This challenging trail, the Maddron Bald, eventually leads hikers to Albright Grove, a beautiful old-growth hardwood forest glen. You’ll gradually ascend an old gravel road before encountering the diminutive Baxter Cabin.
Many who trek on this Smoky Mountains hiking trail persist until they reach the waterfalls, making it well worth the effort. Like the Maddron Bald Trail, this starts out as a gravel road that converts to a single-track dirt path through extensive old-growth forests.
Offering some of the most breathtaking views for hiking in the Smoky Mountains, the Mt. Cammerer Trail is the shortest route to the namesake peak’s summit. Starting at Cosby Creek valley and winding upward, you’ll then hit the famed Appalachian Trail for the majority of the hike.
This easy trek from the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains will suit everybody. Two loop trails lead you up to the summit, which is essentially an open space on a high knob. The shorter route directly crosses the top, while the more leisurely trail wraps around the mountain.
As the highest grassy meadow in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Andrews Bald becomes carpeted with colorful azaleas and rhododendrons in mid-summer.