981 – Cataract Falls

Accessibility – Easy

Height – 17′

Distance – 1.0 miles (out and back)

Beauty – 3

Photo rating – 3

Solitude – 3

GPS Info: LAT 35.65986 LONG -82.53882

Last Updated – 12-23-2024


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Where to start: The parking is at the Sugarlands Visitor Center near the park entrance in Gatlinburg. Lot B is closer to the trailhead but any of the parking lots will work. If you need to get a park pass, there are kiosks outside the visitor center.

The hike: The hike starts on the Fighting Creek Nature Trail. The trail is obvious and easy. Follow it for 0.3 to the junction with the Cove Mountain Trail and make a right. The Cove Mountain Trail will cross over the Residence Road in a tenth of a mile and reach the falls a tenth of a mile later. The falls wasn’t much more than a dribble on my visit. Not sure what it looks like in better flow.