Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

This is a MUST!! it’s so easy to drive through! A ton of spots to pull over and park so you can explore! You get the best of both worlds! From amazing Mountain View’s to being in the forest and seeing beautiful waterfalls. There are also a ton of trails along the route if you wanna go hiking as well! I loved it so much!!

Roaring Forks offers a beautiful and scenic mountain loop drive, with pullover spots and parking areas for hiking. We went there during Memorial Day weekend and, although there were plenty of vehicles, we still found a parking spot to hike up to Grotto Falls. Be aware though that the drive is one-way and if you pass an empty parking spot you wish to go back to, you have to drive all the way out of the loop and start all over again. We did find that the ability to parallel park is critical and other vehicles may trap you in your spot when they part in front of and behind you. It simply requires lots of patience, and good driving and maneuvering skills. The hike up to Grotto falls is relatively easy, though it is moderately inclined so it will wear you out a bit on the way up. The hike to the falls is about 40 minutes (it’s 1-1/2 miles to get there) and is definitely worth the effort. The falls are beautiful and you can walk behind them while staying dry. The hike back down to the parking area is easy and follows the creek for some of the way. It is very scenic and enjoyable. We did not see much wildlife during our “motor” tour of Roaring Fork, but that may have been due to the heavy traffic during Memorial Day weekend. I would definitely recommend this trail due to its close proximity to Gatlinburg and the vast size of the park and all of the natural beauty, along with great hiking trails that are well marked and very beautiful. The parking challenge shouldn’t be a factor if you arrive early and it’s not a national holiday.

A beautiful drive! This is a one way drive that is curvy and gorgeous. Speed limit is 10 mph. There are many places to stop and explore, but parking is limited. We didn't see any animals, but the drive was definitely worth it. I think it was about an hour for us and we stopped a few times.

This was a beautiful drive. Amazing scenery. The temperature dropped like 10°. It was cool and made free perfect drive in our convertible. Will have to come back when we have more time to maybe hike some of the trails to the waterfalls that you can’t see from the road.

Excellent driving trail in the Smoky Mountains. Several spots to pull off and take in the views if you’d like, or you can drive thru slowly and appreciate the beauty all around. The drive down was more scenic than the drive up. Took about 1.5 hour and we did stop a couple times to take a few steps down into the creek to get pics and look at the falls.

We hiked rainbow falls while at Roaring Fork this trip. We really enjoyed it. I would say it was moderately hard. We seen two snakes on our way back down. One was a rattlesnake! It took us 3 hours to go up to the waterfall, and 1.5 hours coming down. Love this place!! Make sure you pack enough water!

This is a great trail, we made the trip twice while we were in Tennessee! Make sure to have a full tank of gas, grab a great cup of coffee to go in downtown Gatlinburg, and take it easy on this winding road with plenty of foliage to look at. We did see a small black bear, but it scurried off pretty quickly so we don’t she a picture. We snapped a few photos on our trip, early July 2025, enjoy!

It’s definitely time to see bears! We fire we even entered the motor trail we saw 2 momma bears and 5 cubs! We’ve seen bears at 8am and even at 12:30 in the afternoon. Beautiful drive if you go through the full motor trail. Water falls, the river and plenty of spaces to stop and park and enjoy a picnic along the stream! We love to park and just walk along the streams!

The trail is mainly for driving and it has areas to where you can park and hike some trails. There is a parking fee for it, so plan in advance if you are going to park since the pay station for it are not where the parking areas are. We found that out the hard way since we didn't plan to get out and hike for a bit. We attempted the Rainbow Falls trail. It would have been easier if it wasn't 90 degrees out (the shade helped some what though) and our young kids were more concerned with going to Dollywood...lol! However, we did get pictures of the trail on foot and by car. There were a couple bears that we saw up in the mountains towards the end of the trail driving out and they moved too quickly for me to get a picture. The parking is kind of a hit or miss since there are more spots than others for the trails. It was an overall nice drive with plenty of scenery and plenty of photo/video opportunities.

We've read about 3 different motor trails to go on. This one and the more popular one appears to be Cades Cove Motor Trail that is 11 miles long, but we liked Roaring Fork as the better one. This is a single road for 5 miles going up and down a hill. No guardrails, very small passage ways, so please pay attention when driving the entire time else you can be in some serious troubles. They do have pull off areas to stop and enjoy the views. Apparently the roaring fork is named after the river that it follows along the trail. Remember everyone is driving extremely slow in hopes of seeing a black bear of many. We fortunately our first time in seen a black bear walking the roadway and then heading over to the river. This is where they drink and capture fish to eat. We are planning on traveling back again today in hopes that we see more bears this time around. This place is located near Gatlinburg area. If you're seeking a quick motor trail this is the one but be aware of the winding roads. This was a good find.

Beautiful but really crowded - probably a peak weekend though. Also kinda scary but we were in a huge rental vehicle - Grand Wagoneer.

Loved this nice little drive beautiful scenery and the cute little store at the end of the trail a must visit .

