Exploring the Trails of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

The trails near Pigeon Forge range from a flat paved riverside walk to a national park hike to the only waterfall in the Smokies you can walk behind. Here are six worth knowing — three easy in-town trails and three national park hikes accessible from a Pigeon Forge base.

Easy in-town trails

Pigeon Forge Riverwalk — 2.7 miles round trip

The Pigeon Forge Riverwalk follows the Little Pigeon River through the heart of town on a paved, level path — 2.7 miles round trip, suitable for joggers, casual walkers, strollers, and families with young children. One end of the trail connects directly to the Old Mill Square at 175 Old Mill Avenue, giving the walk a natural destination: browse the mill shop, stop for lunch at the restaurant, or pick up stone-ground grits before heading back. The riverside setting provides a genuinely pleasant alternative to the Parkway corridor — quieter, shadier, and without traffic. No admission charge; free street parking near Old Mill Square.

Sevierville Greenway — 2-mile loop

The Sevierville Greenway is a 2-mile paved loop along the Little Pigeon River adjacent to Sevierville's park system — easy, level, and accessible for all ages and fitness levels. The Burchfiel Grove and Arboretum along the riverside path provides a collection of labeled trees that makes the walk educational as well as recreational. The Greenway connects to Sevierville's parks and recreation system and is a quieter alternative to the more developed Pigeon Forge Riverwalk for visitors staying in the Sevierville area.

Wear Farm City Park Loop — 1.2 miles

Wear Farm City Park's 1.2-mile paved loop trail runs along a creek through a city park with two playgrounds, a picnic pavilion, and shaded rest areas. It's the right choice for a short family outing with younger children who need a playground component — the trail is easy enough for small legs, and the playgrounds give everyone a reason to linger. The park's relatively low foot traffic makes it a more relaxed environment than the Riverwalk on busy Parkway weekends.

National park hikes near Pigeon Forge

These three trails are inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, accessible from Pigeon Forge via the Gatlinburg entrance. A Park It Forward parking tag ($5/day, $15/week, $40/annual) is required for any vehicle parked at national park trailheads.

Laurel Falls Trail — 2.6 miles round trip · Easy–Moderate

Laurel Falls is the most visited waterfall trail in the national park — a 2.6-mile round trip on a paved path to a beautiful two-tiered cascade where the upper fall splits into multiple smaller cascades before dropping to the lower pool. The trail is paved throughout but has enough elevation gain to qualify as easy-moderate. Because of its popularity, the Laurel Falls trailhead parking area fills before 9 AM on peak summer and fall weekends; arriving early in the morning or on a weekday significantly reduces crowding at the falls. The trailhead is on Little River Road, approximately 3.9 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Grotto Falls via Trillium Gap Trail — 2.6 miles round trip · Moderate

Grotto Falls is the only waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park where the trail passes behind the waterfall — the path cuts through the rock face at the base of the cascade so hikers walk between the falling water and the stone wall behind it. The 2.6-mile round trip on the Trillium Gap Trail gains about 500 feet of elevation through an old-growth hemlock forest. The combination of the forest setting and the unique behind-the-falls access makes Grotto Falls one of the most distinctive hikes accessible from the Gatlinburg corridor. The trailhead is on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which is seasonal — it closes in winter, typically November through March.

Porters Creek Trail — 3.8 miles round trip · Easy–Moderate

Porters Creek Trail in the Greenbrier area is one of the Smokies' best spring wildflower hikes — a 3.8-mile round trip through an old-growth cove hardwood forest alongside Porters Creek to a cascade at the end. The trail passes several historic farm structures from the pre-park settlement era, including a well-preserved barn and chimney remnants. In April and early May, the forest floor along Porters Creek is carpeted with trillium, wild geranium, phacelia, and other native wildflowers in concentrations that rival any trail in the park. The Greenbrier area is accessed from US-321 between Gatlinburg and Cosby.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a parking permit for the national park trails?

Yes — a Park It Forward parking tag is required for any vehicle parked inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Tags cost $5/day, $15/week, or $40/annual. Purchase online at recreation.gov, at park visitor centers, or at automated kiosks near park entrances. Display the tag on your dashboard.

Which trail is best for families with young children?

The Pigeon Forge Riverwalk and Wear Farm City Park Loop are the best in-town options for young children — both paved, flat, and short. In the national park, Laurel Falls is the most child-friendly waterfall hike, though the parking situation requires arriving early on weekends. Grotto Falls adds more elevation but the behind-the-falls payoff is a memorable moment for children old enough to appreciate it.