In a previous post, I wrote about a hiking trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. In that post, I talked about the long climb to the summit at 6593 feet. But a few days before, we took more a leisurely hike on a trail to Grotto Falls.

This trail wasn’t quite as strenuous as the other, but just as beautiful. And the surprise at the end was worth the trek.

As you can see, Trillium Gap Trail was nowhere as long as our next journey to the summit of Mt. Le Conte.

We enjoyed beautiful scenery along the way.

And like I said, the treat at the end was worth the hike!

I always wanted to walk under a waterfall.

I hope you are having an amazing summer. Enjoy the outdoors!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her Harlequin Heartwarming romance THE SURPRISE NEXT DOOR, available now. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks.