Hiking
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Our Cabin is located just 4 miles from the Metcalf Bottoms entrance to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This location has far less traffic and crowds than other entrances. From Metcalf Bottoms you can hike to a several other trails. We have collected information on Metcalf Bottoms Trails, Trails with Views, Wildflower & Wooded Hikes, Fall Color Hikes, and Swimming Holes! Be sure to check trail and road conditions: GSMNP Conditions Plan your hiking route using with Official GSMNP Trail map. Metcalf Bottoms entrance Map |
Jump to: Metcalf Bottoms Trails, Trails with Views, Wildflower & Wooded Hikes, Fall Color Hikes, Smokies Challenge Adventure Run, Swimming Holes
Metcalf Bottoms Trails
Little Greenbrier Trail (Intermediate/Difficult): Since this trail begins on the park boundary, it's a great trail even if most of the park roads are closed due to high water or snow. Even though it is easy to get to and has beautiful views, this trail is rarely used, so it is great if you are looking to get away from the crowds. As you start to work your way uphill, you get your first taste of what the majority of the trail will be. This trail climbs almost 2000 feet from where the trail starts at Wears Cove to Laurel Falls Trail. Its a continuous climb, but most people agree its not hard.
Meigs Creek Trail (Intermediate): Meigs Creek Trail is a 6.5 mile out and back trail located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and fishing and is best used from March until November.
Trails with Views
Alum Cave Trail (Intermediate/Difficult): This popular trail will take you to Mt. LeConte. Along the way to the top you'll follow the stream for around a mile. The first landmark you'll come across is the Arch Rock, a black slate formation that arches over your path. The real attraction is Alum Cave Bluff, a massive overhang that was mined during the Civil War. At this landmark, you'll witness incredible mountain views.
Andrews Bald (Intermediate): If distant views of mountain ridges are what you seek, Andrews Bald Trail leads to the highest bald in the park (5,860 feet in elevation), which is perfect for stretching out in the grass to enjoy, not only views of Fontana Lake and azaleas in the spring, but also panoramic views of the park’s amazing fall coloration in autumn months. Remember not to plan this hike for winter months unless you want to add another 7 miles each way!
Anthony Creek Trail: This trail is 5.1 miles one way and is rated difficult, with an elevation gain of 3,000 feet. The trailhead is located at the far end of the Cades Cove picnic area. The combination of Anthony Creek and Bote Mountain Trails takes you to Spence Field where, by walking to the left on the AT, you’ll discover panoramic views. This trail winds through a mixed forest of hemlock, hardwood, and rhododendron with Anthony Creek on the right. A horse camp and campsite #9 are found along the way. The Bote Mountain Trail is an old road that passes along the ridge of Bote Mountain. When the road from Cades Cove to Spence Field was built in the 1850s, Cherokee workers were asked which ridge the road should follow. The workers pointed to the mountain and said “Bote”; i.e., “I vote for that one”, except there is no “V” sound in the Cherokee language.
Bull Head Trail (Intermediate/Difficult): This trail is 12.6 miles round trip and is a strenuous climb. Take Historic Nature Trail/ Airport Road (light #8) in Gatlinburg. This road soon becomes Cherokee Orchard Road and you’ll cross the boundary to the park at 0.9 of a mile. Head to the right from the Rainbow Falls parking area into the woods and come to the intersection of trails. Turn right to get to the Bullhead Trail. This trail ascends through a canopy of young hemlock. You’ll find outstanding views as you continue your ascent. Watch for a boulder on the left after 3.0 miles that you can stand on to see over the heath into the valley below. On a clear day, one can see English Mountain to the northeast and Sugarland Mountain to the southeast. Elevation gain for this trail is 4,000 feet.
Charlies Bunion (Intermediate/Difficult): This 8 mile roundtrip hike is rated moderate. Following the Appalachian Trail, this hike travels to rock crags along the state-line ridge, the main crest of the Smoky Mountains. By taking the AT trailhead in the corner of the Newfound Gap parking area, this segment will lead you to a rock outcropping, Charlie’s Bunion, which provides wonderful views of the Tennessee side of the mountains.
Chimney Tops Trail (Difficult): Located about 7 miles past the Sugarlands Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road, this 4 mile round trip hike is a very popular attraction in the Smokies. In 2 miles, hikers climb 1,650 feet! Two rock spires, 4,755 feet in elevation, await those who manage the strenuous path to the top. Please note that this trail is slippery in the spring due to its rocky nature and the creek that crosses it. Wear proper shoes and also remember to keep children close by. A spectacular 360-degree view awaits those who complete this climb!
