Located in the historic Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Abrams Falls and the nearly 3-mile trail leading to it makes an excellent place for park visitors to spend some time in nature and work their legs.

Many visitors to Cades Cove can see a wealth of animals, breathtaking mountain sights and historic buildings right from their car, but those who are up for a walk will want to pull over at the Abrams Falls Trailhead parking lot and set out on foot.

Ironically enough, while the attraction of the expansive national park for many is seclusion in a natural setting, the area draws so many visitors that sitting in traffic seems to be a common occurrence within Cades Cove.

Those walking the Abrams Falls trail will surely encounter many other hikers with the same idea. While numerous people walk the trail, that journey shouldn’t involve the actual traffic jams that the vehicular journey on Cades Cove Loop Road may include.

And while visitors to Abrams Falls shouldn’t expect to be alone on their walk, the area is great for viewing wildlife.

During a day in May, a group of hikers saw bear, a snake, butterflies, a lizard, a woodpecker, deer, squirrel, bees, fish and crawdaddies during a trip to Abrams Falls. The area contains lots of wildlife among the humans also roaming the area.

It’s a long trek to Abrams and back, a 5.5-mile round-trip journey, so be prepared with water and sturdy and comfortable footwear, but no part is extremely difficult or dangerous.

Much of the trail is level, though it does also contain some lengthy passages with long inclines and declines. But take your time, perch on a rock in the shade, enjoy the flowers and trees and birds . . . there’s no rush—as long as your party has allowed plenty of daylight to complete the trek.

The 25-foot-tall Abrams Falls and surrounding area make the walk worth it. A powerful volume of water pours over the falls into a large pool. The area surrounding it has plenty of big, flat rocks and a good bit of space to spread out for a picnic or a rest.

“There are some steep inclines, especially on the way back, but there were plenty of times where the trail evened off so it didn’t feel overwhelming,” a hiker, Abbie Hunter, said following a 2023 trip to Abrams Falls. “The entire trail was visually interesting between the creek alongside, interesting rock formations, and plant life. The falls were fantastic and a great place to relax, snap pictures and enjoy a snack before heading back.”

Cherokee Chief Oskuah—whose village once stood about five miles downstream the creek from Abrams Falls, near where it hits the Little Tennessee River—eventually took the name Abram. Today, the waterfall and creek bear his assumed name.

The trail to the falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek, according to information from the U.S. National Park Service.

For the advanced hikers desiring more mileage, continue going past the falls for a much more solitary experience and a much longer hike. Rather than doubling back, hikers can add approximately eight more miles to their trek and loop around following the Rabbit Creek and Hannah Mountain trails. Campgrounds sit along this trail portion, for overnight excursions.

Aside from Abrams Falls and the related trail, there’s lots more to see in Cades Cove, driving or on foot. Explore the Smoky Mountains!

Note: as of 2023, a parking tag is required to park anywhere within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; the cost for tags is $4 a day or $15 for a week. Also, Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays, May–September (bikes and pedestrians only).

Abrams Falls Trailhead
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cades Cove Loop Road (parking area just past stop #10)
Townsend, Tennessee