One of the most popular scenic drives in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Named for the Roaring Fork stream that flows alongside it, this 5.5-mile loop meanders through an old-growth forest past historical structures, hiking trailheads, stream crossings, and more. Keep reading to learn more about some of the best things to see and do along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail that you won’t want to miss.
1. Noah “Bud” Ogle Place
One of the first stops along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is the Noah “Bud” Ogle Place. This historic landmark can be found just before you turn onto the official trail from Cherokee Orchard Road. Noah “Bud” Ogle was the great grandson of one of the earliest settler families to the area. This cabin was built around the 1880s and was one of the first homes in this area. You can stop here and follow the short Noah “Bud” Ogle Self-Guiding Nature Trail to explore the farmstead and streamside tub mill.
2. Rainbow Falls Trail
Just past the Ogle Place you can find the Rainbow Falls trailhead. This hiking trail leads to one of the most popular waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This 80-foot waterfall gets its name from the rainbow formed in the mist of the falls on sunny afternoons. The hike to and from the falls is 5.4 miles round trip and gains a total of around 1,500 feet in elevation, making it a moderately difficult trail. You can also access the Bullhead Trail from this same area.
3. Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls
One stop you’ll definitely want to make along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is the Trillium Gap trailhead. This trail leads to Grotto Falls and is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains. This waterfall is the only one in the national park that you can actually walk behind. The trail leads directly behind this 25-foot waterfall, giving you a truly unique experience and photo opportunity that you won’t want to miss. The hike to Grotto Falls and back is relatively short at a total of 2.6 miles.
4. Jim Bales Place and Alex Cole Cabin
There are several historical sites along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, including the Jim Bales Place. Bales and his family farmed this land until they were evicted in the 1930s for the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National park. You’ll find a collection of log structures in an open field where the family once lived. However, the cabin that Bales built was torn down, and the cabin that currently sits on the land belonged to Alex Cole. The Alex Cole Cabin was relocated from the Sugarlands area of the park to preserve it.
5. Ephraim Bales Cabin
The next thing to see along the Roaring Fork Motor is the Ephraim Bales Cabin. Ephraim Bales was Jim’s older brother and lived here with his wife and nine children. This cabin is actually made up of two cabins side-by-side with a common roof connecting them. One served as the living area and the other housed the kitchen. The Ephraim Bales Cabin can be easy to miss, so make sure you keep an eye out for it. You can find it on the left behind a small parking area.
6. Place of a Thousand Drips
The Place of a Thousand Drips is a seasonal waterfall that’s visible from your car next to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. You can find this unique waterfall toward the end of the trail. This is one of only two waterfalls in the national park that can be seen without leaving your car. This waterfall stretches for a considerable distance as it splits and cascades around the rocks. If you want to get a closer look, you can park at the small pull-off and walk back to see it up close.
7. Ely’s Mill
Soon after the Place of a Thousand Drips, you’ll reach the official end of the Roaring Fork Nature Trail, and two-way traffic will resume. Before you continue on, make sure you stop at Ely’s Mill. This locally owned attraction features a variety of structures including dilapidated trucks, a non-functioning mill, rental cabins, and a store. Inside the store you can purchase crafts, antiques, souvenirs, and fresh honey on the comb gathered on-site at the honey farm visible from the road.
Exploring the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is sure to work up an appetite! Make the short drive back through downtown Gatlinburg to The Peddler Steakhouse to refuel with a tasty meal of custom cut steaks, fresh salad bar, and sweet desserts! Check out our Gatlinburg steakhouse menu to start planning your next meal with us!
