Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN · NC
A wooded creek loop with log bridges and rocky crossings.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Smoky Mountains Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Great Smoky Mountains audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Cosby Picnic Area and Hen Wallow Falls“Up ahead is Cosby Picnic Area, a shady place for lunch beside Cosby Creek. Bring your own picnic; the tables have charcoal grills. The picnic area is seasonal, generally spring through fall.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Great Smoky Mountains Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
The wooded walk follows Cosby Creek through the campground area. The park describes a 1.3-mile loop; the recorded line measures about 1.23 miles. Allow roughly 45 minutes, and follow trail signs where the mapped line meets campground and Low Gap paths.
Log bridges cross creek branches, with a shallow rock crossing near the end. Roots and rocks make footing uneven, so this route is not suited to strollers. High water after heavy rain can make the rock crossing unsafe. The hardwood cove is known for spring wildflowers and fall color.
The campground map marks Amphitheater and Nature Trail Parking by the Cosby Picnic Area; it separately marks a lower Hiker Parking Area for Low Gap and Mount Cammerer access. Day-use access at the campground lot is unclear, so follow posted signs. Picnic tables and charcoal grills are available, with no food service identified. A parking tag is required when parked more than 15 minutes. Pets are not allowed on park trails.
Wildlife
1,569 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
900 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
13 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
142 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
26 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
42 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Smoky Mountains. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingLower Mount Cammerer Trail14.8 mi · 8 hr · 0.1 mi awayA long day of creek crossings and ridge climbing to the AT.
ModerateCosby Horse Trail0.3 mi · 10 min · 0.1 mi awayA short, steep path near Cosby Campground.
ModerateSutton Ridge Overlook Trail3.5 mi · 2 hr · 0.2 mi awayA short, steep spur reaches a north-facing view over Riding Fork.
ChallengingLow Gap Trail5.4 mi · 5 hr · 0.2 mi awayCreek crossings and a steep climb to the remote Walnut Bottom junction.
ChallengingLow Gap, Appalachian Trail and Snake Den Ridge Loop Trail13.1 mi · 9 hr · 0.2 mi awayA full-day loop links Low Gap, the AT, and Snake Den Ridge.
ChallengingMount Cammerer Trail11.1 mi · 7 hr · 0.2 mi awayA steep climb to a historic tower above the Smokies.ChallengingSnake Den Ridge Trail10.6 mi · 8 hr · 0.3 mi awayA steep 10.6-mile out-and-back to the Appalachian Trail.
ModerateGabes Mountain Trail to Hen Wallow Falls4.3 mi · 3.5 hr · 0.4 mi awayA rooty 4.3-mile out-and-back ends at a steep 90-foot waterfall.
Campground · 0.1 mi awayCosby CampgroundA shady, tent-heavy base with hiking routes nearby.
Picnic area · 0.4 mi awayCosby Picnic AreaA shady 35-site picnic stop beside Cosby CreekSight · 1.9 mi awayHen Wallow FallsA 90-foot cascade makes the rooted climb worthwhile.
Sight · 2.6 mi awayMount Cammerer Lookout TowerA rock summit and a 1930s fire tower reward a big climb.
Scenic pullout · 4.1 mi awayCosby OverlookA short pullout with a southwest view over Cosby Valley.
Scenic pullout · 4.2 mi awayGreen Mountain OverlookA southeast-facing view worth timing for sunrise.
Sight · 4.3 mi awayMouse Creek FallsA 41-foot waterfall with Midnight Hole along the way.
Sight · 4.3 mi awayAlbright GroveA long hike through one of the Smokies’ finest old-growth forests.Parkwolf’s Great Smoky Mountains ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
