Laurel Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated (Carter County, TN)

Laurel Falls is a waterfall in Carter County, Tennessee, about 6.4 miles northwest of Roan Mountain. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Carter County, TN

Nearest town

Roan Mountain (6.4 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 5.0 from 28 reviews

Crowds

Quieter

Access

Expect effort

Swimming

Visitors mention it; use caution

Coordinates

36.27296, -82.13504

USGS topo

Elizabethton quad

Getting there

Laurel Falls sits about 6.4 miles northwest of Roan Mountain in Carter County. Navigate to the coordinates 36.27296, -82.13504, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away. Reviewers mention "hike difficulty", so plan for uneven or steep ground.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Laurel Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Tennessee's state park system manages many signature falls, including Fall Creek Falls, Burgess Falls, Cummins Falls and the South Cumberland area that includes Foster Falls, along with numerous state natural areas. In the east, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest hold most falls; check the national park's current parking requirements before visiting. Ruby Falls is a private commercial attraction with ticketed cave tours. Some popular state park gorges use permits or capacity limits in busy seasons, so check ahead. Flash floods are a serious hazard in narrow gorges, which can rise rapidly after storms upstream. Wet sandstone and limestone ledges are slippery, and cliff edges at the plateau rim are often unfenced. Ticks and copperheads are common in warm months.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Laurel Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Tennessee. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 36.27296, -82.13504 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Towel, water shoes and a plan. Visitors mention swimming here. Water is often cold and currents near falls can be strong; never swim above a drop, and keep children within reach.
• Trekking poles. Helpful on steep or rocky sections that reviewers mention.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Tennessee's wettest months generally run from winter into spring, so falls are usually fullest from about January through May. Spring also brings wildflowers in the Smokies and on the plateau's gorge slopes, and it is the favorite season for many visitors. Summer is hot and humid, with thunderstorms that can briefly swell creeks; it is also the main swimming season at sites like Cummins Falls and Foster Falls. By late summer and early fall, many plateau falls, including the big ones, can thin dramatically during dry spells. October brings fall color and heavy crowds, especially in the Smokies around Gatlinburg. Winter offers solitude and occasional ice formations on north-facing ledges, though mountain roads may close for snow. With 28 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards, and this guide on swimming at waterfalls explains the risks of getting in the water.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Laurel Falls holds a 5.0-star average across 28 Google reviews, and 96% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the number 2 waterfall by review count in Carter County. Visitors have shared 86 photos.

The topics that come up most in reviews: riverside traillengthy hikehike difficultyrocksswimmingcarwalkwaterfallhike

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Laurel Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on May 19, 1980, and it appears on the USGS Elizabethton 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Potato Top (summit, 0.2 mi), Black Mountain (summit, 0.4 mi), Laurel Fork Gorge (valley, 0.4 mi), and Pond Branch (stream, 0.4 mi).

Great Smoky Mountains and Unaka Range. Along the North Carolina line, the mountains of the Blue Ridge province rise far above the rest of the state and catch abundant rain. In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Laurel Falls near Gatlinburg is among the park's most visited destinations, and Hen Wallow Falls, reached from the Cosby area in Cocke County, fans out over a rock face in rhododendron forest. Benton Falls in Polk County lies in the Cherokee National Forest, while Carter, Unicoi and Johnson counties hold falls in the Roan Mountain area and the high country of northeast Tennessee. These falls flow over ancient, hard rock and often sit in lush, moss-covered settings.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Laurel Falls about 6.4 miles northwest of Roan Mountain is rated 5.0 out of 5 by 28 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Laurel Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.