Drove through this trail this past weekend and saw lots of running water and scenic views of the forest. Did not get to see any wildlife during our drive though, maybe because we went later in the morning after 10am. Just very green and peaceful. Nice to have the window down to hear all the birds and running water. read more

This was a great trail to drive as we spent most of the day hiking. You are able to see a great amount of the river and wildlife on the drive. Usually you can see some black bears driving through. Parking is extremely limited so definitely get there early. But if you're driving through there are plenty of places to stop quick for the scenic overlooks. read more

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me

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During our trip to Gatlinburg, we were hoping to drive through the trail to spot some bears. We'll, we did just that. This place is beautiful and so many great mountain views. A nice place to go for a hike or to drive through. read more

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As a content creator here in Gatlinburg The Gatlinburg Hussey I absolutely love and tell everyone to ride this! It's such a beautiful drive and now, in January its slow and you'll have the whole rd to yourselves lol read more

This is definitely not a business but if you're in the business of looking for a cool relaxing one way drive that meanders through the Great Smoky Mountains you will absolutely love Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. read more

Love it. Very little walking required. Great for older people. You can see most ever7thing from our car.

Super winding tight turns but saw bears 3x on the journey. Loved that it wasn't super long, but it was beautiful!

This was the perfect activity on our final day visiting the area. Our legs were tired from days of walking Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but we didn't want to spend the day in the car, and we still hadn't seen a single bear! We pulled over for a minute, took the top off our rental jeep, and then started the 11-ish mile, 10mph ride along the trail. The scenery is spectacularly beautiful. Mountain air is a real thing. There are cabins that look to be hundreds of years old, waterfalls, stone bridges. Some parts of the trail are very steep or narrow, so definitely don't try to hurry through. We did finally get to see a bear :) read more

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me

That's is a nice drive. A very beautiful place to visit. Roll down your windows and take it all in. We saw some bears our first time going. It's a one way road that goes up into some hills and ends at some old houses back in the woods. Stop there and walk around looking at the area. A beautiful river behind the house and barn. read more

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The trail is mainly for driving and it has areas to where you can park and hike some trails. There is a parking fee for it, so plan in advance if you are going to park since the pay station for it are not where the parking areas are. We found that out the hard way since we didn't plan to get out and hike for a bit. We attempted the Rainbow Falls trail. It would have been easier if it wasn't 90 degrees out (the shade helped some what though) and our young kids were more concerned with going to Dollywood...lol! However, we did get pictures of the trail on foot and by car. There were a couple bears that we saw up in the mountains towards the end of the trail driving out and they moved too quickly for me to get a picture. The parking is kind of a hit or miss since there are more spots than others for the trails. It was an overall nice drive with plenty of scenery and plenty of photo/video opportunities. read more

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Very scenic drive and best part at the end of the trail. There is a nice place to shop for gifts and enjoy watching glass blowing artist create amazing and unique artwork at Ely's mill. Don't miss it!! read more

I am Corgi I like this trail. We went to old houses and one of them looked like a horror movie set (according to hooman) but I no care saw two bears. I am bark ranger read more

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Great drive two black bear eating next to the road. Beautiful drive with stream. Road in good condition traffic can get busy. read more

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We've read about 3 different motor trails to go on. This one and the more popular one appears to be Cades Cove Motor Trail that is 11 miles long, but we liked Roaring Fork as the better one. This is a single road for 5 miles going up and down a hill. No guardrails, very small passage ways, so please pay attention when driving the entire time else you can be in some serious troubles. They do have pull off areas to stop and enjoy the views. Apparently the roaring fork is named after the river that it follows along the trail. Remember everyone is driving extremely slow in hopes of seeing a black bear of many. We fortunately our first time in seen a black bear walking the roadway and then heading over to the river. This is where they drink and capture fish to eat. We are planning on traveling back again today in hopes that we see more bears this time around. This place is located near Gatlinburg area. If you're seeking a quick motor trail this is the one but be aware of the winding roads. This was a good find. read more

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One of our favorite scenic drives in TN. The roads become too dangerous when it's icy, so it's often closed during winter. You'll have great mountain views, opportunities for hikes, creeks and streams, and wildlife. Just last week we saw a family of 4 black bears. The drive will take you an hour or so, depending on how many stops you make. This is something we do every time we are in town. Highly recommended. read more

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Dec 2019 - Hiking Near Me

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Loved this nice little drive beautiful scenery and the cute little store at the end of the trail a must visit . read more