One of our favorite scenic drives in TN. The roads become too dangerous when it's icy, so it's often closed during winter. You'll have great mountain views, opportunities for hikes, creeks and streams, and wildlife. Just last week we saw a family of 4 black bears. The drive will take you an hour or so, depending on how many stops you make. This is something we do every time we are in town. Highly recommended.

Nice quick little drive! If you don't make any stops takes about an hour to drive. Lots of ups and downs, lots of hiking areas. Pros- Lots of stop offs right off the road (no hiking required) Lots of waterfalls Easy drive Gift shop at the end Beautiful scenery Some old cabins you can visit Lots of exploring Cons- Gets really busy during certain times, so lots of stopping and going

We had our dog with us and dogs are only allowed on one trail in Gatlinburg, so we chose to drive this trail and keep him in the car. There was little areas to pull over and park, we just left the car running with AC and the car was within eyesight so he was fine while we got out to snap a few pictures! No intense hiking while driving- so good for young kids and older people! The little old homesteads were neat to see, the one pictured was right along a stream with an old barn and everything. Worth making the drive up!!

Loved this loop! So much quicker to get through than Cades Cove. Yes, few turnouts and you have to wait for others, but if you want to see bears, this is the place. Saw 4 on this loop.

We had a beautiful sunny day for this outing. Having been to the Smokies many times, we had actually never done this drive and I'm so glad we did. My husband would say we stopped at every single overlook but I'm sure there were a few we missed. The fall colors plus the mini waterfalls and curvy roads made for some fantastic photo opportunities! This will for sure be on our list of things to do on any future vacations to the Smokies. Make sure to get your audio tour booklet so you can learn about the history of the area. Enjoy the pictures. I miss it already!!

So many things to see and do on this trail. We got lucky and saw bears and cubs on the way and the shop towards the end of the trail has wonderful hand carved walking sticks and awesome smelling soaps and lotions.

Beautiful, scenic and VERY narrow, winding road that is not made for vehicles larger than a 1500 Silverado or Ford F-150. Definitely not a long bed truck or dual wheel one. We barely made it through in our dual wheel 3500 truck. Please make note and plan accordingly. Also, please go slow! It is posted 10 mph throughout but people tailgated horribly as well as parking all over blocking the road for others to pass. Check out the historical markers throughout to learn abundant history for the area. They are numbered to follow along. It is very beautiful and what a treat to ride through a trail to see nature and all of the wildlife. Although we only saw a few snakes, squirrels, and a ground hog it was worth the drive and perilous driving conditions for our large truck. We will never go again in anything larger than a small car, suv, or mini van. Follow well marked signs to the trail, follow signs and be kind! Do not litter! Do not leave a trace. Enjoy!

An awesome drive up into the smoky mountain national park. Plenty of trails, waterfalls, and old homesteads. Beautiful and peaceful. Will definitely go again soon

This was beautiful. For sure, do not drive a large vehicle through there. It is a slender, one way road. There is minimal parking for trails, but excellent stops with beautiful views. We took some beautiful photos. This is a must do. Adding: There is a really cool old farm that you can walk through on this drive.

I visited a couple times during my trip. I went early to beat the crowds. Nice and peaceful. Beautiful scenery. Plenty of places to pull off. Plenty of hiking and waterfalls. Unfortunately I didn't see any bears. Nice drive. I would visit again. Check it out, enjoy!

This is a hidden gem and was my wife's favorite part of our entire vacation. The views are great, the river and water rapids and are pretty and there are several waterfalls right next to you as you drive. The cabins are very cool to see and there is a little local shop at the end that is worth stopping at!

Peaceful call Ma quiet and relaxing! Just minutes from the heart of downtown Gatlinburg

Just a few minutes outside of the hustle and bustle of the tourist town called Gatlinburg is the most serene place on earth in my honest opinion. Old log homes, barns, a grist mill and of course the Roaring Fork, streams, falls, moss covered rocks, boulders, and logs, beautiful vistas and an abundance of wildlife make up the beauty that is the Smokies in this one way winding road.

Favorite drive in Smoky Mountains National Park. Highly recommend! There are signs to the 5 mile one way loop drive from the main road through Gatlinburg. But traffic in Gatlinburg is always crazy, so if you are worried you will miss the turnoff, I would recommend putting "Rainbow Falls trailhead" into your GPS to get to the point where one way traffic begins. The scenery is so beautiful, lots of creeks, waterfalls, bridges, forest and a few mountain overlooks. In my opinion, the road is not that narrow or steep, it's easily drivable for any car. Maybe it's all what you are used to? If you have driven in national parks in the Western United States, or coastal roads in California or any rural roads in Europe, this road really is nothing. Do not be scared off. Having read everywhere how busy it gets even early in the morning, we decided to go in the evening. On a Thursday evening in July, the road was virtually deserted! We only saw a few other cars. We hiked to Grotto Falls and were at the falls all by ourselves. When we headed to Roaring Fork, everyone else seemed to be leaving! So if you want less crowds and are not an early riser, I would recommend going in the late afternoon/evening. We also saw beautiful fireflies as it was getting dark, just magical.

It's a pretty drive close to downtown Gatlinburg. Lots of spots to pull off and hike. It was a rainy day so we just drove through. I have a Nissan Pathfinder SUV and it was able to make it through fine. There are guide books at the beginning of the trail but they were completely out whenever we got there.

