Low Gap, Appalachian Trail and Snake Den Ridge Loop Trail

The Low Gap, Appalachian Trail, and Snake Den Ridge Loop is a 13.1-mile circuit from Cosby Campground’s Hiker Parking Area. It climbs Low Gap, follows the Appalachian Trail west between the two junctions, descends Snake Den Ridge, and uses campground roads to close the loop. Allow about nine hours. This is a hard, full-day hike, with roughly 3,900 feet of climbing, long rocky and rooty stretches, and sustained grades. Most of the route is shaded forest; creek crossings and a few brief ridge openings break it up. Choose it for a long, varied mountain circuit, not a quick waterfall walk.

Begin in the Cosby Campground Hiker Parking Area and follow Low Gap Trail. The first 0.4 mile is the trickiest part to navigate: several campsite paths cross the route, and it intersects Cosby Nature Trail twice. Follow the Low Gap and Appalachian Trail signs at each junction rather than taking a campsite spur. The stored loop starts here and returns here, including the campground-road walk after Snake Den Ridge.

After Cosby Creek and the Cosby Horse Trail junction, Low Gap climbs steadily toward the Appalachian Trail. The sustained ascent is nearly 1,800 feet over about three miles, mostly on rocky, rooty tread. Dense trees close in after the creek, with little change in scenery until the ridge. Think of this as a continuous climb rather than a series of short ups and downs.

At the Low Gap junction, turn right onto the Appalachian Trail and continue west toward Snake Den Ridge. Stone and log steps, large rocks, and rolling climbs keep the footing uneven. The forest stays close for most of this stretch; the mountain views come in brief openings near Camel Gap and again close to the Snake Den junction. The last mile to that junction climbs sharply over rocks, ending at a large boulder and trail sign.

Turn onto Snake Den Ridge toward Cosby. It rises mildly for about 0.7 mile to the Maddron Bald junction; stay on Snake Den Ridge there. The trail then drops steeply over more than two miles of rock rubble and roots. A switchback around mile 10.5 leads to an unmarked spur with a clear mountain view. The spur is optional and is easy to miss if you are only watching for a signed destination. The tread gradually improves closer to Cosby, but remains rough.

At Inadu Creek, stepping stones cross beside two small cascades. About half a mile later, Rock Creek has a footbridge. Near Cosby, singletrack gives way to gravel; at the Cosby Horse Trail junction, stay left, then follow the campground roads back to the hiker lot. Those roads are part of the 13.1-mile circuit. Cosby Campground has no camp store, and no food stop is listed along the route.

Leashed pets are allowed on only two trails in the park, and this loop is not one of them. A parking tag is required if your vehicle stays in the park longer than 15 minutes. Cosby Campground operates seasonally; park information does not say whether the hiker lot remains open when the campground is closed, so confirm access before planning an out-of-season start.