Smoky Mountains

Park Entrances

TN Entrances »

Cosby Creek
Greenbrier
Roaring Fork
Sugarlands
Wear Valley
Townsend
Parson Branch
Rich Mountain

NC Entrances »

Big Creek
Cataloochee
Balsam Mountain
Oconaluftee
Deep Creek
Bryson City
Fontana Dam
Twenty Mile
Deals Gap

The main point of this page is to acquaint the reader with the various park entrances (and exits) to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the sites that one may see along the way, depending on which part of the park one is in. I say "exits" because some of the roads are from inside the park, and one way roads to their exit points.

Click me to enlarge...

Likewise, several of the wonderful sites available in the Smokys are achievable from more than one direction. Both, the Tennessee and North Carolina entrances are arranged from Northeast to Southwest. Feel free to jump around, and be sure to check out the maps in each of the areas of interest. Also, keep in mind that I love old things, including maps... the map you see here is from 1941. For an up to date, basic area road map is available here.

Although the park is open all year, for safety reasons, some roads are closed during the winter. Additionally, park staff may close any (or all) roads in the park due to inclement weather.

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Cosby Creek

Eighteen miles east of Gatlinburg, U.S. 321 comes to a fork, or a "T" depending on where you're from, and meets S.R. 32. Turning left (North) will take you to the Foothills Parkway. Turning right (South) will take you to the Cosby Creek entrance to the park. Cosby Creek is the eastern most entrance on the Tennessee side.

Make sure you check your odometer. As of this writing, there are no mile posts on this route. Assuming you turned south towards the park, 1.2 miles after you checked the odometer, you should reach the Cosby Creek entrance. Turning East (left) at this point will take you along the winding boundry of the park on S.R. 32. The pavement ends about 10 miles later at the Appalachian Trail. Trudging on...

Some of the sights to see in the Cosby Creek area of the park:

Cosby Creek Campgrounds
As of this writing, there are roughly 150, well developed campsites in the grounds. When other park campgrounds are full, spaces can usually be had here. The campgrounds offer a small nature trail, sheltered and open picnic areas, ranger station with phones, trailer sanitary station, and the Cosby Horse Trail. Check with the Park Service for up-to-date information, availability, and reservations.

Hen Wallow Falls
Accounts vary as to how it got its name; Carson Brewer, the late Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist and local historian, claims the name stems from a community fued (actually, more like a little good natured ribbing) between one farmer and his neighbors. Seems the enterprising farmer wanted to go into the egg selling business and ordered 100 chicks. Turns out that most of the chicks wouldn't nest as they were rooseters, and the amused neighbors started calling the farm "Roostertown" to poke a little fun. In response, the farmer returned the favor and dubbed their place "Hen Wallow", a reference to a place where grouse like to take an occasional dust bath in the dry dirt. Sometimes called wood hens or fool birds, these ground nesters tend to stick around and hold their ground until unsuspecting passers by are right up on them... Then, the wing flappin' and commotion is sure to scare the bajeesus out of ya.

Regardless, the cascade of Hen Wallow Falls can run from roughly 45 feet (mid-summer dry season) to 95 feet high in the early spring. Hen Wallow creek is formed as sandstone offshoot of the Roaring Fork Formation. In drier weather, the cascade begins as two streams about six feet apart, and merge to a 30 foot flow at the base. Spring rains and snow thaws can enlarge the force and size a good bit. Only two feet wide at the top, the falls fan out to a base of 20 to 25 feet.

At full flow, it's 95 feet make it one of the tallest falls in the park, and it's typically one of the least crowded. Getting there is via a 2.5 mile hike trail (rated moderate) through dense poplar and hemlock forest with some great scenic views along the way. The trail begins just before the Cosby campground picnic area. When one arrives at the falls, the trail forks and the main path leads to the top of the falls. For a little more "rugged fun," the other fork is a narrow path to the base.

Mount Cammerer

Snake Den Ridge Trail

Albright Grove / Maddron Bald Trail - The hike begins on Maddron Bald Trail and follows Buckeye Creek fairly closely. About a half mile into the trail, you'll pass the (Alex and Sara) Baxter cabin, a one room cabin built entirely of American Chestnut in 1889. Named for park conservationist Horace Albright, Albright Grove Trail
Length: 7 Miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Elevation Delta: 1550 Feet

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