Waterfalls around Gatlinburg at a glance
There are 432 named waterfalls within 50 miles of downtown Gatlinburg. The nearest is Thousand Drips, about 1.5 mi E in a straight line. Most of the falls around the city lie to the south: 225 of the 432. The radius reaches into 2 states, led by North Carolina (394) and Tennessee (38).
Distances here are straight lines from the city centre. Roads bend around ridges and rivers, so a fall 20 miles out can take an hour to reach. Search your own street or tap Find falls near me above to measure from where you are.
How far you have to drive
| Within | Named waterfalls |
|---|---|
| 10 miles of Gatlinburg | 18 |
| 25 miles of Gatlinburg | 68 |
| 50 miles of Gatlinburg | 432 |
Well-known falls within reach of Gatlinburg
Grotto Falls (4.4 miSE), Laurel Falls (5.3 miWSW), Abrams Falls (22 miWSW), Rainbow Falls (46 miSSE) and Dry Falls (47 miSSE) are among the best-known waterfalls within 50 miles. Each is described on its state page: waterfalls in Tennessee, waterfalls in North Carolina.
The 15 nearest waterfalls to Gatlinburg
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thousand Drips | 1.5 mi E | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Baskins Creek Falls | 2.1 mi SE | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Cataract Falls | 2.4 mi SW | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Grotto Falls | 4.4 mi SE | not recorded | Sevier County, Tennessee |
| Rainbow Falls | 4.4 mi SE | not recorded | Sevier County, Tennessee |
| Laurel Falls | 5.3 mi WSW | not recorded | Sevier County, Tennessee |
| Huskey Branch Falls | 5.7 mi SSW | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Trickling Falls | 6.8 mi SSE | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Mannis Branch Falls | 7.1 mi WSW | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Talking Falls | 7.2 mi SSE | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Fish Camp Cascades | 7.4 mi SSW | not recorded | Tennessee |
| War Branch Cascade | 7.6 mi SSW | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Little River Upper Falls | 7.9 mi S | not recorded | Tennessee |
| Wilson Falls | 8.8 mi S | not recorded | Sevier County, Tennessee |
| Meigs Creek Cascade | 9.2 mi WSW | not recorded | Tennessee |
Tallest recorded waterfalls near Gatlinburg
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 36 of the 432 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Falls | 197 ft | 44 mi SE |
| Boulderfield Falls | 164 ft | 43 mi SE |
| Camp Creek Falls | 148 ft | 48 mi ENE |
| Dismal Falls | 131 ft | 48 mi SE |
| Buzzard Roost Falls | 130 ft | 20 mi ENE |
| Mingo Falls | 120 ft | 18 mi SE |
| Falls Branch Falls | 98 ft | 40 mi SW |
| High Falls | 98 ft | 40 mi SSE |
| Mount Hardy Falls | 98 ft | 44 mi SE |
| Yellowstone Falls | 98 ft | 46 mi SE |
Counties with the most falls near Gatlinburg
Jackson County, NC (15), Macon County, NC (8), Graham County, NC (6), Sevier County, TN (5) and Haywood County, NC (4). County is from the USGS record, so falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap are not counted here.
Before you go
The map shows where falls are, not whether a trail reaches them or the land is open. Check the land manager for closures, fees and parking, and stay on the trail near the water. See waterfall safety, waterfall hikes near me and the best time to see waterfalls.
Waterfalls near other cities: Knoxville, Asheville, Brevard, Greenville, Boone.