Clingmans Dome: Not really a hike but... At 6,643 feet, Clingman's Dome is Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s highest point. It is the highest point in Tennessee. Clingmans Dome is a popular Park destination. Located along the state-line ridge, it is half in North Carolina and half in Tennessee. The peak is accessible after driving Clingmans Dome Road from Newfound Gap, and then walking a steep half-mile trail. A paved trail leads to a 54-foot observation tower. The Appalachian Trail crosses Clingmans Dome, marking the highest point along its 2,144 mile journey. Vistas from Clingmans Dome are spectacular. On clear, pollution-free days, views expand over 100 miles and into seven states. However, air pollution limits average viewing distances to 22 miles. Despite this handicap, breathtaking scenes delight those ascending the tower. It is a great place for sunrises and sunsets. Cloudy days, precipitation, and cold temperatures reveal the hostile environment atop Clingmans Dome. Proper preparation is essential for a good visit. Weather conditions atop Clingmans Dome change quickly. Snow can fall from anytime between September and May. Get a current weather forecast before heading to the tower.
Jakes Creek: Jakes Creek/Blanket Mountain Trail. This trail is 3.7 miles one way and is rated moderate with an elevation gain of 2,250 feet. The trailhead is located off of Jake’s Creek Road in Elkmont. The Jake’s Creek Trail climbs to Jake’s Gap where you can take the Blanket Mountain Trail to the summit of Blanket Mountain.
Look Rock: There is also an observation tower that is open to the public. To get to the tower you must take the 1/2 mile hike. The visibility from the observation tower can be up to 40 miles on clear days. On hazy days the visibility is much less, but the view is still one of the best around. The railing on the tower is low, so if you bring children, be sure to keep an eye on them. There is also a natural observation on the opposite side of the Look Rock parking lot, although it still harbors beautiful views, it does not offer the 360 degree panoramic view like the tower. The trail curves left at 0.9 of a mile and continues to ascend through large hemlocks and poplars. Watch for a large poplar that leans over but then bends and stretches straight up in search of light above the canopy.
Low Gap Trail (Difficult): This trail is 5.4 miles one way and is rated difficult with an elevation gain of 2,600 feet. The trailhead is located at the Cosby access in the campground just before the B100 campsite. This trail provides a shorter route to the Mt. Cammerer fire tower and forms a loop hike with the Appalachian Trail and the Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail. The trail’s ascent follows Cosby Creek, with a ravine separating the trail from the creek on your right.
Lower Mount Cammerer Trail (Intermediate): This trail is 7.4 miles one way and is rated difficult with and elevation gain of 2,600 feet. trailhead is located at the Cosby access in the campground near campsite B100. There is limited parking and the campground is closed in the winter, so you may need to park at the backpacker’s parking area near the registration hut. This trail is part of a long backpack loop that takes you by the Mount Cammerer fire tower. The trail ascends through hardwoods and rhododendron to a rock-hop crossing of a creek at 0.9 of a mile that flows down to Toms Creek, which is audible on the left. The trail then descends to cross this main creek on a footbridge at 1.0 mile. At 2.3 miles along the AT, you’ll reach a gap where the Mt. Cammerer Trail leads right 0.6 of a mile out to the Mt. Cammerer fire tower, perched atop a rock outcropping known locally as “White Rocks”. From here you can enjoy one of the best views in the park.
Maddron Bald Trail (Difficult): This trail is 7 miles one way and is rated difficult. The trailhead is located off of US-321 between Cosby and Gatlinburg, 15 miles east of Gatlinburg, turn right onto Baxter Road (Past Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Camp Resort) and make a right onto Laurel Springs Road. Look for a gravel road blocked by a gate. This is the trailhead. This trail ascends to a heath bald with several picturesque views and along the way takes you by the Albright Grove Nature Trail (1.3 miles in) that contains one of the park’s best stands of virgin forest. Look for a yellow poplar or tulip tree, the “largest known specimen in the park”, that is 135 feet tall and over 25 feet in circumference. Maddron Bald Trail is home to campsite #29. Elevation gain is 3,500 feet.
The Jump Off Trail: This trail along the “spine” of the Appalachian Mountains at 6,000-ft rewards hikers with sweeping views of Mount LeConte, Charlies Bunion, Mount Guyot, and the Appalachian Trail ridge. Your final destination, the Jump Off, offers a quiet escape from the crowds at Charlies Bunion and the perfect panoramic picnic spot. If you have time, the 2.5-mile addition of Charlies Bunion on the return hike is well worth it.
Sugarland Mountain Trail (Intermediate/Difficult): This trail is 12.3 miles one way and is rated moderate with an elevation gain of 3,500 feet. The trailhead is located off Little River Road at the Laurel Falls parking area. This trail connects Little River Road with the crest of the Smokies, passing a good view of Mt. LeConte. The trail first climbs through a pine-hemlock woods and then turns right into a hardwood forest. You’ll climb steeply and cross the upper reaches of a ravine and a small stream. After 9 miles you’ll find an arrow carved in a tree on the left. This is the junction of a 0.4 of a mile un-maintained manway that drops down to connect with the Chimney Tops Trail.
