Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
A roughly 9-km one-way scenic drive through the forest beside Gatlinburg. It follows a rushing stream past old log cabins, grist mills and the “Place of a Thousand Drips” waterfall.
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail begins at Cherokee Orchard Road in Gatlinburg. It winds through dense broadleaf forest and past huge boulders along the stream. Along the way are pioneer relics, including the old Ogle family home and the Alfred Reagan gristmill. Near the exit, the “Place of a Thousand Drips” waterfall, formed by rock walls after rain, is the highlight. The road is narrow and winding, and buses and RVs are prohibited. The Grotto Falls and Rainbow Falls trailheads both lie along this road. Parking in the park for more than 15 minutes requires a parking permit (about US$5 per day).
Opening hours
Approx. April–November; closed in winter
Nearby sights
- Grotto Falls
- Anakeesta
- Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
- Gatlinburg SkyBridge
- Mount Le Conte
- Alum Cave Trail
- Sugarlands Visitor Center
- Chimney Tops