Rushing Water And Mountain Views Are Endless At One Of The Prettiest Drives In The Smokies

The Great Smoky Mountains — also known as the Smokies — cover acres and acres of forested lands along Tennessee's border with North Carolina. Much of this region is part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the United States. Among the attributes that make this part of the country so loved is how it combines nature, history, and quaint urban getaways nearby. You can even hike up one of the highest peaks in the eastern U.S. at this park. However, there is plenty to experience from your own vehicle in the Smokies.

A popular drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This route is easily accessible from Cherokee Orchard Road heading out of Gatlinburg, one of the most budget-friendly destinations in America. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail gives you an amazing sampler platter of the Smokies in just under two hours, but you'll likely want to take more time to explore. You'll see rivers, waterfalls, hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and 100-year-old buildings that look like something out of a movie scene.

People have called the Great Smoky Mountains home for centuries, perhaps best showcased through historic cabins along Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Jim Bales Place (Alex Cole Cabin), Ephrain Bales Cabin, and Alfred Regan Place were all built in the 1800s. Apart from seeing what hand-built homes in the Great Smoky Mountains were like, you can see other aspects of daily life. Ephrain Bales Cabin has a corn crib and Alfred Regan Place has a gristmill (sometimes called a tub mill) used to make flour and cornmeal. 

Dolly Parton famously grew up around the Great Smoky Mountains and lived in a log cabin too. Checking out these cabins can give you an idea of the "mountain magic" upbringing that she often incorporates into her movies and music. Visiting during the fall when the leaves are changing color for a stunning scene surrounding the old structures. However, this also tends to be when this motor trail is at its busiest, so prepare to share the experience with crowds.

On Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, you can get to the trailhead for Baskins Creek Falls. What makes this hiking trail so well loved is its beautiful 40-foot waterfall, one of a handful of waterfalls in the mountain range. Near this trailhead and along the 3-mile roundtrip hike, you'll pass by some prime examples of the loud water features that helped give Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail its name.

Another popular hiking trail in this part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Rainbow Falls Trail. Veer off Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and onto Cherokee Orchard Road for a short distance to find this trailhead. The hike is close to 5.5 miles roundtrip, but you will be rewarded with a waterfall double the height of Baskins Creek Falls and plenty of smaller falls along the way. Keep in mind that this is a popular trail, but Bullhead Trail is at the same access point and sees less foot traffic. The roundtrip distance is just under half a mile longer and does not include a waterfall, but does give you sweeping views of the mountains. If you want to keep going, Bullhead leads to Mount Le Conte for a 13.6-mile roundtrip.

To get big views of the Smokies without hiking, look for scenic overlook markers as you drive on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Some of these are close to the Baskins Creek Falls trailhead. When you simply pull over and enjoy the trees, creeks, and of course the views, you'll see why Roaring Fork is one of the best ways to see the Great Smoky Mountains.