Grotto Falls Trail – Moderate (N 35.6804, W -83.4626): The 2.6 mile roundtrip hike to Grotto Falls is fun because the trail swings behind and below the cascade. Llama teams regularly use this trail (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) to resupply LeConte Lodge so you might see them going up in the morning or down in the afternoon. Old growth forest lines the start of the hike. Go left at the junction with the Trillium Gap Trail, 0.2 mile above the parking area. The trail weaves around the ridges of Mount LeConte, past four separate streams and the fifth is Grotto Falls.
Directions: From Gatlinburg traffic light # 8 turn onto Historic Nature Trail-Airport Rd. In 0.6 mile, bear right at the junction and straight onto Cherokee Orchard Rd. At 3.6 miles turn right onto the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The Trillium Gap Trail parking area for Grotto Falls is on the left 5.2 miles from US 441. (Click here for Google Maps directions)
