Cane Creek Trail

Cane Creek Trail is a natural-surface out-and-back in the Abrams Creek backcountry. Start at Abrams Creek Campground and follow Cooper Road about 3.1 miles to the Cane Creek junction, then continue 2.14 miles one way to the park boundary. Turn there and retrace the route. The complete outing is about 10.5 miles round trip; allow around six hours. The Cane Creek segment alone is 4.3 miles out and back, but its junction has no direct road access.

From Cooper Road, the trail drops into Cane Creek Bottoms. The low ground can be muddy after rain, and the route crosses Cane Creek several times. Rock hopping may work when the water is low; higher water can require wading. Campsite 2 is about 0.6 mile along the Cane Creek segment. The route centers on water and bottomland rather than a summit or overlook.

The bottoms were once farmland and are gradually returning to forest. Around 1.3 miles from the Cane Creek junction, Buchanan Cemetery sits on a rise above the path. The last half mile narrows toward the park boundary, where the public trail ends and private property begins.

Abrams Creek Campground is the documented starting access; its flush toilets and drinking water are seasonal, and there is no food store on the route. The campground normally closes October 25 through May 8. Whether the trail itself closes on the same dates is not confirmed, so check current access before setting out. Great Smoky Mountains allows pets on only two trails, and this is not one of them; service animals are allowed. The trail is also listed for horse use.