8 Easy to Moderate Hikes in the Smoky Mountains

Sitting on a tranquil beach outside our Club Med cabin in Moorea, we were used to being surrounded by happy honeymooners.  However, one afternoon, we clearly heard yelling.  Turns out our happy couple in the cabin next door just returned from a bike ride...a much longer than expected one around the island.  According to the groom, he just wanted his bride to have fun, but half way around the island she was hysterical that she was tired and wanted to turn around.  He was caught in a no win situation. 

Laurel Falls

Many newlyweds choose the Smoky Mountains for their honeymoon.  My advice is to choose an easy to moderate hike if you both haven't been hiking in awhile.  I read advice to choose a trail 5 miles or less considering the average Great Smoky Mountain National Park hiker walks approx. 1.5 miles per hour.  When I arranged our first trip to GSMNP with my extended family of various ages, we followed the advice and choose the easiest waterfall hike (Laurel Falls).

Here's 8 easy to moderate hikes:
1.  Laurel Falls:  2.5 miles, easiest access to waterfall, paved trail, reward - 60-75 ft. waterfall + see small white galax flowers in July; trail built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935
2.  Clingman's Dome Tower:  only 1 mile, wide paved and cool temperature (10-20 degrees cooler than the lowlands), reward - reach the 3rd highest mountain eas of the Mississippi (6,643 ft.) and gain a panoramic view with 20 mile view
3.  Baskins Creek Falls:  3.8 miles, peaceful since less visited than others (especially Laurel Falls)
30 ft. hollow below the bluff
4.  Andrews Bald:  3.5 miles near Clingmans Dome, old creek bed trail adds a challenge to staying steady, reward - the view, ends at the highest bald (high elevation grassy meadow) in the Smokies + hike in 2 states in one day (TN & NC), +azalea and rhododendrom in late spring
5.  Abrams Falls:  5 miles close to Cades Cove, mostly level course, reward - one of the largest falls in the park + see 2 historic houses along the way (Elijah Oliver House, John Oliver House) + cool stream along the way, trail named after Cherokee Chief Abram
6.  Alum Cave Bluff:  4.6 miles, gradual path up, reward- multiple landmarks including 1) natural arching "Arch Rock", 2) Huggins Hell, 3) Inspiration Bluff (view of Little Pigeon Rivers Upper Basin), 4) Alum Cave - not really a cave, but rather a massive ledge of black slate
7.  Rainbow Falls:  5.4 miles, climbing up with switchbacks over Le Conte Creek adds a challenge, reward - takes you to the highest waterfall (80 ft)
8.  Grotto Falls:  2.4 miles, easy slope and close to Gatlinburg, reward - only trail where hikers can walk behind the falls