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5 Gatlinburg Hiking Trails Near Our Restaurant

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Cataract Falls sign
October 16, 2025

As the unofficial restaurant of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it should be no surprise that many visitors to the area choose to come for a meal here at our restaurant after going for a hike. After all, hiking works up an appetite and there’s nowhere better to grab food after your hiking adventures than at The Park Grill! If you are trying to decide where to go hiking before joining us for a meal, here are some of the top Gatlinburg hiking trails near our restaurant:

1. The Gatlinburg Trail

The Gatlinburg Trail leads off this list, as the trailhead is almost literally right across the street from The Park Grill! This trail passes remnants of historic homesteads, and includes a bridge that crosses the Little Pigeon River. The trail eventually leads to Sugarlands Visitors Center, where hikers will turn around before proceeding back to the trailhead near our restaurant. In total, the hike is a 3.8-mile roundtrip with minimal elevation gain, making it an excellent choice for families!

2. Cataract Falls Trail

Cataract Falls

Next up, we have Cataract Falls Trail, which is just a couple of miles from The Park Grill. Like the Gatlinburg Trail, it is considered relatively easy, and is an even shorter roundtrip at 1.1 miles. The trail features a footbridge on Fighting Creek, and leads to Cataract Falls, a 25-foot-tall waterfall.

3. Twin Creeks Trail

Yet another of the Gatlinburg hiking trails that is within a few miles of our restaurant is Twin Creeks Trail, which has lots to see! This 4.5-mile roundtrip hike features tons of beautiful woods, wildlife spotting opportunities, and the Noah “Bud” Ogle cabin, which is located at the southern end of the trail.

4. Rainbow Falls Trail

Rainbow Falls

The last two Gatlinburg hiking trails on this list are a bit farther away from The Park Grill than the others on this list, but neither drive should take much more than 30 minutes. Rainbow Falls Trail is the first of these trails, and if you choose to visit, we believe you will find it well worth your while! This 5.4-mile roundtrip hike leads to a stunning 80-foot waterfall, which creates a dazzling rainbow effect in its mist during the mid to late afternoon, giving the waterfall its name. This trail does feature a good amount of uphill climbing, so make sure to wear good hiking shoes!

5. Grotto Falls Trail

The other of the Gatlinburg hiking trails that is a bit farther from our restaurant is Grotto Falls Trail, which is still relatively close by and offers great views. This trail is only half the length of Rainbow Falls Trail, coming in at a 2.6-mile roundtrip. Although the waterfall itself is much shorter, standing at 25 feet, it is the only waterfall at Great Smoky Mountains National Park where visitors are allowed to walk behind the waterfall, so make sure to check out this unique experience!

No matter which of these Gatlinburg hiking trails you choose to check out, we are confident that you will have a great time and will work up a big appetite for your meal with us here at The Park Grill! Plus, if you want to make sure that you don’t have to wait to be seated after your outing, you can reserve a table at our Gatlinburg restaurant right here.