Tennessee is a natural wonderland for the casual hiker. It's full of craggy mountains and riverside walking trails, and if you find yourself in one of the state's beautiful cities then there's bound to be a park or two you can explore. Of course, most folks find themselves outside during the warmer months, but Rainbow Falls Trail in Gatlinburg is one of the best winter hiking trails in Tennessee. Don't believe us? Take a look below and fall in love with this winter wonderland.
Most folks tend to visit during the summer and autumn for the changing leaves and lush foliage, but during the wintertime, the 5-mile out-and-back trek is completely transformed...
The rocks are dappled with snow and ice, and the views are tinged with a little more magic than usual. You'll want to prepare for the trip with the correct footwear and clothes for the moderately-rated trek.
Rainbow Falls itself becomes covered in ice, and the normally gushing waterway takes on an edge of wintertime beauty. Be prepared to gain over 1,500-feet elevation, friends. The waterfall may be pretty and the outlooks perfectly beautiful, but the trek there and back should take between 3 and 5 hours.
Bring water and spare socks, and be prepared for rocky terrain that may be slippery. We'd recommend you don't climb on rocks around the waterfall due to the questionable safety of the area.
Rainbow Falls Trail looks very different during the summer season, doesn't it? From lush woods and greenery to spare tree branches and mounds of snow, there's always something beautiful to be had.
You can learn more about Rainbow Falls Trail and the opportunity to hike its 5-mile length either here or here. Happy trails, folks!
There are so many hikes in Tennessee that it can feel overwhelming sometimes to have an ever-growing bucket list. I feel you, I really do, but today, I want to add just one more to your list. Have you ever heard of Virgin Falls? This waterfall is a geological wonder and simply gorgeous! The trail is just as fun as the end destination. However, it is not for the faint of heart. If you plan on trekking this difficult trail, you will certainly get some steps in, but trust me when I say the reward is great.
Virgin Falls springs forth from an underground river to emerge along this cliffside. After plunging down 110 feet, the falls descend again into another cave. This makes Virgin Falls not only a beautiful sight but also one unique waterfall! There is something special about the geological features of this fall but also stunning as it flows over the rock wall. There is no match to the power you feel when you watch a waterfall this large, but how do you get to this spot?
Located in a remote area, you will want to pack for a long day of hiking. The trail is nearly 9 miles long, and the nearest gas station is 20 minutes away. You can also break up the hike and camp in the area but a permit is required. The trail is going to be easier going in than it will be going out. When you are tired from your long hike, that is when the final big push will be where you see a majority of the elevation change. You will want to check out the Virgin Falls page from our friends over at AllTrails to see what the latest conditions are because this waterfall can dry up if there hasn’t been a lot of rain. Once you are all prepared head on out on this hike for an exciting adventure.
You will cross screams with the help of cables and, along the way, see other waterfalls. These are things I love when I am on a hike because not only does it break up the trail, but it keeps things fresh and exciting around every corner.
After you marvel at Virgin Falls, you can loop around to see Sheep Cave. This marvelous opening also has a waterfall flowing from the side, but you can step inside the cave to explore. I would bring a flashlight so you can see further into this underground space. Once you are done exploring to your heart's content, you can head back from there.
There is alot to love about Virgin Falls even if it is one of the hardest hikes in Tennessee. You can hike for one long day but I would recommend getting an early start. This is one of those trails where not only is the journey the destination the actual waterfall, which is the destination, is incredible!
There are only two hikes in the Lost Creek State Natural Area but we hit the jackpot when it came to the trail we chose. Lost Creek Falls and the Lost Creek Cave are truly hidden gems in the middle of nowhere. Being in a remote place makes this trail even more special like finding a cavernous oasis in the middle of rolling farmlands. We were blown away by this short and sweet trail and had a lot of fun exploring it. So if you want a Tennessee hike that has both a waterfall and a cave only feet from each other, then this is one place you will want to travel out to the next free weekend you have.
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If you have been looking for easy hikes near Nashville or easy waterfall hikes near Nashville then the Lost Creek State Natural Area should be a great option for you. In less than a two-hour drive, you can be lost in a hidden gem of a wilderness far away from the busy city life. When we drove down the rolling farmlands, it seemed like we were so far away from civilization, which is always a good feeling.
The trail getting to the waterfall and the cave is a simple walk down some stairs for less than a quarter of a mile. When we came into view of the waterfall our breath was stolen from us. The rocks create an intriguing system of caves, holes, and nooks where the water flows perfectly between the rocks. This cove seemed like an oasis and unlike any waterfall, I have ever seen. The 40-foot tall plunge waterfall looked familiar enough but the setting was so uniquely beautiful. The falling water pools up slightly at the base and then flows into a cave so it is like the falling water just disappears before your eyes.
This was one of the locations for the filming of the 1994 live-action Jungle Book, and it was easy to see why they picked this amazing spot. I laughed as I imagined a few farmers scratching their heads as they watched multiple vans driving down their remote roads back in 1994. I am guessing that just wasn’t something they would see on a regular day. The day we arrived at the waterfall we were the only ones and it felt nice to have the whole place to ourselves. Just be careful around the rocks when they are wet. How do I know they are slippery? Well, let's just say I had a big bruise as proof.
The forest itself was just as impressive with lush greenery and tall trees. The overgrowth and untouched nature of the woods made it easy to see why this spot was chosen to look like a jungle. After soaking in the view of the waterfall, we set off to find the cave.
It didn’t take us long to see the epic cave opening because the cave is only a few feet from the waterfall. We climbed over the large rocks and soon we stood in front of a massive opening into the earth. As much as I wanted to hike into this underground labyrinth, we knew we wouldn’t be able to the day we visited. We did some research before and we discovered that you need a permit, equipment, and proper cleaning practices to avoid white-nose syndrome for the bats that live in the cave. This was just not something that was doable for us on our long trip but something I hope to come back to one day.
There are signs that warned visitors from entering the cave without first having a permit. There were also cameras stationed so I would suggest following the rules. It was tempting to take a peek inside but we went as far as we could without breaking any rules. The temperature dropped as soon as we got close to the entrance and you could even see your breath despite it being a warm day. Inside the pitch-black cave, you can expect to find an underground river and plenty of rock scrambling.
When it comes to hikes in the Lost Creek State Natural Area, there is no better one than the Lost Creek Falls Trail. With just a short walk you get the massive payoff of seeing a gorgeous waterfall and an adventurous cave. I find using the AllTrails app to be incredibly helpful while finding my way around rural Tennessee and would suggest using it too. It helps to know what to expect before you go on a hike to a new area, so please feel free to check out the Adventuring in the Moment video we made while hiking this trail.
