About Cataract Falls
Cataract Falls is a narrow, 40-foot cascade where Cataract Branch meets Fighting Creek, and it is the gentlest waterfall walk near Gatlinburg. The Park Service puts the hike at 0.7 miles round trip from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, and it is most dramatic after a good rain.
The walk
Park at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, walk past the restrooms and behind the building, and turn left off the paved path onto the Fighting Creek Nature Trail. After crossing the large bridge, turn right at the junction. The path is short and shaded, but it has roots and rocks, so it is not a smooth paved walk. The Park Service has assessed the trail for accessibility; ask at the visitor center about the Freedom Chair loan and which stretches work for mobility devices.
At the falls
View the falls from the bottom. Visitors have been seriously hurt climbing around the cascade, and the wet rock is far more slippery than it looks. In dry weather the falls can shrink to a thin ribbon, so this is a better stop after rain than in August.
Getting there and parking
Sugarlands is about 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on Newfound Gap Road. Entry to the park is free, but any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes needs a parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual). Federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace it, and the tag must be displayed in your vehicle. The visitor center lot is large, but it fills at midday in summer and fall. The visitor center has restrooms, exhibits and rangers who can point out other short walks.
Pair it with
The paved Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail, a half-mile loop beside the river, is next to the lot. The Gatlinburg Trail is one of only two trails in the park that allow dogs.
Good to know
- How tall is Cataract Falls?
- Cataract Falls drops about 40 feet.
- How far is the hike to Cataract Falls?
- It is about 0.35 miles each way, rated easy.
- Can you swim or climb at the falls?
- Please don’t climb on or around waterfalls. Wet rock and algae are extremely slick, and falls from waterfalls are a leading cause of death in the Smokies. Enjoy the view from the trail.
- Do I need a parking tag?
- 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.
