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At 105 feet, Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, reached by a strenuous 8-mile round-trip hike up Ramsey Prong from the Greenbrier area.

Height
105 ft
Type
Cascade
Access
Backcountry
Trail
8 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
2,190 ft
Best season
Spring and fall
Land manager
National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains NP)
Watercourse
Ramsey Prong

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains NP) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ramsey Cascades drops about 105 feet. That makes it the 182nd-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 73% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Ramsey Cascades Trail reaches it about 8 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 2,190 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous. The nearest town is Gatlinburg. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains NP) for closures and current conditions.

Spring and fall. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

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