If you’re looking for the best motels near Maggie Valley hiking trails, we have your answer. With dozens of motels to choose from in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area, it’s not easy to figure out just the right place to stay. Our guide aims to show you the best of what’s available as well as give you expert guidance on the best waterfall hiking trails in the Maggie Valley area.
The Best Motel Near Maggie Valley Hiking
As one of the most iconic motels in the Maggie Valley area, Meadowlark Motel has been a family-owned and operated business for over 40 years. Located right on Soco Road in the center of Maggie Valley, the motel features an array of accommodations, including guest rooms, cottage and cabin accommodations. Set along the banks of the idyllic Jonathan Creek, the motel offers a huge outdoor pavilion with a full kitchen, outdoor furniture, grills and a fire pit for your outdoor dining and recreation. They also have a seasonal outdoor pool. Select rooms feature jetted tubs and kitchenettes. Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi internet and a complimentary Continental breakfast during your stay. They offer private in-room spa packages if you’re in the mood to relax.
The motel is also within walking distance of area attractions and restaurants. From the Meadowlark Motel, you can easily reach Cataloochee Ski Resort and the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, both featuring awesome entertainment. Tony’s Tube World and The Stompin’ Ground are just minutes away, as is the Highway 19 Soco Gap access to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Beginning and ending at Meadowlark Motel, you can take in over one dozen roadside waterfalls in a 180-mile road trip. As for hiking near our favorite motel, here follows our list of the most popular waterfall hiking trails near the Maggie Valley area.
Explore Waterfall Hikes Near Maggie Valley This Summer
While you’re on vacation in the Maggie Valley area, one of the most interesting activities is to take a hike on a scenic waterfall hiking trail. Here’s our collection of the best spots to view waterfalls near Maggie Valley.
Soco Falls
Located just a few miles west from the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance at Soco Gap in Maggie Valley, Soco Falls is one of the most beautiful double waterfalls you’ll see in the mountains. It’s hidden from the paved road, so you’re going to have to hike down to it. Watch for the sign that shows Soco Falls – it’s a small white sign in the bend of the road. You’ll notice a big black chain link fence and a gravel parking area on the left side of the road (that’s if you’re leaving Maggie Valley headed toward Cherokee – it would be on the right if you’re coming from the other direction). It is easy to miss if you’re going too fast. Pull your vehicle off the road onto the gravel parking area. Behind the guardrail, the footpath to the waterfalls goes fairly straight down for about 70 feet. This hiking trail is easy enough for those who are in good shape – it may be too much of a challenge for elderly, disabled or some small children. When you reach the bottom, there is a wooden observation deck with rails where you can view the waterfalls. If you are really adventurous, you can descend from the platform to the base of the waterfalls. It’s a rocky, slippery and uneven descent (hiking boots are recommended), but there is a strong rope to aid in pulling yourself back up to the platform. Most people who see these beautiful falls say the extra time and effort of the hiking trail is well worth the beauty that awaits at the bottom. The observation deck is the perfect spot for snapping photos. Soco Falls is just a short drive from our favorite motel near Maggie Valley hiking: Meadowlark Motel.
Mingo Falls
Mingo Falls is located on Big Cove Road in Cherokee, a short drive up Highway 19 from Maggie Valley. It’s one of the largest waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountain area. It’s 120 feet high, stunningly beautiful, and moderately hard to reach. You must be able to climb approximately 170 steps to reach the top platform. Once on the hiking trail leading from the platform, you’ll soon encounter this breathtaking waterfall.
Looking Glass Falls
Located on Highway 276 North near the town of Brevard, Looking Glass Falls is a 60-foot waterfall that is easily accessible from the road. The parking lot and premises are handicap accessible as well. At the base of the waterfall, you can even go swimming if you choose. Looking Glass Falls is located in Pisgah National Forest and, perhaps because of its easy accessibility, is the most visited waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Now that we’ve whet your appetite for the best motel near Maggie Valley hiking and the best waterfall hiking trails, you may want to learn even more about our beautiful and exciting area. Contact Meadowlark Motel for recommendations of great activities in Maggie Valley or to book your next getaway to Maggie Valley and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Photo by Wncoutdoors on WNC Outdoors