Wildflower & Wooded Hikes
Appalachian Trail (Difficult): The Appalachian Trail, which stretches over 2,000 miles, from Maine to Georgia, was first proposed by Benton MacKaye as an effort to connect various parks nationally. The 2,175 mile trail crosses six national parks, including the Smokies, and it is said that to walk the length of the Trail would take over five million foot steps, a feat that over 10,000 people claim to have over the past 83 years. The part of the trail that stretches over the Smoky Mountains is 293 miles and it is suggested to go in Late May through October as the winter months will have much snowfall and Spring time brings lots of rain. Where the Trail runs through the Smokies is known as the Roan Highlands which is home to wide open views of grassy balds, such as Hump Mountain and plentiful Rhododendron gardens. These balds are also spots which can harbor serious and dangerous weather and lightning is quite common in the summer months.
Brushy Mountain Trail (Difficult): This trail is 11.8 miles roundtrip and is rated moderate. trailhead is accessed 1 mile up the Porters Creek Trail. At the top of the road, turn around to find the beginning of the Brushy Mountain Trail. This trail has frequent patches of wildflowers in the spring and several stream crossings. At 0.4 of a mile you’ll see an old home site on the right that is marked by a collapsed chimney and washtub. Elevation gain for this trail is 2,500 feet. Take note that several trails will cross this path; make sure to determine your direction using trail signs!
Cove Hardwood Nature Trail (Intermediate): One of the shorter wildflower trails, this 0.8 of a mile loop is located inside the Chimney’s Picnic Area, provides easy access to a stand of old-growth forest, as well as wonderful wildflower viewing opportunities in the spring. Take a quick hike and then head to a picnic table for a relaxing meal. Simply drive up Newfound Gap Road/US-441 to the Chimney’s Picnic Area and then look for parking on the right almost immediately upon entering this area. The trailhead is above the parking lot.
Gregory Ridge Trail (Intermediate/Difficult): This trail is 4.9 miles one way and is rated moderate with an elevation gain of 2,700 feet. The trailhead is located at the end of Forge Creek Road. This trail is one of the most popular routes to get to Gregory Bald, which, in the spring is a patchwork quilt of blooming azalea. The Gregory Ridge Trail begins by leading around the base of a ridge through lush rhododendron and mountain laurel, both adding to the spring and summer floral display for which this trail is famous. Also, at 0.3 of a mile you will see where Bower Creek spills down to join Forge Creek.
Cucumber Gap Trail (Intermediate): Little River, Cucumber Gap, & Jake’s Creek Loop This trail is a 5.1 mile, one way loop, rated easy, with an elevation gain of 1,000 feet. The trailhead is located in Elkmont at the road fork, 2.3 miles from the Little River Road turnoff. Parking at the turnaround or along the side of the road is an option. This relatively easy walk on an old roadbed that keeps company with the Little River most of the way is a nice day hike for families and is pretty year round. The road you follow into Elkmont is the old route of the Little River Railroad, part of the Little River Lumber Company, a major logging enterprise during the time when the forest was cut for lumber. Along the road you will pass the site of the Wonderland Hotel on the left. Built by the Wonderland Park Company, the hotel opened in 1912 to serve people riding the logging train into the mountains. Along your hike occasional benches invite you to stop and enjoy the sunshine on the violets, spring beauty, hepatica, and anemones in spring
Porters Creek Trail (Intermediate): This trail is 7.3 miles and is rated easy and one of the more popular wildflower trails. Head east from Gatlinburg on US-321, turn south at 5.9 miles into Greenbrier. The road follows along the west side of the Little Pigeon River and becomes gravel in one mile. Continuing straight, you’ll pass a picnic area on the left and then reach the end of the road and the beginning of Porters Creek Trail. This is an outstanding trail for wildflowers! In March and April you’ll find bloodroot, trillium, May apple, trout lily, chickweed, phlox, spring beauty, and toothwort. Elevation for this trail is 1,550 feet.
Ramsey Cascades Trail (Difficult): This trail is 8 miles roundtrip and rated moderate. trailhead access for Ramsay Cascade is found by turning left at 3.2 miles along the Greenbrier Road. This road follows along the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River for 1.5 miles until it is blocked; this is the trailhead for Ramsay Cascades. The trail begins at the end of the parking lot area and soon crosses the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River on a wooden bridge. You’ll gradually ascend through large boulders and a forest of hemlock and mixed hardwood along an old roadbed with a stream on the right. Elevation gain for this trail is 2,200 feet.
