Color your world with the lush backdrops of the Smokies

Family-Friendly Activities

The Smoky Mountains have a plethora of activities that are suitable for any age and are one of the most family-friendly national parks in the United States.

Kids ages 5-12 can complete the junior ranger booklet by doing activities all along the park to gain their junior ranger badge. Not only will you have fun completing the different activities as a family, your kids will enjoy the bragging rights of being a junior ranger to all their friends.

Guided trails such as Cataract Falls, Laurel Falls Trail, and Grotto Falls Trail offer kid-friendly hikes to picturesque locations complete with waterfalls, or you have the option to experience the park at a more leisurely pace via horseback at one of four different stables in the area.

Cades Cove, one of the most popular destinations in the park for families, is an 11-mile loop that can be biked or driven and offers several spots to pull off and observe the beauties of nature and the wildlife within it. Cades Cove can get quite busy, so be sure to plan your trip early to avoid the crowds.

While whitewater rafting might not pop into your mind as kid-friendly, there are several options available that are suitable for ages 7 and up. With a mix of relaxed floating and some more adventurous rapids, the entire family can experience the thrill of the river.

If you have a need for speed, check out one of the many mountain coasters for an amusement-park style ride downhill through the trees. Using handbrakes to control how fast you’d like to go, this is an exciting way to take in the scenery.