Enjoy some fresh air and exercise while learning a bit of Smoky Mountain history at the same time! With easy to moderate paths – and plenty of nature and history – these historic hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are ideal for family-friendly adventures.

  1. Cades Cove Area Hiking Trails

Cades Cove is one of the most popular spots in the park for a good reason. Filled with stunning views and scenic spots for photos, the area is rich in history. Along the Cades Cove Loop, you’ll see fascinating evidence of the people who lived and worked here, starting with the first settlers in 1818. Scattered along the Loop’s hiking trail, you’ll see three churches, a working grist mill, barns, log houses, and lots of other restored structures from the 18th and 19th centuries. Grab a booklet at the entrance to the Loop and follow along on a self-guided tour to learn all about the buildings you’ll see in Cades Cove and the lives of the people who lived in them.

  1. Rich Mountain Loop Trail

Due to its popularity, Cades Cove can get a little crowded in the busy summer months. So, if you want a little peace and quiet away from the tourists, head to the Rich Mountain Loop hiking trail. The trailhead is located about 50 feet beyond the entrance to the Cades Cove Loop Road. It’s a moderate trail with a roundtrip hike of 8.3 miles. A few of the sections can be strenuous, but the valley views are worth it. Look for the John Oliver cabin. Built in the 1820s, it’s one of the oldest structures in the park. Walk inside and explore before venturing on to Cerulean Knob, where you can spot the remains of an old fire tower.

  1. Noah “Bud” Ogle Trail

Get a glimpse into the life of a mountain farm family on one of the most interesting hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains. Located on Cherokee Orchard Road, just before the start of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, this self-guided 0.7-mile hike is an easy nature walk filled with history. Explore the two-room cabin built by Noah “Bud” Ogle, a descendent of the original Ogles, one of the first families to settle here.

Known as a saddlebag house – meaning two houses are connected by a chimney – this home actually had running water! It flowed in from a nearby spring down a wooden trough and into a wooden sink on the back porch. Walk along the trail through the woods to see the Ogle tub mill, used to grind grain for the family and local community. Keep following the trail to the end to see the barn, where all the livestock was kept, before returning back to the trail head.

  1. Oconaluftee River Trail (And Mountain Farm Museum)

The 3-mile round trip Oconaluftee River Trail is a lovely hiking trail that starts with a museum. The Mountain Farm Museum is located on the banks of the river right next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Before you head out on your hike, take time to explore the buildings here that date from around 1900. Not only is this an actual working farm with crops and animals, but the volunteers dress in period costumes and walk visitors through the history of the buildings. Check out the fully furnished log cabin, a chicken house, a sorghum mill, corn cribs, a blacksmith’s shop, a massive barn, and even an outhouse!

  1. Kephart Prong Trail

Also along the Oconaluftee River, you’ll find the Kephart Prong Trail, a 4.2-mile roundtrip hike with some gorgeous spots along the way to take a break with the sounds of rushing water and wind blowing through the trees. Follow the hiking trail for about 0.2 miles to reach the remains of a historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp. This camp was built in 1933 and used by the CCC until 1942 as a basecamp for building roads, parking areas, water systems, a fish hatchery, and more. Cross over four log bridges and keep a lookout for remnants of the old railroad that was likely used for logging operations in the late 1800s and early 1900s. (The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created, in part, to help stop the forest from being destroyed by the logging. This trail is actually named after Horace Kephart, one of the people who were instrumental in forming the park.)

After a day of discovering the past on these incredible historic hiking trails, get a great night’s sleep at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley. Choose from rooms, suites, or cabins, where you can rest up in a retro motor court with Appalachian chic décor.

Meadowlark owner, Joseph Franklyn McElroy hosts the Gateway to the Smokies podcast. Tune into this episode to hear about more of the incredible opportunities for hiking near Maggie Valley and the Smoky Mountains.