Laurel Falls
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
No public trail to Laurel Falls is documented, and federal protected-area records show no public land at the falls. Do not cross private land without the landowner's permission.
Photo Credits (5)
About Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is a USGS-named waterfall on John McNabb Branch on Raccoon Mountain, west of Chattanooga, Tennessee, about a kilometer from the trails around TVA's Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage reservoir. It is not the well-known Laurel Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We found no public trail, parking area, height or access rules for this fall, and Raccoon Mountain trail guides do not mention it.
Nearby Falls Worth Visiting
Falling Water Falls (110 ft) lies 12.0 miles to the northeast.
Trail & Hike Details
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Laurel Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Laurel Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Mountain Creek, 6.5 miles away, not on Laurel Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
1 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 7 years of record
1.70 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge MOUNTAIN CREEK NEAR GLENDALE, TN (10 km away).
Today
Low
1 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Low
0 cfs
6/10Sat
Low
1 cfs
6/10Sun
Low
1 cfs
6/10Mon
Low
1 cfs
4/10Tue
Low
1 cfs
6/10Wed
Low
1 cfs
6/10Best window: Today — low flow, mostly sunny (trip score 6/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid February to mid April, peaking in February.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Wildwood hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Laurel Falls Frozen?
Updated about 17 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded
Laurel Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 71°F to 45°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 1 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
Through the falls the surface drops roughly 193 feet over a short, steep run of tiers. Elevation at the pin is about 1,416 feet.
Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 159 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 103 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing northwest, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 1,416 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 193 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Northwest
- Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading northwest).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
The falls are on John McNabb Branch on Raccoon Mountain. We found no public trailhead or route to the falls.
Get Directions on Google MapsElevation
1,414 feet above sea level
Coordinates
35.048686° N, -85.407738° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
Where to Stay
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Chattanooga-Lookout Mountain
Hampton Inn Chattanooga West/Lookout Mountain
Days Inn by Wyndham Chattanooga Lookout Mountain West
La Quinta by Wyndham Chattanooga - Lookout Mtn
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Campground
Chickamauga Battlefield Group Campground
11.6 miles away · 9 sites
Overview THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC CAMPGROUND. SCOUTS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS ONLY. These sites are for overnight camping by organized non-profit (501c) youth groups (scouts, church youth groups) under adult supervision for the purpose of education of the historic resources of the battlefield. Due to limited space and facilities, camping for solely recreational purposes is not allowed. Groups must choose sites according to the size of their group. Recreation Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are p
Book on Recreation.govAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
The Raccoon Mountain trail system, built by TVA and SORBA Chattanooga, has nearly 30 miles of hiking and biking trails and a reservoir overlook at the visitor center.
Cities near Laurel Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
LiDAR
Other waterfalls named Laurel Falls
5 other waterfalls share this name across the U.S.
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