Hiking to Grotto Falls: Take The Llamas’ Route!

What if I told you there’s a waterfall in the Smoky Mountains that not only hikers can walk behind, but also…llamas?!

Welcome to Grotto Falls!

Because it’s the only waterfall in the Smokies you can walk behind, Grotto Falls is at the top of most visitors’ bucket lists.

What most people don’t know is that it’s also the route the llamas take to carry supplies up to the LeConte Lodge, and it’s a gateway to epic peaks like Brushy Mountain and Mount LeConte.

In this guide, I’m sharing everything you need to know about hiking to Grotto Falls, including when to go, what to bring, when to see the llamas, optional add-ons, and exactly what to expect on the trail from start to finish.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks so much for your support!

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE

Before diving in, here are a few highlights for planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Getting There: The closest airport to Great Smoky Mountains is McGhee Tyson, which is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Find affordable flights here.
Entrance Fee: No entrance fee but you do have to purchase and display a parking pass.
Where to Stay: Camp in the park or stay right outside the park in the town of Gatlinburg, Townsend, or Cherokee. Read my Where to Stay in the Smokies guide here!
How to Get Around: You’ll need to rent a personal vehicle to get around the Smokies.
Best Time to Visit: March – October
How Long to Visit: 3-5 days (full itinerary here)

Table of Contents

Hiking to Grotto Falls: Take The Llamas’ Route!

Directions, Parking & Hours

Grotto Falls is accessible via the Trillium Gap Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just a few miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

For the quickest route to the falls, you’ll want to park at the Grotto Falls parking area on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

windy road on roaring fork motor nature trail

To get to the trailhead, turn off the main parkway in Gatlinburg at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail Road to the national park’s Cherokee Orchard entrance. Just past Rainbow Falls Parking B, turn right to enter the Roaring Fork.

The parking lot is 1.7 miles down the Roaring Fork, on the left. There are roughly 15 to 20 parking spaces in the main lot, with a few located further down the road. Park in designated spaces only.

If parking is unavailable, please come back at another time. Or consider parking at one of the larger Rainbow Falls lots instead and walking an extra 3 miles round-trip along the Trillium Gap Trail to reach Grotto Falls.

Both the Rainbow Falls A parking lot and the main Grotto Falls lot have primitive vault toilets. There are no other facilities.

vault toilets at the grotto falls trailhead in the smokies

Know Before You Go

Dogs are not allowed on the Trillium Gap Trail nor at Grotto Falls. Dogs are only allowed on two trails in the entire national park: Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail.

The reason dogs are not allowed on this trail, or most others in the park, is to help protect wildlife and preserve fragile plants and landscapes.

If you’re interested in bringing your dog into the Smokies, read my blog post to find out where dogs are allowed and what fun things you can do with your furbabies.

Parking tags are required. Since you will be parked inside the national park boundaries for more than 15 minutes, you are required to display a valid parking tag on your vehicle.

Parking tags are available for purchase online, in visitor centers, and at kiosks sprinkled throughout the park. The closest spot to this trail to purchase a parking tag is the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

This is a popular route to LeConte and Brushy Mountain. While this route is typically known as the “Grotto Falls Trail,” this is actually the Trillium Gap Trail. Along with a waterfall, this trail leads to breathtaking mountains like Brushy and LeConte!

Llamas use this trail to bring supplies to the LeConte Lodge. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the lodge operating season, llamas arrive at the trailhead around 6 AM and start hiking by 7:30 AM. They hike for 4 hours, drop the supplies at the lodge, have lunch, and hike 4 hours down, arriving back at the trailhead by 6 PM.

Bears are active in this area. Since the Roaring Fork is such a hotspot for bear activity, you might see a bear on the way to Grotto Falls! If you see one, keep your distance and make lots of noise. Carry bear spray for peace of mind.

Please Leave No Trace when recreating outdoors. Leave the trail, streams, and waterfalls exactly as you find them. Please do not carve into the trees, do not move or stack rocks, and do not pluck wildflowers. And make sure to pack out all of your trash.

Bonus points if you bring a trash bag and pick up other hikers’ garbage along the way!

When to Hike to Grotto Falls

The best time of year to hike to Grotto Falls is winter and spring.

In the winter, the Roaring Fork is closed, so hikers have to park at one of the Rainbow Falls lots and walk along the Roaring Fork or the Trillium Gap Trail to get to the trailhead. This would add at least 3 miles to your hike, but it’s a great option to avoid crowds!

