A 25-foot waterfall on Roaring Fork in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the only waterfall in the park with a trail that passes behind the falling water. It is reached via the Trillium Gap Trail off the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
At 25 ft, it stands above roughly 16% of the 775 documented falls in this guide.
Its water comes from Roaring Fork. You'll find it in Sevier, Tennessee. It is protected within National Park Service / Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This is a moderate hike waterfall: a longer day hike, roughly one to several miles each way. Plan for a moderate hike; sturdy shoes, water, and a little time on the trail are worth bringing. The walk to the main viewpoint runs about 2.6 miles round trip. Base a visit out of Gatlinburg, the closest town.
When to go: year-round. Like most waterfalls, Grotto Falls runs highest after snowmelt or heavy rain and can thin out in late summer, so it's worth checking recent streamflow and the land manager's conditions page before a long drive.
