Driving Directions
The directions below are from either the Cherokee, NC entrance or the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For directions to the Cherokee, NC and Gatlinburg, TN park entrances please follow this link to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website. Please note that Highway 441 Newfound Gap Road is subject to closures during the winter months due to ice and snow. For current road conditions please refer to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website, follow their Twitter page, call the Park hotline anytime at 865-436-1200, or call the LeConte Lodge reservations office at 865-429-5704 on weekdays.
From Cherokee, North Carolina to:
Alum Cave Bluff Trailhead – go north about 23 miles on Hwy 441, Newfound Gap Road past Newfound Gap Overlook parking area. The parking areas will be about 5 miles from Newfound Gap Overlook on your right.
Boulevard Trailhead – go north about 18 miles on Hwy 441, Newfound Gap Road to the Newfound Gap Overlook parking area. The trailhead is located at Newfound Gap.
Rainbow Falls Trailhead – go north on Hwy 441, Newfound Gap Road to Gatlinburg, TN. In Gatlinburg turn right at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail (Airport Road) into
Great Smoky Mountains National Park where road becomes Cherokee Orchard Road. Continue past the Noah “Bud” Ogle home site to the clearly signed Rainbow Falls parking area.
Bullhead Trailhead – see directions to Rainbow Falls Trailhead, since these two trails use the same parking area.
Trillium Gap Trailhead – go north on Hwy 441, Newfound Gap Road to Gatlinburg, TN. In Gatlinburg, turn right at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Continue past the Rainbow Falls Parking area to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Trail starts at the Grotto Falls parking lot at mile 1.7 on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (a one-way road, closed in winter, no RVs or trailers permitted).
From Gatlinburg, TN to:
Alum Cave Bluff Trailhead – go south on Hwy 441, Newfound Gap Road. The parking areas will be on the left, about 8.5 miles past the Sugarland’s Visitor Center.
Boulevard Trailhead – go south about 16 miles on Hwy 441, Newfound Gap Road to the Newfound Gap Overlook parking area. The trailhead is located at Newfound Gap.
Rainbow Falls Trailhead – In Gatlinburg turn at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail (Airport Road) into Great Smoky Mountains National Park where road becomes Cherokee Orchard Road. Continue past the Noah “Bud” Ogle home site to the clearly signed Rainbow Falls parking area.
Bullhead Trailhead – see directions to Rainbow Falls Trailhead, since these two trails use the same parking area.
Trillium Gap Trailhead – In Gatlinburg, turn at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Continue past the Rainbow Falls Parking area to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Trail starts at the Grotto Falls parking lot at mile 1.7 on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (a one-way road, closed in winter, no RVs or trailers permitted).