Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cades Cove to Clingman's Dome - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cades Cove to Clingman's Dome |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Tennessee |
| Nearby Town: | Gatlinburg |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | From Gatlinburg, Tennessee, take the Foothills Parkway South for approximately 1.6 miles, and then turn left on US 441 once inside the park. Travel another 0.7 miles and turn right on Little River Road. Go 11.2 miles and continue on Cades Cove Road until you reach Cades Cove. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 24.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Difficult |
| Permit Required: | Yes |
| Hike Type: | One-Way, Shuttle Hike |
| Hike Starts: | Cades Cove |
| Hike Ends: | Clingman's Dome |
| Trails Used: | Anthony Creek, Russell Field, and Appalachian Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Springs |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Great Smoky Mountains National Park 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Phone: (865) 436-1200 www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm |
| Best Season: | Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | This hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park starts at Cades Cove, and immediately begins an arduous southward climb to the Russell Field Shelter via the Anthony Creek and Russell Field Trails. The Appalachian Trail is picked up at the Russell Field Shelter, and the hike continues eastward to the Spence Field Shelter. The first leg covers approximately 8 miles of uphill trail with close to 3,000 feet of elevation gain. The Spence Field Shelter is a welcome site, and by far one of the nicest shelters encountered along the trip. This portion of the hike can be shortened by approximately 2.8 miles by taking the Anthony Creek Trail to the Bote Mountain Trail, and then on to the Spence Field Shelter. However, if you want to make a day of it, the Russell Field and Appalachian Trails are the way to go. From the Spence Field Shelter, the hike continues eastward for another 11 miles to the Siler’s Bald Shelter. The overall net elevation gain is only 500 feet. However, the day is filled with a never ending barrage of punishing ups and downs, and serves as a great workout. The Siler’s Bald Shelter isn’t nearly as nice as Spence Field, and doesn’t offer nearly as much protection from the cold and wind, but it undoubtedly serves its purpose. The final leg consists of another 5 miles with a net elevation gain of approximately 1,000 feet. Again, the trail is peppered with challenging ups and downs, and the final climb to Clingman’s Dome is grueling, but rewarding. |
2 replies on “Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cades Cove to Clingman's Dome - Member Hike”
18 degrees! Brrrrrrr. You are the original Bear Grylls. Well, almost. This was such a great shelter though. I just wish we could have had a little clearer weather the last two days so we could have enjoyed some of the views.
Enjoyed this Smitt. Check out our trip to Spence Field:
https://yourhikes.com/TripPages/ViewTripPage.aspx?TripID=215