Snake Den Ridge Trail

Overview

Snake Den Ridge is a serious grinder: 10.6 miles round-trip with roughly 3,490 feet of gain, climbing from Cosby Campground to the Appalachian Trail near Inadu Knob. It’s a sustained ascent that earns its “moderate to strenuous” reputation. Views are limited on the way up, but the forest is rich and varied, and the ridge-top payoff improves if you continue a short way along the AT.

Route highlights

Start in Cosby Campground and make your way past a small historic cemetery less than a mile in—look for the grave of Ella Costner, the “Poet Laureate of the Smokies.” Cross Rock Creek on a log footbridge, then tackle a rock-hop at Inadu Creek (no bridge). From there, the grade steepens through rhododendron and laurel “green tunnel” sections before switchbacks lead you toward higher-elevation, old-growth conifer forest. Pass the Maddron Bald Trail junction around 4.6 miles, then reach the AT at about 5.3 miles near 5,800 feet. Scattered debris from a 1984 F‑4 Phantom crash sits near the top—observe, don’t disturb. On clearer days, you’ll catch peeks toward the Pigeon and French Broad River valleys, and—if you continue along the AT—toward Old Black and Mount Guyot.

Conditions and hazards

Expect rugged, rooty tread and a relentless grade. Summer can bring heavy vegetation and stinging nettles—long pants help. After rains, Inadu Creek can be pushy and the crossing is unbridged. In colder months, a poorly drained ridge section near the Maddron Bald junction can ice over. Bugs can be feisty in warm weather. Views are not the selling point here; the forest, elevation gain, and AT access are.

Best time to hike

Late September through November is prime—cooler temps, reduced underbrush, and strong fall color. Winter offers solitude and clearer sightlines but be ready for ice. In summer, start early for shade and cooler temps, and expect overgrowth. Weekdays generally mean fewer hikers than nearby marquee trails.

Tips and extensions

• Poles are worth their weight on this climb, and gaiters or long pants fend off nettles.
• Treat all water; Inadu Creek is the most reliable on-route source.
• For a bigger day and better viewpoints, turn left on the AT and loop back via Low Gap to Cosby (roughly 12.5–13 miles total), or continue a short distance along the AT to expand the vistas.

Logistics

Park at the Cosby Campground day-use/hiker lot near the ranger station by the entrance, then walk into the campground to the trailhead (across from Campsite B51). A park parking tag is required. Dogs aren’t allowed on this trail.