Russell Field Trail (Intermediate): This trail is 3.6 miles one way and is rated moderate with an elevation gain of 2400 feet. The trailhead is located at the back of the Cades Cove Picnic Area or 1.5 miles down the Anthony Creek Trail. This short trail serves to connect the Anthony Creek Trail with the Appalachian Trail to form a backpacking loop while passing Russell Field.
Snake Den Ridge Trail (Difficult): This trail is 5.4 miles one way and is rated moderate. The trailhead is located in Cosby Campground, in the southeast corner, at campsite B55. Walk up the gravel road and the trail joins a horse trail from the left that is a connector trail with the Low Gap Trail. Along this road you’ll walk through second-growth deciduous forest, and in the fall, the woods are draped in brilliant reds and yellows. The trail climbs up the ridge of Snake Den Mountain through a series of switchbacks. At 2.4 miles, an overlook provides a view of Cosby Cove. Continuing straight ahead, the Snake Den Ridge Trail passes spruce and fir as it reaches the crest of the mountain range at 5.3 miles and joins the Appalachian Trail at Inadu Knob.
Fall Color Hikes
Abrams Falls Trail, Little Bottoms Trail
Located only 30 miles outside of Pigeon Forge, this trail is a favorite among tourists and nature lovers looking for beautiful waterfalls, easy biking paths, and exotic wildlife. Located off an 11-mile loop of the Cades Cove Trail, the entire hike itself is only 5 miles round-trip. The falls are 20 feet high. This trail is perfect for visiting day-trip hikers, with a round-trip hike only taking approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete. The fall colors and great locations are perfect for family hikers.
Clingmans Dome: Not really a hike but... At 6,643 feet, Clingman's Dome is Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s highest point. It is the highest point in Tennessee. Clingmans Dome is a popular Park destination. Located along the state-line ridge, it is half in North Carolina and half in Tennessee. The peak is accessible after driving Clingmans Dome Road from Newfound Gap, and then walking a steep half-mile trail. A paved trail leads to a 54-foot observation tower. The Appalachian Trail crosses Clingmans Dome, marking the highest point along its 2,144 mile journey. Vistas from Clingmans Dome are spectacular. On clear, pollution-free days, views expand over 100 miles and into seven states. However, air pollution limits average viewing distances to 22 miles. Despite this handicap, breathtaking scenes delight those ascending the tower. It is a great place for sunrises and sunsets. Cloudy days, precipitation, and cold temperatures reveal the hostile environment atop Clingmans Dome. Proper preparation is essential for a good visit. Weather conditions atop Clingmans Dome change quickly. Snow can fall from anytime between September and May. Get a current weather forecast before heading to the tower.
Andrews Bald (Intermediate): If distant views of mountain ridges are what you seek, Andrews Bald Trail leads to the highest bald in the park (5,860 feet in elevation), which is perfect for stretching out in the grass to enjoy, not only views of Fontana Lake and azaleas in the spring, but also panoramic views of the park’s amazing fall coloration in autumn months. Remember not to plan this hike for winter months unless you want to add another 7 miles each way!
Alum Cave Trail (Intermediate/Difficult): This popular trail will take you to Mt. LeConte. Along the way to the top you'll follow the stream for around a mile. The first landmark you'll come across is the Arch Rock, a black slate formation that arches over your path. The real attraction is Alum Cave Bluff, a massive overhang that was mined during the Civil War. At this landmark, you'll witness incredible mountain views.
Mount Cammerer (Difficult): If you and your family are looking for an all day event, Mount Cammerer is the perfect hike. The trail consists of 11 beautiful, but very steep, miles. The terrain is rugged, and you will climb over 3000 feet in elevation before reaching the summit. Don't let the difficulty intimidate you because every step you take on your way up to the top is rewarding. Along the way you will see historic marks along the Appalachian Trail, beautifully crafted lookouts, and endless panoramic views of the colors. At 4928 feet in elevation, the summit of Mt. Cammerer sits on the edge of a rocky outcropping overlooking the Pigeon River Gorge. On a clear day the views are simply awesome; some even say the best in the Park.
Spence Field (Difficult): Spence Field is a great trail near Cades Cove that offers a ton of great options to veer off in a new direction. Not only can you hike this trail to see the fall colors, but you can also ride horseback on parts. The 10.3 miles is broken up by breathtaking lookouts, unique foliage, and picnic benches for the entire family. Once you reach the top, there is nothing standing in between you and miles and miles of fall colors.
Smokies Challenge Adventure Run
The 72 Mile Challenge Run of the Appalachian Trail
Trail Map (Difficult): For those of you who love to run and have a challenge while doing so, nothing beats the Smokies Challenge Adventure Run (SCAR). If you’re ready to best your personal best read on. SCAR is more for avid runners, not so much for the weekend jogger. Though it’s up to the individual to record their fastest known time, (and runners who do this are widely known to go by the honor system), the trend shows no future of slowing down.