I can get this crew of ours to hike just about anywhere for a waterfall. We love mountains, meadows, massive rock formations, and more, but nothing beats an incredible waterfall trail. If you are visiting the National Parks this summer, these 5 fantastic National Park waterfall trails are a must! And as a bonus, they are all under 4 miles making these hikes perfect for any age or skill level😊 Check out all the trail details below!
*If you are looking for more hikes at any of the parks below, just click on the park name for a full itinerary of that specific park*
Brandywine Gorge Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: approximately 160 ft
Trail Access: Brandywine Falls parking area via Brandywine Road
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
Main Attractions: Brandywine Falls (60ft), Brandywine Creek
Best Time/Season to Visit: Year-Round! The parking lot can fill up quickly in the summer, so it is best to hike early or later in the day to secure a spot and skip the crowds.
-If the parking lot is full, or you are just looking for a longer hike, the trail can also be accessed via the Stanford Trailhead. Add another 2.2 miles roundtrip onto your hike from the Stanford Trailhead.
Looking for another waterfall? Head to the Boston Mill Visitor Center and hike to Blue Hen Falls. Blue Hen Falls via the Buckeye Trail is 3 miles roundtrip with 550 of elevation gain.
Alberta Falls via Glacier Gorge Trail
Distance: 1.8 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Out-and-Back
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation Gain: approximately 250 ft
Trail Access: Glacier Gorge Trailhead via Bear Lake Road
Pet Friendly: No
Main Attractions: The 30 ft Alberta Falls
Best Time/Season to Visit: Spring through Fall!
-This trail is best started at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, but the parking lot is very small. If the lot is full, start at the Bear Lake Trailhead instead. Starting at the Bear Lake Trailhead will add another 0.25 miles roundtrip onto your hike. A third parking option would include using the free Park and Ride shuttle to either trailhead.
-While this trail is easy to moderate in difficulty, the trail starts at an elevation of 9000 ft. Please watch for signs of altitude sickness if you are not acclimated to higher elevations.
TIMED ENTRY
Timed Entry is required at RMNP from May 26 through October 22, 2023, in addition to a park pass.
For Bear Lake Corridor, timed entry is required from 5 am to 6 pm. Timed entry tickets can be found on Recreation.gov. They are $2 and are released in monthly blocks, one month in advance.
If you miss the initial release, there is another block of tickets released at 5 pm MST the day prior to the visit date.
Looking for a longer hike? Continue past Alberta Falls to The Loch. It will add another 700 + ft of elevation gain and 3.9 miles roundtrip onto your hike.
South Rim Trail
Distance: 3.6 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Out-and-Back
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation Gain: approximately 200 ft
Trail Access: northeast end of the Wapiti Lake Parking Lot via South Rim Drive/Grand Loop Road
Pet Friendly: No
Main Attractions: Artist Point, Lower Falls, Upper Falls, Yellowstone River
Best Time/Season to Visit: Spring through Fall! To secure a parking spot, the earlier in the day, the better.
Looking for a longer hike? Consider hiking the Ribbon Lake Trail or Point Sublime Trail from Artist Point. Point Sublime will add another 2.8 miles to your hike. Ribbon Lake will add another 4 miles onto your hike if you choose the out-and-back route.
Grotto Falls via Trillium Gap Trail
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Out-and-Back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: approx. 580 ft
Trail Access: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, stop #5.
Pet Friendly: No
Main Attractions: The stunning Grotto Falls
Best Time/Season to Visit: Spring through Fall. Fall in the Smokies is our personal favorite! December through March, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is closed. During those months, the falls can still be accessed, but it is a much longer hike.
-Parking fills up fast along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Early morning is your best chance to grab a spot at the small Grotto Falls Lot.
Feeling adventurous and looking for a longer hike? After the falls, continue the Trillium Gap Trail to the Brushy Mountain Summit. It will add another 4 miles RT onto your hike.
Dark Hallow Falls Trail.
Distance: 1.4 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Out-and-Back
Difficulty: Moderate, steep, and rocky sections throughout the trail
Elevation Gain: approximately 450 feet
Trail Access: Dark Hollow Falls Parking Lot (milepost 50.7 on Skyline Drive)
Pet Friendly: No
Main Attractions: Dark Hallow Falls
Best Time/Season to Visit: Spring through Fall. Our personal favorite is a fall visit! The fall colors are stunning in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Weather can lead to closures of the Skyline Drive during the winter months.
-While the parking lot is a decent size, it can fill up quickly during the busy season. Hike early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid crowds during the summer months.
-It is a fairly short, downhill hike to the 70 ft falls, the return to the parking lot is a more strenuous, rocky climb up. Proper footwear is recommended.
Looking for a longer hike? Hike past Dark Hollow Falls and jump on the Rose River Loop Trail to the 67ft Rose River Falls. Add another 3.7 miles roundtrip and approximately 900 ft of elevation onto your hike.
Hopefully you will get the chance to check out a few of these hikes! Let me know below what other National Park waterfall trails would make your list😊
Also, check out our favorite hiking gear and apparel for these trails here!
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