American Travel Journal: Metcalf Bottoms and Little Brier Gap Trails

Most years, some of the best spring wildflowers can be found along the Metcalf Bottoms and Little Brier Gap trails on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. During the early spring of 2016, the Metcalf Bottoms trail was closed so the park service could rebuild the water supply pipe to the picnic area. Once we found the trail had been reopened, we planned a hike from the picnic area to Little Brier Gap for a round trip distance of 4.2 miles from the trailhead. We hiked in early May 2016. While we were too late for the spring ephemerals, we still found numerous wildflowers along the trails.

The hike starts across the river from the picnic area and follows a gravel road upstream for a short distance. The trail continues to follow the gravel road up a fairly steep grade to its end at a large concrete pad. The trail makes a right turn at the pad and descends along a wide footpath to Little Brier Creek. After crossing the creek twice, the trail passes between a cemetery and the Little Greenbrier School and ends at a gravel parking area. Either climb the hill beside the cemetery or follow the gravel road up to a vehicle gate on the upper road. The gate marks the trailhead for the Little Brier Gap Trail. The first mile of the trail is a gravel road up to the trail sign marking the side trail that leads to the Walker Sisters Cabin. To continue on to the gap, follow the dirt road straight ahead instead of turning right. In another quarter mile, the dirt road becomes a footpath as it continues to climb to the gap. Once at the trail junction with the Little Greenbrier Trail, we retraced our path down to the picnic area.

Other than the three footbridges, this is a very family friendly hike with an average grade of less than 5% and only one small hill on the return trip. In addition, there are opportunities to stop and explore the creek, school, cemetery, and look for wildflowers.