Walker Sisters' Cabin - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I hiked to the Walker Sisters' Cabin in early April 2015. Since the gravel road to Little Greenbrier School was still closed for the winter season, I started the hike from the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area. Metcalf Bottoms is located on Little River Road about 7.7 miles from the Townsend Wye and 9.5 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The five spinster Walker Sisters did not sell out and move when the park was created, but were eventually granted a lifetime lease and continued to live on their farm without any of our modern conveniences like running water and electricity. When the last sister died in 1964, the park service gained control of the land.

Starting from Metcalf Bottoms, the hike is 4.2 miles roundtrip and ascends about 440 feet for an average gradient of about 4%. The trailhead is across the Little River from the picnic area where the trail heads up the river on a single-lane gravel road. When the gravel road turns left and heads uphill, you can make a short side-trip upriver to the confluence of Little Brier Branch and the Little River along a footpath. Return along the footpath to the gravel road. The gravel road ends at the water tower for the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area. Continue following the single-lane dirt road past the rock wall and stone stairs marking the site of a former homestead. After topping the hill, the trail deteriorates as roots criss-cross the well packed dirt path. The trail drops down to Little Brier Branch and crosses it twice with the second crossing at the rear of the Little Greenbrier School. Since the school also served as a church building, a cemetery is located on the hillside above the school. During the summer, a gravel road from Wear Cove Gap Road is open that cuts 1.2 miles off of the hike. From the schoolhouse, climb up to the gated gravel road above the cemetery and continue hiking uphill. This portion of the trail is another single-lane gravel road. Follow this road until turning right at a sign for the cabin. Follow the old driveway down to and across a small stream before climbing up to the cabin. In addition to the cabin, a springhouse and corn crib have also been preserved.

Topographic map with GPS hiking route

Trail elevation profile

Little River from the bridge at Metcalf Bottoms

Wide gravel trail

Footpath toward Little Brier Branch

Little Brier Branch empties into the Little River

Little Brier Branch

A small cascade on Little Brier Branch

The gravel road continues to the water tower

Rock wall and stairs are all that remain of an old homestead

The wide trail continues up the hill

Roots embedded in the trail require constant vigilance to avoid tripping

The trail is streamside for most of the journey to the schoolhouse

Another view of Little Brier Branch

More roots in the trail

A footbridge crosses a small stream

Another footbridge crosses Little Brier Branch at the school

Hillside cemetery

Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse

Inside the schoolhouse

A few glass windows provide light

The hike continues on the gravel road above the cemetery 

Shelf mushrooms

Well-maintained trail

Little Brier Branch is much smaller this far up the cove

Another footbridge crosses the branch while park vehicles ford it

Little Brier Branch from the footbridge

Looking back at the footbridge

Another cascade on Little Brier Branch

Wildflowers cover the ground

Trail junction for the Walker Sisters Cabin

Gravel driveway leading to the cabin

First view of the Walker Sisters' farm

Springhouse

A small stream flows through the springhouse

Looking at the cabin from the springhouse

Corn crib

The porch foundation needs to be rebuilt

Overview of the farm

A dogwood tree blooms beside the cabin

Another view of the cabin and corn crib

Fireplace in the main cabin

A ladder lead to the second floor

Exposed beams and rafters of the upper room

Trillium about to bloom

The trail from Metcalf Bottoms to Little Greenbrier School is labeled the Metcalf Bottoms Trail on park maps. The trail from Little Greenbrier School to the Walker Sisters Cabin and beyond is labeled the Little Brier Gap Trail.

Entry to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm.