Abrams Falls

Allow about three hours on foot, then leave time to pause at the falls; pace and effort vary. Roots, rocks and rolling elevation changes make this feel longer than a flat five miles. Wear sturdy shoes and carry water and a snack rather than trying to hurry back.

The trailhead is at the end of Abrams Falls Road, between posts 10 and 11 on the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road. The hike begins partway around the loop, so plan for the drive as well as the walk. Traffic is often heavy in summer and fall and on weekends; the full loop can take three or four hours to drive. The road typically closes to vehicles on Wednesdays from May through September.

The cascade drops from a sandstone shelf into a deep pool, with a rocky bank and forest framing the water. A wide photo that keeps both the ledge and pool in view shows the shape of the falls better than a tight crop. Stay on stable ground: the rocks are slippery, and the park strongly discourages swimming because of dangerous undertow.

The falls are named for Cherokee Chief Abram (also written Abraham), known to the Cherokee as Ooskuah. Cades Cove was called Tsiyahi, or “Otter Place,” and river otters are often seen near the falls. Hunting and trapping drove them from the cove by the 1920s; the park reintroduced them in the 1980s.

A year-round pit toilet is at the trailhead. A parking tag is required if you park for more than 15 minutes, and pets are not allowed on this trail. Use the restroom before setting out and bring enough water and food for the round trip.