Little Bottoms Trail

Overview

Little Bottoms is a short, ungraded connector tracing Abrams Creek near the Abrams Creek Campground. It’s about 2.3 miles one way and feels like a narrow, rooty roller coaster—constant little ups and downs, occasional sketchy footing, and multiple small stream crossings. If you like quieter corridors with creek views and don’t mind getting your feet wet, this is your kind of path.

How people hike it

You can walk just the 2.3-mile segment as part of a larger outing, or build a day around it:

• Classic loop (about 10.6 miles): Cooper Road Trail → Little Bottoms → Hatcher Mountain Trail, returning to Abrams Creek.
• Point‑to‑point (about 8.6 miles): Start at Abrams Falls Trailhead in Cades Cove, visit Abrams Falls, continue to the Hatcher Mountain/Little Bottoms junction, descend Little Bottoms, then finish via Cooper Road to Abrams Creek Campground.
• Out‑and‑back via Little Bottoms to Abrams Falls (about 10 miles total): Moderately challenging with notable ups/downs and stream hops.

Trail character and scenery

Expect a narrower tread than the popular falls approach, plus uneven surfaces and a few crossings that are rock‑hoppable in normal flow but can run knee‑deep after rain or snowmelt. The route threads old farmland and hemlock/white pine, hugs Abrams Creek for big stretches, and stays blissfully uncrowded compared to the falls segment. Keep an eye out for delicate wildflowers and creekside plants—Alumroot in rock crevices and Southern Harebell’s blue bells are noted here. Farther along, you may notice lingering disturbance from a 2011 EF4 tornado near the trail’s end.

Logistics and parking

From the Abrams Creek side, reach Little Bottoms by hiking roughly 1.3 miles on Cooper Road Trail from the ranger station/campground area. The park requires a parking tag, and hikers report there’s no kiosk at Abrams Creek—arrange your tag ahead of time. In winter when the campground is closed, expect nearly an extra mile of walking to reach parking. If you’re doing the point‑to‑point, the Cades Cove end has a large paid lot and restrooms at the Abrams Falls trailhead. Cooper Road’s old roadbed can feel like walking on cobblestones—fine, just a little clunky underfoot.

Best time to hike

Spring through late fall is prime. Water levels are friendlier for the crossings, and vegetation is at its best. If you’re linking from Cades Cove, go early to beat the crowds to Abrams Falls; beyond the falls it quiets down. After heavy rain or snowmelt, be ready for deeper crossings and slick footing. Winter is feasible but comes with the campground closure and that extra approach time.

Tips

Trekking poles help on the uneven tread and in the crossings; long pants are smart for brushy sections. Some hikers carry sandals or water shoes and a small towel for the splashier days. Backcountry Campsite #17 sits along the lower portion near the creek with a beach‑like area—great for a break or an overnight if you’ve got a backcountry permit. Wildlife-wise, keep scanning the water and sky; this corridor is known for otters and eagles.