Winter Hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Hiking during the winter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a lovely time to get out on the trails! Winter in the smokies can be a bit mild when it comes to snow but it just makes it more magical when you do catch a trail full of snow and ice making it a winter wonderland. I wanted to share a few of my favorite trails to hike during the winter time especially if I am able to get out there when a snow is on.

Grotto Falls

This trail feels quite magical (something I will probably say quite a few times when discussing hiking in the smokies) surprisingly I have only hiked this trail during the winter months. Sometimes I like like to save hikes that can be crowded in warmer months and hike them in the winter when there are fewer people on the trails. A skiff of snow and ice added to the magical feeling as I was hiking down the trail. The little creeks were a mixture of completely frozen and half frozen which was mesmerizing to watch the water flow beneath the ice. Approaching the falls was truly magical, I’m sorry no other way to describe it. The falls gently cascade through dense rhododendron. Once you get to the main waterfall the trail continues behind the falls which is lovely to experience hiking behind a waterfall. Although I have only hiked behind it once as it was quite icy and I didn’t have micro spikes with me. I throughly enjoyed hiking this trail in the winter!

Ramsey Cascades

I absolutely love this hike! This trail can be quite busy however, the crowds are much lower in the winter time. It is definitely on the more moderate/difficult side as you have a bit of elevation gain with some steep sections. Another practical note, I could have used micro spikes on this trail so it may be worth it to have them on you just in case. The trail is so enjoyable the entire hike and it is 8 miles round trip. On the way to the falls you will enjoy hiking among rhododendron, large poplar trees, moss, and ferns. You will also have a few creek crossings with charming wooden bridges. Experiencing one of the largest waterfalls in GRSM in winter was truly magical to see the falls with snow and ice.

Big Creek Falls

While this entire trail can be a bit on the longer side at 10.6 miles, I quite enjoyed hiking to Midnight Hole and Mouse Falls which were about two miles into the trail. The trail itself is quite mild with little elevation gain and it is a bit wide as it was an old road also making it a great hike for a group. Midnight Hole and Mouse Falls are both lovely spots to enjoy a break and take in the views. I haven’t been on this trail with snow on but I really enjoyed it during the cold winter months.

Middle Prong Trail

This is one of my personal favorite hikes in the smokies as it is the perfect trail to hike for as long or as short as you like. The elevation is very gradual and the trail is wide making it a good option for a group to hike. The trail follows the Little River and there are beautiful waterfalls along the way as well as rhododendron. This is a classic smokies creekside hike that is just enjoyable to take your time and enjoy the lovely views of the water along the way. Also, when you get about two miles into the trail there is an incredibly charming wooden bridge that just feels like it is straight out of Lord of the Rings!

Campsite 18 via Bote Mountain Trail

I have hiked to this backcountry campsite many times in the winter and I have been lucky enough to catch it with a bit of snow on once as well. I like to hike to this camp spot because it is a wonderful place to spend some time once you get there and of course you can camp there just be sure to reserve a spot. Once you reach Campsite 18 there is a wood plank crossing where you can enjoy the camping area on either side of the creek. I love this trail in any season and I am sure it will make another appearance as a “top hike” on other seasonal lists here on the ole blog but it’s a wonderful spot to pack some warm soup, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, whatever hot beverage or food you fancy and enjoy it creekside!

There are so many beautiful trails to enjoy during the winter in the smokies but I just wanted to share a few of my favorites for now. Also, while I discuss brief descriptions of the hikes I wanted to share some resources that are more thorough for planning hikes. The first is a book called Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Kevin Adams. The book is incredibly detailed and I always check it out first when planning any hike in the smokies. He has it broken down by trail difficulty, crowd levels, seasonal suggestions, and by the different areas in the park. I also use the Great Smoky Mountain National Park website, it is free and handy to use to look up current closures and trail info. Thank you all so much for reading and happy trails!