Abrams Falls, Hannah Mountain and Rabbit Creek Loop

This is the longer 11.1-mile circuit from Abrams Falls Trailhead, not the familiar roughly five-mile falls out-and-back. Follow Abrams Falls Trail to the waterfall, continue to Hannah Mountain Trail, then return on Rabbit Creek Trail. Allow about eight hours for the full route and its crossings. If you only want the waterfall, turn back on the shorter route instead of committing to the loop.

The trail starts along Abrams Creek on mostly easy, smoother ground, then gets rockier over short rises. Small tributaries have footbridges, and a ridge just before the falls drops steeply toward the creek valley. Abrams Falls is about 2.6 miles in: water spills over a sandstone ledge into a deep pool. Take a pause here; the pool and rocky foreground make a stronger photo than a tight crop of the water alone.

Past the falls, keep going to the Hannah Mountain junction. The loop crosses Abrams Creek there without a bridge, then climbs above the river. Hannah Mountain is mostly a milder, smoother traverse, though grass and briars can overgrow parts of the tread. About 1.9 miles after the junction, turn onto Rabbit Creek Trail.

Rabbit Creek starts with a steep descent over loose, sometimes wet rock, then follows an old road grade where tire ruts remain visible. The route has another unbridged creek crossing before a long, strenuous rocky climb. Near the end, it follows Victory Branch and crosses Mill Creek without a bridge before returning to the parking area. Those three fords and the rocky climb make the back half the part to take seriously.

Start and finish at the Abrams Falls parking area on Cades Cove Loop Road. A park parking tag is required when a vehicle is parked for more than 15 minutes. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.