Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Laurel Falls


If you are looking for one of the easier hikes to a waterfall in the Smoky Mountains, this is the one for you.  Perfect for all ages this hike is 2.6 miles roundtrip on a paved trail, with a steady climb but never overly steep.

Laurel Falls is very photogenic, especially after a good rain which is why we picked this day to hike it. I have never seen it with this much volume. It was absolutely beautiful!!
The day after we returned from Mt. LeConte it poured! We were very ready for a relaxing day so we spent the morning sitting on the deck with our coffee, watching the rain come down and turn the stream........
which normally looks like this......

into this.

Lots of firewood went floating by......

and even a chair. Hope that chair wasn't occupied at the time!

After all that rain we knew this was the perfect day to hike to Laurel Falls.


Laurel Falls is located about 3.5 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center on Little River Road.
This is the most popular waterfall in the park and it shows. Parking is limited so it can be very hard to find a place to park unless you get there early. We have hiked this trail several times but avoid it during peak seasons or weekends. One day we counted close to 100 cars in the lot and parked beside the road. No way would I go at a busy time like that.

It is late afternoon by the time we feel the rain has passed and when we get to the trailhead, there are only a few cars left in the parking lot. We met a few people on their way down, and by the time we reached the falls it was deserted. Just the way we like it!

This trail isn't know for it's views which are almost nonexistent except for this one spot. It's fascinating to watch the fog drifting up and down and over the ridges but we don't have time to waste. When we left town the skies were clearing but it looks like it could rain again.

The 80 foot waterfall consists of an upper and a lower section, divided by a walkway which crosses the stream at the base of the upper falls.



Another shot of the upper falls. Laurel Falls gets it's name from the mountain laurel and rhododendron that grows in abundance along the trail and overhang the falls. This hike was in September so of course it's not in bloom but here is a picture of mountain laurel from my archives.

The trails are so pretty when mountain laurel or rhododendron are in bloom.


The lower falls are harder to get a good picture of without climbing down a steep bank. I would have been tempted to try it if the rocks wouldn't have been slick from all the rain.

This is the best picture we could get of the entire waterfall. You can see the walkway that crosses the two sections.
About this time it started raining again. Not a gentle light rain either. I'm talking downpour!! It was a very wet hike back to the car but it was worth the hike to see the falls.

22 comments:

  1. Great pictures, Pearl... You really confused my by changing your name... Thought someone new was visiting my blog... ha ha

    Your Laurel Falls pictures are great. You got there at a perfect time. We were lucky once to be there when there was alot of water also... I usually don't like hiking there because of the crowds.. But it sounds like you picked a perfect time...

    Good picture of the laurel (or rhodies)... Not sure which that is from the photo.

    Have a great day.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. Can you please add Follow by Email on your sidebar for me? I love getting posts by email. Thanks.
    Betsy

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    1. Duh...Thought I had that. Thanks for the reminder!

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  3. How ironic that you should post this today....Just this week, on Monday as I drove to the Elkmont area for my hike up Jakes Creek, I passed the Laurel Falls trailhead at about 8:15 a.m. There was NOT ONE SINGLE CAR in the parking area on either side of the road. I don't think I've EVER seen that parking lot completely empty of vehicles. And believe me, when I went back by there around 4, it was a totally different story - cars everywhere!! Your pictures are beautiful. In January and February, you can get a little bit better view of the falls because of less foliage on the trees.

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    1. The one day last year both lots were full and parked up and down both sides of the road. I don't think it would be possible to get any photos of the falls without tourists on them!

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  4. Thank you for the lovely tour of the Laurel Fall. So very very lovely.I would love to visit this area one day. When do the Mt. Laurel and Rhodes Bloom in this area. I would love to come when they are blooming.

    I tried to grow a Mt. Laurel in my backyard with NO success but I do have a Rhodie. You all are getting rain and us lots of snow. Give me rain anyday. Hugs Judy

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    1. We have seen them in bloom in May or June. It depends on the elevation. I have no luck growing either one and I just love them.I keep trying....maybe I'll get lucky one of these years.
      Hope you get to visit someday. It is my favorite vacation spot.

      I'll take rain too, but I think it's supposed to turn to snow:(
      Pearl

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  5. I would love to visit here one day. I did visit Tennessee and stayed in a lodge in the Smoky Mountains and it was one of the most scenic vacations I ever took. I always thought I would love to live there someday. I loved your tour and your photos.

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    1. I would love to live there too someday. Maybe I'll retire there:)

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  6. Lovely pictures! We are visiting in April, so I am putting this hike on our list. Neither of us are big hikers, so always interested in the less intense walks!

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    1. Thank you! The falls are at their best after a good rain so I hope they are as beautiful as they were when we were there.

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  7. Beautiful!
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com
    Thanks for sharing!

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  8. I love the Smokey Mountains area and have been there many times with relatives living nearby but I have never been to Laurel Falls. Looks like a wonderful hike to a beautiful spot. I will have to remember this.

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    1. It is beautiful but I especially enjoy places like this when we have it to ourselves....which is rare. It is a very popular place.

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  9. I wasn't expecting to see the progressive shot's. I was thinking that would be an awesome place to paint an oil painting in the creek but woops maybe not lol. Nice photo's Pearl!

    ~Randall

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  10. Loved these photos, been a long time since I visited there. Have you ever been in these mountains when the trillium's are blooming like crazy?

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    1. I'm sure that's beautiful. I don't think we are there early enough for those. If we go in the spring, it's usually in May.
      We have them in our woods too but we only have the white ones here.

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  11. It is an absolutely beautiful hike. You take us to some really wonderful spots and I so enjoy your pictures and dialogue talking about the spots.

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  12. Thanks Tina.There are so many beautiful places and I wish I could get to them all!!

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