In the spring, the falls are flowing nicely and the wildflowers are blooming all along the trail. Plus, you’d get a chance to see the llamas if you hike on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday!

NOTE: If you plan to extend your hike from Grotto Falls to Brushy Mountain or Mount LeConte, consider doing so in the summer, unless you’re prepared to hike in snow past the falls.

What to Bring

Here are some things to bring for your day hike to Grotto Falls:

Trekking poles – To help with the gradual elevation change
10 essentials – Don’t hike without packing these items
Day pack – To store all of your essentials
Lunch or snack – To enjoy at the waterfall!
Trash Bag – To pack out your trash (and others’ trash that you may find!)

Trillium Gap to Grotto Falls Trail Description

Length: 2.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 521 feet
Type of Trail: Out & back
Difficulty: Moderate

From the Grotto Falls parking area, head onto the access trail on the right side of the road.

In around a quarter-mile, you’ll reach a junction. Going right will take you to the Rainbow Falls parking area, so keep going straight to hop on the Trillium Gap Trail and get to Grotto Falls.

trillium gap and grotto falls trail sign

The ascent begins almost immediately. While there’s a steady incline the entire route to the falls, it’s gradual and nothing too steep. (Until you get past the falls, that is!)

One of the highlights of this trail is the series of river crossings. Since the path braids between several river branches, you’ll cross the water a total of four times.

While none of these water crossings have footbridges, many of them do have boulders that you can use to climb across to avoid getting wet.

But if the water is high enough, your feet could get wet!

river crossing on the grotto falls trail

While most hikers come here for the waterfall or the wild views from the top of one of the peaks, the trail itself is largely underappreciated. As you walk along the wide, well-maintained path, take the time to appreciate the braided rivers and beautiful old-growth forest, soaking in the sights and sounds around you.

girl hiking across the river on the grotto falls trail

Around 1.2 miles in, you’ll get a peek at a tumbling waterfall on the left side of the trail. It’s stunning, especially when framed by bright green foliage!

Continuing upstream, walking up the stone steps, you’ll pass a shallow, icy-cold swimming hole with a small waterfall on the left. I’d recommend at least dipping your toes in before or after you visit the falls. It feels so refreshing on a hot day!

This is where we had our snack after exploring the waterfall!

Shortly, Grotto Falls comes into view! You can either enjoy it from afar or brave the icy spray and slippery rocks to walk behind the falls and underneath the rocky overhang.

If you choose to go underneath the little alcove and behind the falls, use caution and prepare to get wet from the spray! The rocks are very slippery and can even get icy in the winter.

If you’re feeling ambitious, continue past the falls. In another two miles, you’d be summiting Brushy Mountain, and three miles beyond that, you’d be summiting the third-tallest peak in the Smokies, Mount LeConte.

LeConte has some of the best views in the entire park! But beware, the trail is very steep and strenuous past Grotto Falls!

mount leconte summit in great smoky mountains national park

If you’re ready to head back, you’ll need to turn around and retrace your steps to get back to the trailhead. Luckily (or not so luckily, depending on your preferences), the path is all downhill back to the parking lot.

Grotto Falls FAQs

How Tall Is Grotto Falls?

25 feet. It’s small but incredibly unique (you can walk behind it!)

Can You Swim at Grotto Falls?

Yes, there are little pools just downstream from the falls that are perfect for swimming and toe dipping!

Is Grotto Falls Worth It?

Yes, especially when there are no crowds!

For a more enjoyable experience, hike it in the winter or early spring when the Roaring Fork is closed. Even though you’d be adding 3 miles to your hike (because you’d be starting from the Rainbow Falls parking lot), you’d get to enjoy the trail and the falls without hordes of people.

We hiked it on a weekday in June, when the Roaring Fork was closed due to a downed tree. We parked at the Rainbow Falls lot, walked the Trillium Gap Trail, and hiked to the falls with no one else around. It was luxurious!

How Long Does It Take to Hike to Grotto Falls?

Depending on your speed, stops, and time at the falls, I’d expect to spend about 1-2 hours on the trail (from the Grotto Falls parking lot).

What Else Is There to Do Around Grotto Falls?

If you’re an experienced hiker, consider hiking past Grotto Falls to Brushy Mountain, or even Mount LeConte. There are stunning mountain views from up there!

I’d also recommend hiking to Baskins Creek Falls, a hidden gem on the Roaring Fork.

Finish Planning Your Trip to the Smokies

No matter which season you’ll be visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or what you want to do when you get here, I’ve got guides to help you plan your trip!