Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: A Scenic Drive Full of Unique Finds

A 5.5-mile-long, one-way loop road twists and turns through an area full of special historical attractions inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail invites you to stop and explore the natural wonders of the forest along with all the history that still exists to this day in the area! Hours of family fun are on the docket when you make an expedition to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. To help you know what to expect, we’ve compiled a guide to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail:

Where is the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail?

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is simple to find and get to! When coming from Gatlinburg, turn off the main Parkway at Traffic Light #8 and follow the Historic Nature Trail to the Cherokee Orchard entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Continue along Cherokee Orchard Road until the road splits where you’ll find the beginning of the 1-way, 5.5-mile Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

This motor trail begins just past a parking area and trailhead for the Rainbow Falls Trail.

What Will I See Along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail?

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail scenic drive is spilling with exciting things to see and do! You’ll enjoy old-growth forests, rushing mountain streams and a handful of well-preserved log cabins, grist mills and other historic buildings.

Before getting to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, stop by Ogle Place! The Noah “Bud” Ogle Place is a historic site featuring a self-guided nature trail through a farmstead.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail includes several hiking trails where you can get moving and see some spectacular waterfalls! The Rainbow Falls Trail is 5.4 miles roundtrip and takes you to an 80-foot waterfall. The Trillium Gap Trail is 2.6 miles long and takes you to the 25-foot-tall Grotto Falls. The Place of a Thousand Drips is a seasonal waterfall that you can view from the comfort of your car.

Take advantage of one of several scenic overlooks on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail or just roll the windows down and enjoy the sounds of the cascades!

Don’t forget to check out some of the historical buildings like the Jim Bales Place, the Ephraim Bales Cabin, the Alfred Reagan Place & Tub Mill and Ely’s Mill when you visit the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

When Does the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Open?

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a seasonal scenic drive that is closed during the winter. This road generally opens around early April and stays open for visitors through the month of November.

Because this motor nature trail is winding and narrow in nature, buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on the road.

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is just one of several spectacular scenic drives in the Smoky Mountains! Many more motor nature trails await! Explore all of the top scenic drives in the Smoky Mountains to find the one your family can’t wait to visit!