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Beautiful but really crowded - probably a peak weekend though. Also kinda scary but we were in a huge rental vehicle - Grand Wagoneer. read more

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Nice quick little drive! If you don't make any stops takes about an hour to drive. Lots of ups and downs, lots of hiking areas. Pros- Lots of stop offs right off the road (no hiking required) Lots of waterfalls Easy drive Gift shop at the end Beautiful scenery Some old cabins you can visit Lots of exploring Cons- Gets really busy during certain times, so lots of stopping and going read more

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Loved this loop! So much quicker to get through than Cades Cove. Yes, few turnouts and you have to wait for others, but if you want to see bears, this is the place. Saw 4 on this loop. read more

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We had a beautiful sunny day for this outing. Having been to the Smokies many times, we had actually never done this drive and I'm so glad we did. My husband would say we stopped at every single overlook but I'm sure there were a few we missed. The fall colors plus the mini waterfalls and curvy roads made for some fantastic photo opportunities! This will for sure be on our list of things to do on any future vacations to the Smokies. Make sure to get your audio tour booklet so you can learn about the history of the area. Enjoy the pictures. I miss it already!! read more

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Beautiful, scenic and VERY narrow, winding road that is not made for vehicles larger than a 1500 Silverado or Ford F-150. Definitely not a long bed truck or dual wheel one. We barely made it through in our dual wheel 3500 truck. Please make note and plan accordingly. Also, please go slow! It is posted 10 mph throughout but people tailgated horribly as well as parking all over blocking the road for others to pass. Check out the historical markers throughout to learn abundant history for the area. They are numbered to follow along. It is very beautiful and what a treat to ride through a trail to see nature and all of the wildlife. Although we only saw a few snakes, squirrels, and a ground hog it was worth the drive and perilous driving conditions for our large truck. We will never go again in anything larger than a small car, suv, or mini van. Follow well marked signs to the trail, follow signs and be kind! Do not litter! Do not leave a trace. Enjoy! read more

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Road and woods - Hiking Near Me

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This was beautiful. For sure, do not drive a large vehicle through there. It is a slender, one way road. There is minimal parking for trails, but excellent stops with beautiful views. We took some beautiful photos. This is a must do. Adding: There is a really cool old farm that you can walk through on this drive. read more

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I visited a couple times during my trip. I went early to beat the crowds. Nice and peaceful. Beautiful scenery. Plenty of places to pull off. Plenty of hiking and waterfalls. Unfortunately I didn't see any bears. Nice drive. I would visit again. Check it out, enjoy! read more

We had our dog with us and dogs are only allowed on one trail in Gatlinburg, so we chose to drive this trail and keep him in the car. There was little areas to pull over and park, we just left the car running with AC and the car was within eyesight so he was fine while we got out to snap a few pictures! No intense hiking while driving- so good for young kids and older people! The little old homesteads were neat to see, the one pictured was right along a stream with an old barn and everything. Worth making the drive up!! read more

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An awesome drive up into the smoky mountain national park. Plenty of trails, waterfalls, and old homesteads. Beautiful and peaceful. Will definitely go again soon read more

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So many things to see and do on this trail. We got lucky and saw bears and cubs on the way and the shop towards the end of the trail has wonderful hand carved walking sticks and awesome smelling soaps and lotions. read more

Favorite drive in Smoky Mountains National Park. Highly recommend! There are signs to the 5 mile one way loop drive from the main road through Gatlinburg. But traffic in Gatlinburg is always crazy, so if you are worried you will miss the turnoff, I would recommend putting "Rainbow Falls trailhead" into your GPS to get to the point where one way traffic begins. The scenery is so beautiful, lots of creeks, waterfalls, bridges, forest and a few mountain overlooks. In my opinion, the road is not that narrow or steep, it's easily drivable for any car. Maybe it's all what you are used to? If you have driven in national parks in the Western United States, or coastal roads in California or any rural roads in Europe, this road really is nothing. Do not be scared off. Having read everywhere how busy it gets even early in the morning, we decided to go in the evening. On a Thursday evening in July, the road was virtually deserted! We only saw a few other cars. We hiked to Grotto Falls and were at the falls all by ourselves. When we headed to Roaring Fork, everyone else seemed to be leaving! So if you want less crowds and are not an early riser, I would recommend going in the late afternoon/evening. We also saw beautiful fireflies as it was getting dark, just magical. read more

