops Trail

  12 Reviews

  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

  

  Chimney Tops Trail is a hiking trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is two miles long and begins at 3,439 feet altitude. Traveling the entire ...

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  •  2.0 miles

  Chimney Tops Trail is a hiking trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is ...

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  #10 Indian Boundary Campground

  1 Reviews

  Tellico Plains, TN

  

  Indian Boundary is the pride of the southern Cherokee National Forest—and with good reason. The wooded camping area lies in a flat beside a clear lake and beneath tall mountains. Individual campsites ...

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  •  Guide

  Indian Boundary is the pride of the southern Cherokee National Forest—and with good reason. The wooded camping area lies ...

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  #11 Grotto Falls

  5 Reviews

  Gatlinburg, TN

  

  Grotto Falls is appropriately named. Roaring Fork spills from an overhanging ledge some 20 feet into a small pool, creating a dry space behind the falls for the trail to pass. The waterfall ...

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  •  2 hours
  •  2.6 miles
  •  Guide

  Grotto Falls is appropriately named. Roaring Fork spills from an overhanging ledge some 20 feet into a small pool, creating ...

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  #12 Twin Arches Loop with Charit Creek Lodge at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

  8 Reviews

  Oneida, TN

  

  This hike is one of the premier hikes of the Big South Fork River and Recreation Area. The shorter of the two loops visits two of the biggest natural arches in the eastern United States. The ...

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  •  5.5 miles
  •  Guide

  This hike is one of the premier hikes of the Big South Fork River and Recreation Area. The shorter of the two loops visits ...

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  #13 Great Smoky Mountains National Park

  4 Reviews

  Gatlinburg, TN

  

  This park is close to major population centers, but its lush greenery and pleasantly rounded peaks create a soothing aura of tranquility. And, of course, there is the famous “smoke” that seems ...

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  •  Guide

  This park is close to major population centers, but its lush greenery and pleasantly rounded peaks create a soothing aura ...

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  #14 Chilhowee Campground

  2 Reviews

  Benton, TN

  

  In 2006, a fatal bear mauling occurred near Chilhowee Campground, but the culprit was caught and euthanized, garnering Chilhowee nationwide attention. However, don’t let this deter you from ...

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  •  Guide

  In 2006, a fatal bear mauling occurred near Chilhowee Campground, but the culprit was caught and euthanized, garnering Chilhowee ...

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  #15 Cades Cove Ramble

  5 Reviews

  Townsend, TN

  

  This ramble is an 11-mile loop nestled in the middle of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is an ideal jaunt for cyclists of all levels. There's only one hitch: if your visit is a Sunday, ...

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  •  11 miles
  •  Guide

  This ramble is an 11-mile loop nestled in the middle of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is an ideal jaunt for cyclists ...

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  #16 Little River Trail

  12 Reviews

  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

  

  Little River Trail is a hiking trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is 6.2 miles long and begins at 2,170 feet altitude. Traveling the entire ...

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  •  6.2 miles

  Little River Trail is a hiking trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is ...

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  #17 Old Trace-Garrison Creek Loop

  5 Reviews

  Nashville, TN

  

  Walk through time on this trek, picking up the original Natchez Trace, where travelers made their way from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville two centuries ago.

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  •  3.5 hours
  •  6.3 miles
  •  Guide

  Walk through time on this trek, picking up the original Natchez Trace, where travelers made their way from Natchez, Mississippi, ...

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  #18 Laurel - Snow Pocket Wilderness Trail

  4 Reviews

  Dayton, TN

  

  The trail through the Laurel–Snow Pocket Wilderness leads to two waterfalls and two panoramic overlooks of the Great Valley of East Tennessee. The Richland Creek watershed was once a thriving ...

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  •  Day Hike
  •  10.5 miles
  •  Guide

  The trail through the Laurel–Snow Pocket Wilderness leads to two waterfalls and two panoramic overlooks of the Great Valley ...

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  #19 Cheeks Bend Bluff View Trail

  5 Reviews

  Nashville, TN

  

  Explore this recent addition to the Tennessee State Natural Areas holdings, Cheeks Bend. Part of the 2,135-acre Duck River State Natural Area Complex, the trail travels along a bluff overlooking ...

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  •  1 hour
  •  1.8 miles
  •  Guide

  Explore this recent addition to the Tennessee State Natural Areas holdings, Cheeks Bend. Part of the 2,135-acre Duck River ...

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  #20 Chattanooga Area Campgrounds

  1 Reviews

  Chattanooga, TN

  

  Chattanooga is a vacation destination for many looking for family-oriented fun. This town is packed full of things for the entire family—whether you’re into museums, nature centers, theater, ...

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  •  Guide

  Chattanooga is a vacation destination for many looking for family-oriented fun. This town is packed full of things for the ...

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