About Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail
If you want a short walk with a real forest feel, the Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is easy to fit in. The National Park Service describes it as a half-mile loop along a paved, flat trail through cove hardwood forest, with streamside views, rock walls and historic stone chimneys, and a small parking area with accessible spaces.
The walk
The loop is wheelchair and stroller friendly and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Interpretive signs explain the forest and the people who once lived in the valley. The chimneys are what is left of homes from before the park was created. Keep to the pavement and stay off the old stonework.
When to go
Any season works. Spring wildflowers and fall color are the highlights, and it is a good rainy-day or cold-day option when longer trails are unpleasant.
Getting there
The trailhead is on Newfound Gap Road a short drive south of Sugarlands Visitor Center. Plan on a parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual) if you will be parked longer than 15 minutes. Federal passes do not substitute for it, and a screenshot will not do; the tag must be displayed in the vehicle.
Know before you go
The parking area is small. Pets are not allowed on this trail. Combine it with a stop at Sugarlands Visitor Center for maps and ranger advice.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Gatlinburg Trail: an easy 4-mile round trip that allows dogs and bikes
- Grotto Falls: a 2.6-mile round trip to a waterfall you can walk behind
- Rainbow Falls: a 5.6-mile round trip to an 80-foot waterfall
Planning and safety
This is an easy outing, so it works for an hour or a whole afternoon. Keep the pace relaxed, bring a snack, and plan a nearby stop to make a half-day of it. Weekday mornings are the quietest, and the light is softest early and late.
Cell service is spotty across much of the park, so download a map ahead of time and tell someone where you are headed. Stay on the trail, keep dogs and other pets on the few trails where they are allowed, and give wildlife plenty of room. Trail conditions are posted on the park's closures page.
Good to know
- How long is Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail?
- Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is 0.5 miles one way. It is rated easy.
- Are dogs allowed on this trail?
- No. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed only on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Do I need a parking tag to hike here?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
