Great Smoky Mountains Accessible Trails

Trail Descriptions

The following trails will be available to hike using GRIT Freedom Chairs at different days/times, based on volunteer availability.

Cataract Falls Trail

Trailhead: Drive two miles south of the Gatlinburg, TN entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Turn right to enter the parking area for Sugarlands Visitor Center. Check in at the visitor center for your offroad wheelchair. The trail starts at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Take a 0.8 mile, roundtrip, stroll to Cataract Falls, along the Cove Mountain Trail, behind Sugarlands Visitor Center. Follow the paved sidewalk behind the visitor center. Take the second left, just past the nature trail. Then continue straight through the parking lot. When you reach the road, turn left to cross the large bridge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. Follow the signs on the right to Cataract Falls on the Cove Mountain Trail. Approximately 2/10 miles (each way) of this trail are along a dirt path with some rocks and roots along your route to the falls. Look for wildflowers and butterflies in the spring and birds, snakes, turtles, salamanders, and an occasional bear along this route.

This trail is downhill on the paved section of trail from the visitor center through the parking area. The dirt trail does have some rocks and roots to navigate and a moderate uphill section just before arriving at Cataract Falls. In reverse, the return trip to the visitor center is gradually uphill.

Gatlinburg Trail

The Gatlinburg Trail is frequented by hikers, walkers, and joggers. This is one of two trails in the park where you can bring your dog along, on a leash. It is also one of three trails where you can ride your bike. This 4-mile roundtrip hike follows the river past old homesites between Gatlinburg, TN and the Park Headquarters area.

The first 2/10 mile of this trail traverses between paved sidewalk, dirt path, and paved roadway until the trail veers off into the woods along the river. Once in the forested area of the hike, you’ll find a gravel path along a rushing river leading between Sugarlands Visitor Center and Gatlinburg, TN. Although the trail profile shows about a 100 to 200 foot elevation change over the two miles of this trail, some sections have steep uphill or downhill sections along the route. Aspect leans in the direction of the river in some locations and rocks, roots, and shallow ruts may be experienced along this route.

Little River Trail

Trailhead: Drive to Elkmont Campground, 4.9 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center. Just before the campground office building, turn left. Little River trailhead is 0.6 miles up the side road. The trail sign is near the gate; however there is room to navigate the park off-road wheelchairs around the gate.

Little River Trail follows a wide, old railroad bed for 2.7 miles along the Little River. For the first mile the trail passes Elkmont cabins, constructed prior to the park’s establishment. The vacation homes had leases for use until 1992. Husky Branch Cascades, a short 10’ cascade is about 2 miles out on the right side of the trail. In the spring and early summer, Little River Trail is an exceptional place to view flower and fireflies.
The park’s off-road wheelchairs can fit around the gate at the beginning of the trailhead. This wide trail has a surface of hardpacked dirt covered in coarse gravel. Gravel sometimes mounds in the center of the trail, making the edges of the trail are best option for more level hiking, although be careful of poison ivy along trail edges. There are portions of this trail where the aspect of the trail slopes towards the river. Staying to the inside of the trail is important for safe hiking in those areas. The trail gradually ascends from 2300 feet to 2700 feet over approximately 2.7 miles (one-way) where the junction of Huskey Gap Trail is to the left. There are two bridges along this trail. One at approximately 2.0 miles, near Huskey Branch Falls, with a small lip to get onto the bridge. A second bridge spans the river and is as wide a lane of a road, but has no railings along the edges.

Middle Prong Trail

Sugarland Valley Nature Trail

Trailhead: Drive 2 miles south of the Gatlinburg, TN entrance of Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. Just past Sugarlands Visitor Center, look for the first pulloff on the left. The trail starts from the paved parking area on the left side of the road for the Sugarland Valley Nature Trail.

This ½ mile, gentle, paved trail is the only ADA accessible trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The majority is useable by strollers and mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs. Old chimneys, rock walls, and an occasional bench are available as one weaves through the forest and along the creek in this area.