Winter Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains

This past weekend the hubbs and I took a few days off to head to the Smokies and enjoy some fresh air. After months of being cooped up at home, we were dying to get out and have a change of scenery. This was our third trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and after our move this summer we are even closer to this gem! It’s fantastic to be able to escape for the weekend to such a beautiful place. Since I am pregnant (20 weeks during the trip), we had low key expectations and didn’t want anything too difficult. We had a few trails that we had never completed on our previous visits, so we decided to do them this trip! Winter hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains is fantastic and makes the miles feel even better with the cooler temps (and fewer bugs!).

Schoolhouse Gap Trail

In the summer when we visited the Smokies we started hiking this trail, but it was the day after our long hike (read about that experience here!) and the incline made us turn back halfway through. This time we were determined to complete the hike! It ended up being about 4.5 miles round trip, which was the perfect length for us this time around. There were actually more folks on the trail this time than during the summer months, though even with the increase it was still very uncrowded.

The first part of the hike is fairly flat with a nice stream along the path. The second half(ish, maybe less) is uphill. This was a bit strenuous for me being pregnant, but with my fancy new trekking poles, I was able to complete the hike. At the end of the trail, there is a house with a few large rocks. We sat on the rocks and had lunch. It was quiet and relaxing. This is a great trail if you are looking to avoid crowds and have some uphill for a bit of a workout. We also noticed another trail that branched off of this one which my husband said he wants to try sometime.

This trailhead is on the way to Cades Cove, so it’s an easy stop if you want to get a hike in on the way!  

Little Greenbrier School Trail

When we go to the Smokies we always stay near the Greenbrier entrance to the park. It’s a nice quiet area that avoids all the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg. As you enter the park the Little Greenbrier School trail is one of the first things you see. We also attempted this trail during our Summer trip, but alas the incline made me say “Nope!” (I was REALLY sore!). So we checked it out again this time and enjoyed the short 1.5-mile round trip hike. There is an old school (hence the name) at the end of the path which was really interesting to see. We had a few other folks on the trail, but it was generally pretty quiet.

I really enjoyed this trail! There was a river running along the path with beautiful greenery surrounding everything. It is a lovely, easy (if you can make it up the one hill) hike that I recommend!   

Middle Prong Trail

We actually hiked the Middle Prong trail on our first trip to the Smokies. This time around I wanted to see waterfalls and we knew there would be plenty here! The breathtaking views are non-stop on this trail, so we knew we could hike as much as we wanted and still get some wonderful waterfall moments. Read about our first experience HERE when we visited during the Summer. The main differences this time around, it was a bit cooler (since it was winter), there were actually more people out, and no butterflies =( Despite the lack of butterflies, it was still a gorgeous hike and I highly recommend it for a not too strenuous, interesting hike. We only did 4 miles round trip, but you can go much further than that and see the hidden waterfall (which we saw last time!).  

Bonus: Cades Cove

This isn’t a hike, but we do intend to come back and hike around this area. Cades Cove is a very touristy spot, but for a good reason! The beautiful valley is surrounded by the Smokies and has historic structures for guests to explore. Since we were being cautious this trip about our contact with others, we stayed in the car most of the time. It’s a wonderful drive, even if you don’t get out to see anything on foot. We are definitely excited to return after the baby is here and the pandemic calms down. If you are visiting the Smokies it’s a great place to check out no matter what you decide to do there!

Overall we had a much-needed RELAXING trip with some exercise sprinkled in thanks to the amazing trails. Winter in the Smokies can be hit or miss weather-wise, so just be prepared if you are going to get some snow! We didn’t have snow, though it did rain randomly a few times. Just be prepared and you will have a good experience no matter what! We also noticed that it wasn’t any less crowded due to it being Winter, this National park is busy year-round. You can do a few things to avoid the crowds (like staying in the Townsend area as we do, read about that HERE), and still have a low-key, peaceful experience.    

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