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me

It's a pretty drive close to downtown Gatlinburg. Lots of spots to pull off and hike. It was a rainy day so we just drove through. I have a Nissan Pathfinder SUV and it was able to make it through fine. There are guide books at the beginning of the trail but they were completely out whenever we got there. read more

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me

Okay, I really wanted to go on this trail but did not get to because apparently it's closed December through March. It reopens April 1. I was super sad to find the road closed but still managed to have an animal encounter when a turkey jumped out in the road. When I drove up to the loop road entrance it was closed off but a lot of cats were parked in the area. People were obviously still hiking the road and trails. I thought maybe the road was closed because of a tree or water over the road (there has been a lot of rain lately). Because it was closed we drove over to Cades Cove. The day we left town I passed a tourist information stand at the aquarium and inquired about the road. That's when I found out that certain roads and trails close for the off/winter season - December-March. I was told that sometimes they may open early but that's generally the schedule. We were also told that Clingmans Dome was closed, almost made that drive, and that Cades Cove had just happened to have reopened this week so we really lucked out there. Hoping next time I go back to Gatlinburg that I get to take this loop. read more

This is a hidden gem and was my wife's favorite part of our entire vacation. The views are great, the river and water rapids and are pretty and there are several waterfalls right next to you as you drive. The cabins are very cool to see and there is a little local shop at the end that is worth stopping at! read more

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me

Peaceful call Ma quiet and relaxing! Just minutes from the heart of downtown Gatlinburg

Just a few minutes outside of the hustle and bustle of the tourist town called Gatlinburg is the most serene place on earth in my honest opinion. Old log homes, barns, a grist mill and of course the Roaring Fork, streams, falls, moss covered rocks, boulders, and logs, beautiful vistas and an abundance of wildlife make up the beauty that is the Smokies in this one way winding road. read more

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We went the first week of November around 5 pm. It was beautiful, but absolutely no sign of wildlife from the beginning to the end-- not even a squirrel. Aside from the lack of wildlife sightings, the scenery is beautiful. Be sure to take your time as there are several unexpected turns on the narrow road. Plenty of places to take pictures! read more

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me

This is a wonderful driving tour. Stop at the welcome center and buy the guide book for $1. Then meander along the trail, reading as you go. Make sure and stop the car, get out and listen. You may see animals like black bear or deer. We also so a hummingbird! read more

We've been to the Smokies several times and somehow never discovered this trail. Much better and a little shorter than Cades Cove. A small river runs next to the paved road, several stop offs and trail heads to water falls, beautiful photo spot of the valley. Also saw 2 bears. read more

There's nothing like the feel and smell of the forest air that hits you as soon as you get out of your car. Something that we all need more of! Roaring Fork is a spectacular area to drive around and hike and is a must-do in GSMNP. read more

A beautiful trail for the Great Smoky Mountains, We drove through with the advise of a local. There are scenic places where you can stop and enjoy the view. There are streams where you can explore by walking in them of tubing. Also there are some neat older buildings and shops along the way. Would definitely go back. read more

Although we have been to the area several times, this was our first time on 6.14.22. Although we did not see any bears :( , we did see some Turkey's and beautiful flowing streams. Very much enjoy the tranquility. Really enjoyed the little store / shop at the very end and proudly patronizing local business read more

What an incredible experience! We did the Roaring Fork Nature Trail on the last day of our vacation, but wish we would have started there! The views were amazing, the trails were perfect for mild hikers. Our 18 month old daughter even did well on the trails with our help. We were able to easily get down into the creek beds and take incredible pictures! We loved the old cabins to tour and look at, as well. It was amazing to see the old workmanship of the early settlers in the area. We grabbed a one dollar guide on the way into the motor trail and it was awesome to help guide us along the way. We explored the trails, took incredible pictures, and really enjoyed the beautiful, immersive drive through the mountains. It took us about 4 hours but it might take less time for those who just want a scenic drive and more time for those who love getting out to explore and hike numerous trails. A few people saw black bears, we saw several wild turkeys. People just need to remember this is in a national park that has real, living wildlife, but that's what adds to the appeal. So wonderful! This should be on anyone's to-do list when traveling to Gatlinburg! read more

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Struggling through the Gatlinburg congestion was a little unnerving, but once we got through the masses, the trip up to the nature trail was well worth the drive. Nature at it's finest, and we drove from Colorado where we have some damn fine nature of our own. read more