This is a wonderful driving tour. Stop at the welcome center and buy the guide book for $1. Then meander along the trail, reading as you go. Make sure and stop the car, get out and listen. You may see animals like black bear or deer. We also so a hummingbird!

We went the first week of November around 5 pm. It was beautiful, but absolutely no sign of wildlife from the beginning to the end-- not even a squirrel. Aside from the lack of wildlife sightings, the scenery is beautiful. Be sure to take your time as there are several unexpected turns on the narrow road. Plenty of places to take pictures!

A beautiful trail for the Great Smoky Mountains, We drove through with the advise of a local. There are scenic places where you can stop and enjoy the view. There are streams where you can explore by walking in them of tubing. Also there are some neat older buildings and shops along the way. Would definitely go back.

There's nothing like the feel and smell of the forest air that hits you as soon as you get out of your car. Something that we all need more of! Roaring Fork is a spectacular area to drive around and hike and is a must-do in GSMNP.

Okay, I really wanted to go on this trail but did not get to because apparently it's closed December through March. It reopens April 1. I was super sad to find the road closed but still managed to have an animal encounter when a turkey jumped out in the road. When I drove up to the loop road entrance it was closed off but a lot of cats were parked in the area. People were obviously still hiking the road and trails. I thought maybe the road was closed because of a tree or water over the road (there has been a lot of rain lately). Because it was closed we drove over to Cades Cove. The day we left town I passed a tourist information stand at the aquarium and inquired about the road. That's when I found out that certain roads and trails close for the off/winter season - December-March. I was told that sometimes they may open early but that's generally the schedule. We were also told that Clingmans Dome was closed, almost made that drive, and that Cades Cove had just happened to have reopened this week so we really lucked out there. Hoping next time I go back to Gatlinburg that I get to take this loop.

Although we have been to the area several times, this was our first time on 6.14.22. Although we did not see any bears :( , we did see some Turkey's and beautiful flowing streams. Very much enjoy the tranquility. Really enjoyed the little store / shop at the very end and proudly patronizing local business

We've been to the Smokies several times and somehow never discovered this trail. Much better and a little shorter than Cades Cove. A small river runs next to the paved road, several stop offs and trail heads to water falls, beautiful photo spot of the valley. Also saw 2 bears.

Struggling through the Gatlinburg congestion was a little unnerving, but once we got through the masses, the trip up to the nature trail was well worth the drive. Nature at it's finest, and we drove from Colorado where we have some damn fine nature of our own.

What an incredible experience! We did the Roaring Fork Nature Trail on the last day of our vacation, but wish we would have started there! The views were amazing, the trails were perfect for mild hikers. Our 18 month old daughter even did well on the trails with our help. We were able to easily get down into the creek beds and take incredible pictures! We loved the old cabins to tour and look at, as well. It was amazing to see the old workmanship of the early settlers in the area. We grabbed a one dollar guide on the way into the motor trail and it was awesome to help guide us along the way. We explored the trails, took incredible pictures, and really enjoyed the beautiful, immersive drive through the mountains. It took us about 4 hours but it might take less time for those who just want a scenic drive and more time for those who love getting out to explore and hike numerous trails. A few people saw black bears, we saw several wild turkeys. People just need to remember this is in a national park that has real, living wildlife, but that's what adds to the appeal. So wonderful! This should be on anyone's to-do list when traveling to Gatlinburg!

If you've done Cade's cove and really only seen tail lights - this is the drive you have been waiting for to really see the beauty of the smokies. No motor homes or any cars with poor brakes please! When I discovered this I had already been living in Knoxville for 10 years and had never heard of it... but since I found it I've driven and hiked it 3 times in the last month. It's a one way in and one way out route like Cade's but that is where the similarities end. On the way in you'll doubt me but hold your horses. At the top you'll reach the trail head for Mt. Le Conte (I am not a super adventurous hiker) but my niece and my two dogs hiked to Baskin falls. It was a glorious muddy hike (about a mile up hill both ways;) but totally worth it. I was really surprised how many other families were trudging the same trail. So if you are looking for the peaceful (alone) time under the falls that may be hard to find but it was gorgeous. Then when you get back to the car get your camera ready. Note: we had a small motor home in front of us that had some major burning brake issues on one occasion. So don't chance it if your vehicle has any brake issues or you are a dreaded 'break rider'. The ride down is honestly one of the most spectacular drives I've taken in my life - and I have been traveling the world for 35 years. You cross over no less than 7 roaring waterfalls on single lane bridges with no intrusive railings for sightseeing that is out of this world. It's like Jurassic park or better yet - The Hawaiian island of Kauai. I hate to think by publishing this the traffic will someday be like Cade's cove but how can anyone deny another this beauty. Enjoy the drive.

Beautiful drive in the forest with several picturesque views of the mountains. Plenty of places to pull off and hike if you wat to. We saw two black bears together and about 7 wild turkeys. The creeks provide lots of photo opportunities. There were a lot of cars but, not too much stopping, be prepared to dive 10-15 mph.