Overview
The Smoky Mountains National Park is an amazing fall destination with brilliant orange, red, and yellow colors. The temperature in the park is also cooler, which is refreshing when you’re exercising and visiting. Here are my top three favorite Smoky Mountain National Park fall hikes. Please share your thoughts and favorite hikes in the comments below!
Mount LeConte
Hiking Mount LeConte via. The Alum Cave trail is something that I try to do every year. The hike is roughly 11 miles total down and back and is strenuous. However, the payoff at the summit is incredibly rewarding. Mount LeConte is my favorite lookout spot in the Smokies.
If you’re looking for an easier hike, you can also hike up to Alum Cave and turn around after that point, making the hike 4.6 miles down and back. Alum Cave is enormous and is definitely a hike worth checking out even if you can’t make it to the top of Mount LeConte.
Abrams Falls
Abrams Falls is another one of my personal favorite Smoky Mountain hikes in the fall. First of all, you get to drive through Cades Cove. If you haven’t yet checked out Cades Cove, then you're in for a treat. Visiting the Cades Cove area is a must for seeing the beautiful fall leaves and wildlife in the Smoky Mountains.
Abrams Falls is located in the Cades Cove loop. The hike is around 5 miles and is moderately difficult. The trail is also popular given its great location in the park, so you’ll have plenty of chances to chat with others, share your adventures, and make some friends.
My favorite part about Abrams Falls is, not surprisingly, the Abrams Falls waterfall. This waterfall is very powerful. When I walked down to where you can view the fall, I was amazed by the rocky formation surrounding it. There’s also a paved trail leading up to the waterfall to take photos.
Middle Prong Trail
Located in Tremont, the Middle Prong trail is a fantastic, and surprisingly, less busy area to visit in the Smokies. The Middle Prong Trail is mostly a flat trail that winds around a river for a good amount of the hike.
What’s nice about the Middle Prong Trail is that you can hike the trail for as long as you like. The full length of Middle Prong Trail is about 8 miles roundtrip or you can turn around at any point. I don’t think I’ve ever fully finished the hike, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of the trail. The fall leaves are spectacular on this trail.
Conclusion
What are your thoughts? Please share your favorite list of fall hikes and feel free to ask any questions about hiking in the Smokies. I’d be more than happy to help.
Keep hiking!