Grotto Falls Trail

What Makes Grotto Falls Special

Grotto Falls holds a unique distinction in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: it is the only waterfall where you can actually walk behind the cascade. The trail passes directly behind the 25-foot falls through a recessed grotto in the rock, allowing you to experience the waterfall from an angle most visitors never get to see at other waterfalls.

Beyond this unique feature, the trail offers a beautiful journey through one of the park's remaining old-growth hemlock forests. The eastern hemlocks create a cool, cathedral-like atmosphere even on the warmest summer days. While many hemlock groves in the Smokies have been affected by the hemlock woolly adelgid, treatment efforts along this trail have preserved much of the forest.

The hike to Grotto Falls also offers something no other waterfall trail in the park can match: the chance to encounter llamas! These working animals carry supplies to LeConte Lodge and use this very trail for their resupply trips. Seeing a llama train on a Smoky Mountain hiking trail is a uniquely delightful experience that guests staying at our hiking-friendly cabins often talk about.

Llama Sightings on the Trail

One of the most charming aspects of hiking Grotto Falls is the possibility of encountering the famous llamas that supply LeConte Lodge. These gentle animals have been making supply runs since 1987, carrying everything from fresh linens to food supplies up to the mountaintop lodge.

When you meet the llamas on the trail, follow proper trail etiquette: move to the downhill side, stand quietly, and let them pass. The llama handlers appreciate your cooperation, and the llamas are usually quite calm around hikers who remain still. Many visitors consider a llama encounter the highlight of their hike, so have your camera ready!

Getting There and Parking

The trailhead is located at the Grotto Falls parking area on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. To reach it from Gatlinburg, take Historic Nature Trail (also called Airport Road) from downtown and follow it to Cherokee Orchard Road. Continue past the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and then onto the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

Parking is limited to about 20 spaces and fills early on weekends. Consider arriving by 8 AM during peak season (June through October). A parking permit ($5/day or $40/year) is required from March through November. From our cabins near downtown, you can reach the trailhead in about 20 minutes.

Trail Description

The trail follows the historic Trillium Gap Trail, named for the trillium wildflowers that bloom abundantly here from late March through May. The trillium displays are particularly impressive in April, making spring one of the best times to visit. You may also spot lady slippers, violets, and dozens of other wildflower species.

The path winds through old-growth eastern hemlock forest, a rare and precious ecosystem worth appreciating. The massive trees, some hundreds of years old, create a cool, shaded canopy that makes this hike comfortable even on hot summer days.

What You Will Experience

• Mile 0 to 0.5: Gentle climb through beautiful hemlock forest with filtered light and fern-covered forest floor
• Mile 0.5 to 1.0: Trail becomes rockier, crossing small streams on log bridges. Watch for trilliums in spring.
• Mile 1.0 to 1.3: Steeper section with sounds of the falls growing louder. Moss-covered rocks and rhododendron thickets.
• Mile 1.3: Grotto Falls appears. The trail passes directly behind the waterfall.

The trail surface is mostly dirt with embedded rocks and exposed roots. Several log footbridges cross small streams. Sturdy hiking shoes or boots with good tread are recommended, especially since rocks near the falls are perpetually damp.

Walking Behind the Falls

The experience of walking behind Grotto Falls is truly magical. The trail literally passes through the grotto behind the cascade, with water flowing in front of you. On sunny days, you might catch rainbows in the mist. The spray can be refreshing on a warm day, or chilly on a cooler one.

Be prepared to get slightly wet as you pass behind the falls. The rocks in this area are perpetually damp and slippery, so watch your footing carefully. Take your time and enjoy this unique perspective. Many visitors pause behind the falls to take photos, but be considerate of others waiting to pass.

Best Times to Visit

• Spring (April through May): Trillium and other wildflowers are in spectacular bloom
• Summer: The cool mist provides relief from heat, but expect crowds on weekends
• Fall: Beautiful foliage and fewer crowds after kids return to school
• After rain: The waterfall is more impressive with higher water flow
• Weekday mornings: Best for llama sightings and avoiding crowds

Photography Tips

• Morning light filtering through the hemlocks creates ethereal, moody conditions
• Bring a lens cloth because spray from the falls can coat your lens quickly
• Protect your camera when walking behind the falls with a plastic bag or rain cover
• A slow shutter speed (1/4 second or longer) creates silky water effects. Use a tripod.
• Photograph the trail passing behind the falls for a unique perspective showing scale
• If you encounter llamas, photograph from the side rather than head-on

What to Bring

• Water and snacks (at least one bottle per person)
• Waterproof jacket or poncho since you may get sprayed
• Sturdy hiking shoes with good tread (rocks are slippery)
• Camera with lens protection
• Layers because temperatures are cooler in the hemlock forest
• Insect repellent in summer months
• Parking permit purchased in advance

Continuing to Mount LeConte

Grotto Falls is located on the Trillium Gap Trail, which continues 5.5 more miles to the summit of Mount LeConte and LeConte Lodge. If you are up for a longer adventure, you can continue past the falls, but be prepared for significantly more strenuous hiking with over 3,000 feet of additional elevation gain.

Most visitors wisely turn around at Grotto Falls, making for a manageable 2.6-mile round trip hike. But knowing you are on the same trail used by the llamas to reach one of the most famous backcountry lodges in America adds an element of adventure to the experience.