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Latest update: September 2024

Best Biking... Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Safe, Fun Recreational Biking

All Park roads are officially open to bikes, but we do not recommend biking on the busy main roads. Here we provide first-hand reports on 4 Park areas where we have found recreational biking to be safe and fun. All reports contain e-z open maps and photos:

1. Cades Cove (most popular)
2. Cataloochee Valley
3. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
4. Tremont (Middle Prong, Little River).

Also consider the paved Townsend Historical Trail located in Townsend, TN, immediately adjacent to a Park entrance (near Tremont and Cades Cove). We now include reports on 5 popular hikes. Note: there are no mountain biking trails in the National Park. Weather and repairs often cause closures. Always check for alerts and closures

Biking Map...
Great Smoky Mountains

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Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina (See map)
Distance: Various
Surface: Paved and unpaved roads
E-bikes: Only Class 1 and 2 electric bikes are permitted.
Park Fees: No entrance fee but parking tag is required for vehicles parking 15 minutes or more anywhere in the Park.
Shuttles: At times, parking lots can be full. Several shuttle services are available.

Best Recreational Biking ... Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The most visited National Park in the United States, Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes our breath away each time we visit. Located In both Tennessee and North Carolina, the Park has 400 miles of roads, various trails, rivers and streams, waterfalls, diverse wildlife including a large black bear population, camping, hiking, and historic settlements. For safe, fun recreational biking, we recommend 4 locations within the Park. (Detailed map and photos below.)

Cades Cove

Cades Cove in the northwest portion of the Park in Tennessee is one of the most popular destinations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Traffic jams are common as people stop to admire the scenery and watch the wildlife, including black bear and deer.

• The 11-mile, paved Cades Cove Loop Road is our favorite bike ride in the Great Smokies, with many historic structures, hiking, a waterfall and abundant wildlife. Biking is best from May to September when the road is closed to motor vehicles all day on Wednesdays. Here's a direct link to confirm car-free days and closures:

> See our FULL CADES COVE BIKING REPORT with 55+ PHOTOS here

Tremont

The Tremont area in Tennessee, along the Middle Prong Little River is a popular area for fishing and hiking, and is one of the most scenic areas in the Smokies. Today it's home to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. (an outdoors and wildlife learning center).

• Biking is along Upper Tremont Road which leads to a trailhead to several hiking trails

> See our FULL TREMONT BIKING REPORT with 30+ PHOTOS here

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a narrow and winding, one-way road following Roaring Fork, a fast-moving mountain stream. Starting in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the first 2.5 miles is two-way traffic, and the last 5.5 miles is one-way.

• One of the most popular drives in the Smokies, the road is bikeable. The route features historic buildings, old grist mills, streams, waterfalls, trails, old-growth forest, and mountain views.

> See our FULL ROARING FORK BIKING REPORT with 20+ PHOTOS here

Cataloochee Valley

Cataloochee consists of three valleys in the southeast in the southeast area of the Park in North Carolina, a remote area in the Balsam Mountains. Historical structures, wildlife and elk viewing, hiking, camping.

• The valley is relatively flat for easy biking, though the road into the valley is narrow and twisty with no guard rails.

> See our FULL CATALOOCHEE VALLEY BIKING REPORT with 20+ PHOTOS here

Hiking at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Hiking at Great Smoky Mountains National Park includes 800 miles of trails ranging from easy family-friendly hikes to multi-day backcountry adventures, plus 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail runs through the park. Scenic vistas, cascading waterfalls, old-growth forest, historic settlements, and wildlife are some of many sights. Here are some popular (and easy) destinations we visited.

Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome)

Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingmans Dome), is the highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,643 feet, and another popular destination in the National Park.

• A 1/2 mile paved, steep trail leads to an observation tower with a 360-degree view of the surrounding area.

SEE OUR FULL REPORT AND 15+ PHOTOS HERE

Newfound Gap - Appalachian Trail

Newfound Gap is the lowest drivable gap through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The popular Overlook, with parking, restrooms and stunning views, straddles the State Line between Tennessee and North Carolina.

• The parking area serves as a trailhead for the Appalachian Trail.

SEE OUR FULL REPORT AND 25+ PHOTOS HERE

Elkmont - Little River Trail

Elkmont was an early settlement, a logging town, and later a resort community in the upper Little River Valley in Tennessee before creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Today, it consists of the Daisy Town Historic District (a Ghost Town with buildings from the old resort community), a large campground, and access to some excellent hiking trails.

• The Little River Trail runs on an old logging railroad bed along the Little River, passing old homesites, and linking to several other trails and backcountry campsites.

SEE OUR FULL REPORT AND 20+ PHOTOS HERE

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls is a lovely 80-foot waterfall. A popular destination, it's reached via the Laurel Falls Trail - 2.6 miles round-trip.

• The Laurel Falls Trail offers mountain views and is very scenic. Paved and easy to hike, it's one of the most visited trails in the National Park.

SEE OUR FULL REPORT AND 15+ PHOTOS HERE

Fontana Dam

Historic dam provides hydroelectric power and flood control in the Tennessee River Valley. The dam forms Fontana Lake with numerous recreational opportunities. Visitor Center with parking, restrooms, information.

• The Appalachian Trail crosses the dam with scenic views as it enters the National Park.

SEE OUR FULL REPORT AND 10+ PHOTOS HERE

More Information and Resources

Nearby Biking:
Townsend Historical Trail (Tennessee)

Related Resources:
National Park Service - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Biking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Support and Advocacy:
Friends of the Smokies