Ramsey Cascades Trail

How to Get There

From Gatlinburg, TN (9 mi): Take US-321 E approximately 5 miles, turn right onto Greenbrier Road, continue about 3 miles, bear left at the fork, and follow the road to the Ramsey Cascades Trailhead parking area.

Overview

The Ramsey Cascades Trail leads hikers deep into a landscape that showcases some of the finest old-growth forest remaining in the Great Smoky Mountains. Beginning along a former roadbed, the route follows the Ramsey Prong of the Little Pigeon River through groves of towering tulip trees, yellow birches, basswoods, and eastern hemlocks. The trail crosses mountain streams on footbridges and passes through one of the park's most biologically rich forests before gradually becoming steeper and more rugged as it climbs toward its destination. Along the way, rushing water, moss-covered boulders, and dense rhododendron thickets create a wilderness atmosphere rarely found on easier day hikes.

The reward for the challenging climb is Ramsey Cascades, a waterfall that drops approximately 100 feet over a series of rock ledges into a cool pool below. As the tallest waterfall in the national park, it draws hikers seeking both scenic beauty and a sense of accomplishment. Salamanders thrive in the moist environment surrounding the falls, while the surrounding forest provides habitat for countless birds and other wildlife. Although the hike is demanding, the combination of ancient forest, mountain streams, and dramatic waterfall scenery makes it one of the most memorable backcountry experiences in the Smokies.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and official National Park Service and regional tourism pages for the Ramsey Cascades Trail, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.