Accessibility – Moderate+
Height – 25+’
Distance – 2.6 miles or more (out and back)
Beauty – 5
Photo rating – 5
Solitude – 2
GPS Info: LAT 35.67396 LONG -83.44967
Last Updated – 12-31-2024
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Kind of a crazy thing: I first did this waterfall in August of 2020, and I hiked to the summit of May of 2023 on the Trillium Gap Trail, but somehow Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls never made it onto my waterfall list. Grotto was my final hike on the CMC 100 Waterfall Challenge, but It wasn’t until I was redoing the Smokies Page in December of 2024 that I realized they were missing. These two should have numbers in the mid-600s not the 1000s.
Grotto Falls is in the Cherokee Orchard area of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, very close to downtown Gatlinburg. As a starting point for three of the My LeConte Summit Trails, Baskins Creek Falls, Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls, parking is a nightmare. As with any hike in the Smokies, check at the visitor center before heading to the trailhead or visit the park website for a current list of closed trails and roads.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
Where to park: The Rainbow Falls parking area is at 35.67747, -83.48177, which is the main lot and the actual trailhead for the Trillium Gap Trail. If you’re lucky, you can get a spot at the closer Grotto Falls parking area which is at GPS 35.68024, -83.46278, Good luck. This is the Smokes and you will need a parking pass.
The hike: Due to the parking issues in this area, my hike directions and distances start at the Grotto Falls TH on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. A Spur trail leaves the back of the parking lot and climbs the bank to connect with the Trillium Gap Trail. If you have to park at Rainbow Falls, add another 2.2 miles each way to the hike. There are other small parking areas along the way so there is no telling how long your hike will be, but about 7 miles is the longest. From the spur path, the Trillium Gap Trail ascends steadily for 1.3 miles, picking up about 700 feet in elevation. If you’re heading to the summit, it gets really steep after the falls. The Trillium Gap Trail passes behind Grotto Falls, making this one a selfie stick special.
Don’t let the picture on the left fool you. I just got lucky for 2 seconds, but hey, it was great that all these strangers showed up to celebrate my completion of the CMC 100 waterfall challenge!
