Hiking Trails
At Star Chase Cabins, we know how fun a Smoky Mountain hike is and how essential these hikes are to the vacations of many visitors to Sevierville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge. So instead of asking our guests to use a hiking app to plan their hikes, we went ahead and recommended the most popular hikes in the area to make things easier for Star Chase guests!
Abram Falls
~Length: 5 miles (roundtrip) ~Moderate-Difficult ~Climb: 340~Total Estimated Time: 3-4 hours ~Youll find the Abrams Falls Trailhead just past stop #10 on the Cades Cove Loop Road. This trail follows Abrams Creek through a pine-oak forest to Abrams Falls – a 20tall waterfall that cascades over a sandstone cliff. Although its not the tallest waterfall in the park, it is the most voluminous – with more rushing water than any other in the Great Smoky Mountains. For this reason, it is important not to swim in the deep pool below, which has strong currents and the presence of an undertow. The Abrams Falls trail is one of the most popular and beautiful waterfall hikes in the Smokies. Hikers will also enjoy viewing the rhododendron along the creek – especially in late spring when it is in bloom.
Location: Cades Cove
Alum Cave Bluffs
~Length: 5 miles (roundtrip) ~Moderate-Difficult ~Climb: 1200` ~Total Estimated Time: 3-4 hours ~The Alum Cave Bluffs trailhead is just over 8 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center on Highway 441. This is one of the most interesting hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains with scenic overlooks and picturesque sections of trail – such as the stone stairway ascending Arch Rock. Alum Cave Bluffs trail passes through an old-growth hardwood forest and across log foot bridges, offering beautiful views along the way. Not really a traditional cave, Alum Cave is actually a concave rocky bluff that was mined by the Epsom Salts Manufacturing Company from 1838 until 1854 and then mined by the Army for saltpeter to make gunpowder during the Civil War. Enjoy the history and scenery of this trail or choose to continue on to the summit of Mount LeConte (an additional 3.3 mile hike up the mountain).
Location: Newfound Gap Road
Arch Rock
~Length: 2.5 miles (roundtrip) ~Easy-Moderate ~Climb: 400` ~Total Estimated Time: 2 hours ~Arch Rock is accessible from the Alum Cave Bluffs trailhead – just over 8 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center on Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road). The trail is picturesque and leads to an erosion-created slate tunnel. Curved rock steps provide a path to climb through the rock to the top. Hikers may then continue on the Alum Cave Bluffs or further still to the summit of Mt. LeConte.
Location: Newfound Gap Road
Chimney Tops
~Length: 4 miles ~Difficult ~Climb: 1,400` ~Total Estimated Time: 3-4 hours ~The Chimney Tops trailhead is 6.7 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road). This is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains and features a steep climb through a virgin forest culminating in a rock scramble to reach the Chimney Top pinnacles.
Location: Newfound Gap Road
Hen Wallow Falls
~Length: 4.4 miles (roundtrip) ~Moderate ~Climb: 900` ~Total Estimated Time: 3-4 hours ~This hike is accessible from the Gabes Mountain Trail head which is found at the Cosby Picnic Area (near the entrance to Cosby Campground). The trail winds through hemlock and rhododendron forest to Hen Wallow Creek – which is only two feet wide when it crosses the rocky ledge to create the 90` tall waterfall. The water spreads out to create a falls that is 20 feet wide at its base. The water at the base of the falls is home to salamanders and offers an interesting place to view them in the park.
Location: Cosby, TN