Waterfall Hikes
Always a Reward at the End!
Waterfall hikes are an excellent way to see the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. There's something magical that draws us to waterfalls. We flock to them and just have to stand in awe and amazement.
A hike to a waterfall makes for a rewarding experience. You work so hard getting there, but it's worth it when you find that gorgeous waterfall at the end!
The Smoky Mountains is home to some spectacular waterfalls.
Keep in mind that waterfall hikes are among the most popular in the Smokies. If you want to avoid the crowds try hiking on a weekday- the earlier the better.
Here's a little trivia for you. Did you know there are different types of waterfalls? This list is not all-inclusive, but I included some of the most interesting ones, and those you're more likely to find in the Smokies:
-cascade- falls down rock steps, underlying surface is irregular
-cataract- very powerful and large waterfall that drops with lots of force
-block/rectangular/sheet- wide and falls over a ledge to resemble a sheet
-fan- slide along cliff as water drops and gets wider, looks like upside down fan
-chute- large volume of water forced through narrow chute, looks almost like rapids
-horsetail- fan out as they fall, looks like horse's tail:)
-plunge- freefalls without sliding down underlying rocks/cliff, sometimes you can walk behind them!
-punchbowl- falls as a narrow stream into a "bowl" of water
-segmented- as water falls it's split up into different sections
-tiered/staircase/multi-stepped- separate waterfalls flowing one after the other close together
-veil- falls as thin layer of water, looks like a veil
-ribbon- falls in a thin, narrow strip
-slot/keyhole- water drops through narrow opening looking like a keyhole
-slide- slides smoothly down one piece of rock
Now when you hike to a waterfall you can talk about what kind it is to your hiking buddy:)
I've hiked to many of the waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Check out my recommendations in the following links, but don't take my word for it. See them for yourself!:)
Best Waterfall Hike of All
The Most Challenging of Waterfall Hikes (But Worth It!)
Best Family Hike to a Waterfall
Most Interesting Waterfall
A Triple Treat of Falls
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