Great Smoky Mountains National Park · North Carolina, Tennessee

Oconaluftee River Trail

1.6 mi of trail, end to end · Hike the Oconaluftee River Trail: 3 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 40 ft of climbing · 1,984 ft–2,029 ft · native surface · trail class Developed

HistoryVisitor centers

1,986 ft 2,029 ft · 1.5 mi high 2,029 ft

Along the way Bee Gum Stand (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Conard Meat House (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Floyd/Enloe Barn (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) J. Caldwell Springhouse (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Jenkins Chicken House (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Jim Beard Corn Crib & Gear Shed (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Joe Queen Corn Crib (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Joe Queen House (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Joe Queen Woodshed (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Messer Apple House (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Outhouse (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) Sorghum Shed (Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum) and 1 more

Trailheads Oconaluftee River Trail Trailhead 1,986 ft Drive there · Oconaluftee River Trail Trailhead 2,030 ft Drive there

Hike the Oconaluftee River Trail 3 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

dogs allowed · entrance fee applies

A wide, curving river lined by green trees. Hiker icon in corner.
Hike ~3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to Cherokee. Photo: NPS Photo

Overview

Elk frequent this area—please stay 50 yards from elk and all wildlife

Enjoy a riverside stroll approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip on one of the only pet- and bike-friendly trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park .

This popular trail is relatively flat, wide, and graveled, and follows the Oconaluftee River through elk habitat and low-elevation hardwood forest from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to the park boundary at the edge of Cherokee, North Carolina. The grade and width make this trail wheelchair, stroller, and bicycle friendly. Pets are allowed on this trail but must be on a leash.

Length

3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip

Parking & Trailhead

Park at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and walk from the visitor center parking to the Mountain Farm Museum to find the Oconaluftee River Trailhead. Don't forget your parking tag .

Nearest Restroom

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

Alternate Hikes

Gatlinburg Trail : approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip

Kephart Prong Trail : 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip

Little River, Cucumber Gap, Jakes Creek Loop : 5.4 miles (8.7 km) roundtrip

Big Creek Trail: varying lengths

Accessibility Trail has occasional obstacles of roots and rocks, but is considered a leisurely trail that is mostly flat and wide. There are some sections with large gravel tread.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 244 trails in Great Smoky Mountains National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.