Great Smoky Mountains National Park · North Carolina, Tennessee

Ramsey Cascades Trail

5.4 mi of trail, end to end · Hike to Ramsey Cascades: 8 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 2,700 ft of climbing · 2,073 ft–4,262 ft · native surface · trail class Developed

Waterfalls

2,073 ft 4,262 ft · 3.8 mi high 4,262 ft

Along the way Ramsey Cascades

Hike to Ramsey Cascades 8 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

no dogs · entrance fee applies

Start Expect crowds and full parking at Ramsey Cascades Trailhead—consider a shuttle

A cascading waterfall framed by large rocks and green vegetation.
Hike 8 miles (12.9 km) roundtrip from Ramsey Cascades Trailhead on Ramsey Prong Road in Greenbrier. Photo: NPS Photo

Overview

Expect extreme crowding and limited parking—consider a shuttle or alternate hikes listed below

Hike 8 miles (12.9 km) roundtrip on this popular but relatively challenging trail through cove hardwood forest to see the tallest waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 105 feet (32 m).

The trail begins on an old roadbed and passes through a cove hardwood forest but becomes narrower and rockier as it ascends more than 2,000 feet (610 m) in elevation and crosses multiple footlog bridges and streams along the way.

Do not attempt to climb to the top of the falls—it is muddy and slippery.

This trail was rehabiliated by the 'Trails Forever program' learn more here .

Length

8 miles (12.9 km) roundtrip

Parking & Trailhead

Please consider a shuttle or park at Ramsey Cascades Trailhead on Ramsey Prong Road in Greenbrier. Don't forget your parking tag .

Nearest Restroom

Greenbrier Picnic Area

Alternate Hikes

Hen Wallow Falls : 4.3 miles (6.9 km) roundtrip

Lynn Camp Prong Cascades : 1.4 miles (2.3 km) roundtrip

Pets The Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail are the only two park trails where pets are permitted. Pets are also allowed in picnic areas, in campgrounds, and on roads.

Accessibility Trail has many steep sections plus roots and rocks on the trail.

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.