Distance: Rich Mountain (7.7 miles, one way),
Parson Branch (12 miles, one way), Cades Cove (11 miles)
Time: 5+ hours
Rating: moderate to strenuous
Elevation: Rich Mountain Gap (1900'), Rich Mountain overlook (2600'), Cades Cove (1750'),
Gregory Bald trail head on Parson Br. (2780'), US 129 (1295')
Access: From US321 west of Townsend turn south on to the road to Tuckaleechee
Caverns, drive up Rich Mountain Rd (Old Cades Cove Rd) to Rich Mountain Gap and park at the
Park boundary. |
| This road was once an Indian trail across the mountain. From 1830 to
1930, the wagon road was the main access to Cades Cove from Tuckaleechee Cove (Townsend).
The one-way out road is open in the summer season, providing good views of the cove. The
road leads to Dry Valley and Townsend. |
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| Cades Cove Road or
Rich Mountain Road... An Indian trail across the mountain was the
primary route into the Cove for the first settlers. In the 1830s a wagon road, known as
the Cades Cove Road, was built over the mountain, and served for nearly a hundred years as
the main access to Tuckaleechee. The state of Tennessee built the present road in the
1920s. It is 12 miles long, with one-way traffic to the Park boundary. Beautiful glimpses
of the entire Cove are visible from the top of this road.
Just after you enter the one-way loop road, on
the right you will find the Rich Mountain Trail. Parking is available on the left before
you enter the one-way part. This trail is for those hikers who truly want to get away from
it all. The trail makes an 8 mile loop and includes about a 1800 foot elevation gain.
There are few hikers encountered on this trail and if you're lucky, you may see one of the
many wild pigs which love this trail so much. One-half mile from the start of the trail,
you will turn right on another trail (there will be a sign). You will then make a steep
climb to the top of Rich Mountain. Just before the top, about 2 miles from the start of
the trail, there will another trail you can take a right on and find campsite #6 only a
few hundred yards from the trail intersection. This sight does not require reservations to
camp at, but remember you must still register at the campground amphitheatre across from
the ranger station if you plan to stay overnight at the site.
Back on the Rich Mountain Trail, you will finally reach the plateau where the
hike levels off for about a mile and provides a few beautiful views of Cades Cove 1800
feet below. After a large opening, you will finally begin the descent down. At the bottom
of the mountain, you will come to the John Oliver Cabin, a 170 year old cabin built and
lived in by Cades Cove's first settler. At this cabin you will find large crowds, as you
are now only .25 miles from the loop road. However, the trail continues to the left behind
the cabin, and in less than a mile you will come to the first intersection of the trail
where you first started. From there it is another half-mile to the beginning of the trail
where your car is parked. If you hike this last half mile near sunset, you may encounter
wild turkey, bear, or boar, which love this spot. Remember to keep your distance. If you
plan on taking this trail it usually takes about 6 hours.
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