Grotto Falls

Grotto Falls is one of the most beloved waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — and the only one you can walk completely behind. The 25-foot cascade of Roaring Fork tumbles over a sheltered rock overhang on the slopes of Mount LeConte, on the Tennessee side near Gatlinburg, and the trail passes right beneath the falling water into the cool, misty grotto behind.

Reached by a roughly 2.6-mile round-trip hike on the Trillium Gap Trail through a beautiful old-growth hemlock forest, Grotto Falls is a favorite for families and waterfall lovers, with the added magic of stepping behind the curtain of water. The same trail is the route by which llama pack trains carry supplies up to LeConte Lodge. With its walk-behind grotto, shady forest and accessible hike off the scenic Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Grotto Falls is a quintessential Smokies waterfall outing.

The draw is the roughly 2.6-mile round-trip hike on the Trillium Gap Trail to the 25-foot falls, where the path leads right behind the cascade into the cool grotto — a rare and delightful experience. The shady old-growth hemlock forest, the streamside scenery, and the chance to spot the LeConte Lodge llama trains make it a favorite family waterfall hike. The trail continues toward the summit of Mount LeConte for those seeking a longer adventure.

Spring brings the fullest flow and wildflowers along the trail, while summer offers a cool, shady escape behind the falls (and crowds). Fall frames the forest in color. Winter can ice the trail and falls dramatically. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail access road is closed in winter. Mornings and weekdays are quieter on this popular trail; warm days make stepping behind the cool curtain of water especially refreshing.

Grotto Falls and the Trillium Gap Trail are part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dedicated in 1940. The trail is the historic route by which supplies are carried by llama pack train up to LeConte Lodge atop Mount LeConte, a tradition that delights hikers who encounter the llamas. The walk-behind falls have long been a favorite destination off the scenic Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which winds past old homesteads and forest near Gatlinburg.

Grotto Falls tumbles about 25 feet over a sheltered rock overhang of the ancient, hard metamorphic rock of the Smokies, where Roaring Fork has carved a recess — the grotto — that allows hikers to pass behind the falling water. The Precambrian rock, uplifted hundreds of millions of years ago and carved by the stream, forms the alcove and ledge. The cool, moist grotto is a product of this distinctive rock formation along the tumbling mountain stream.

The old-growth hemlock forest along the Trillium Gap Trail shelters black bear, white-tailed deer, salamanders in great diversity, and a rich bird community, with the cool, moist grotto and streamside supporting amphibians and mosses. Hikers may also encounter the famous llama pack trains supplying LeConte Lodge. The Smokies’ extraordinary biodiversity — the Salamander Capital of the World — is on display along this shady, streamside forest hike.

Grotto Falls sits in a beautiful old-growth hemlock forest within the Smokies, where the cool, spray-fed grotto and streamside support mosses, ferns and amphibians, set in the rich hardwood and hemlock forest of the most biodiverse national park in America. The tumbling Roaring Fork and its riparian corridor form a healthy ecosystem within the protected park. Keeping to the trail protects the fragile grotto and streamside vegetation.

Grotto Falls, the only walk-behind waterfall in the Smokies, holds a special, magical place among the park’s many cascades, beloved by families and waterfall lovers for the experience of stepping behind the falling water. Together with the llama pack trains, the old-growth forest, and the scenic Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, it is a cherished Gatlinburg-area highlight of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Grotto Falls is reached by a roughly 2.6-mile round-trip hike on the Trillium Gap Trail, with the trailhead on the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail near Gatlinburg (the motor trail is closed in winter and to large vehicles). There is no entrance fee, though a parking tag is required, and the small trailhead lot fills early. The trail is moderate but rocky. Check the National Park Service for the motor-trail status and parking-tag requirements.

The National Park Service protects Grotto Falls and its old-growth hemlock forest within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors help by staying on the trail to protect the fragile grotto and streamside vegetation, keeping a safe distance from bears and the llama trains, packing out everything, and taking care on the slippery rocks behind the falls. Protecting the heavily used trail and the surrounding old-growth forest preserves both the experience and the ecology.

The rocks behind and around Grotto Falls are wet and slippery — step carefully into the grotto, keep back from the edges, and supervise children closely. The trail is rocky and can be muddy; wear good shoes. This is black bear country, so keep your distance, never feed wildlife, and give the llama trains room to pass. The trail and falls can be icy and hazardous in winter when the motor trail is closed.

No entrance fee, but a parking tag is required for parking. Stay on the trail; take care behind the falls. Never feed or approach wildlife — keep 50 yards from bears — and give llama trains room. Pets are not allowed on the trail. Backcountry camping toward LeConte requires a permit. Collecting and drones are prohibited. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is seasonal. Check the National Park Service for current requirements.

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, with its historic homesteads and forest, surrounds the trailhead, and the trails to Rainbow Falls and the summit of Mount LeConte are close. The gateway town of Gatlinburg, the Sugarlands Visitor Center, and the waterfalls and high country of the Tennessee side of the park are all within reach, making Grotto Falls a favorite stop on a Smokies visit near Gatlinburg.

Hike to Grotto Falls for the rare treat of walking behind the cascade — go on a warm day to enjoy the cool grotto, and step carefully on the slippery rocks. Visit early or on a weekday for fewer crowds and parking, and secure a parking tag. Watch for the LeConte Lodge llama trains on the Trillium Gap Trail, store food in bear country, and pair it with the scenic Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.