Not far from the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, hikers can enjoy the 1.3 mile trek to Laurel Falls, one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At 80′ tall, a railed-walkway divides the upper and lower sections of the waterfall.

History

The trail at Laurel Falls was completed in 1932 at a cost of $590, providing fire crews access to the Cove Mountain area in the event of a fire. Three years later, a fire tower was completed. By 1960, frequent trail use and erosion were problematic, and, as part of the 1963 Accelerated Works Projects grant to the Department of Interior, the trail was paved. Today, with over 800 miles of trails within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, only four trails are paved for a total of three miles.

Photography

Prints

Prints are available for sale in my gallery at Pixels – check it out.

Video

Here’s a short video of Laurel Falls –