The best waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains

Ramsey Cascades sits on the quieter, eastern side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about a 30-minute drive from Gatlinburg through the Greenbrier entrance. Fair warning before you even park the car: the parking lot at the trailhead is small, and the last stretch of road getting there is rough — potholes, narrow spots, the works. Take it slow. People park along the roadside once the lot fills up, which seems to be the norm here.

📍 Ramsey Prong Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

You'll need a parking tag to leave your car anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes — $5 for the day. I'd just buy it online before you go or grab one at a kiosk when you arrive; it's cheap, and it's what pays for the trail upkeep you'll be walking on. Also — worth checking the park's website before your trip, since roads and trails in the Smokies do close now and then for storm damage or repaving. Don't assume everything's open just because it was last time someone posted about it.