Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vehicle Reservations

Laurel Falls Trail is one of the most visited trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and parking at the trailhead is limited. Parking is allowed in paved, designated areas only. Laurel Falls is 80 feet high and named for the mountain laurel which grows along the trail and near the falls. The waterfall consists of an upper and a lower section, divided by a walkway which crosses the stream at the base of the upper falls. The roundtrip distance to Laurel Falls is 2.6 miles and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. It takes about 90 minutes to hike to the waterfall and back. While Laurel Falls Trail is the primary destination for visitors, Sugarland Mountain Trail is also accessed from the same parking lots.