While those visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can spend a good bit of time exploring the former resort village of Elkmont itself (now uninhabited, but open to tourists as a historical attraction), the hilly national park land surrounding this vacation town contains a wealth of additional trails and sites to see.
Approaching by road, just before the main village parking area, the Elkmont Nature Trail sits as a cool little trail to travel. A very small parking area—with only enough space for about three vehicles—gives easy access to this trailhead.
A journey beginning the just-under-a-mile-long nature trail loop counterclockwise begins on a small log bridge over a creek, a magical entry point to this excursion.
The Elkmont Nature Trail has some elevation to keep it interesting and feeling mountainous, but it is a great walk for hiking beginners. Slightly slick and muddy portions after a rainfall may be the most treacherous element to navigate.
Thick tangles of rhododendron form canopies overhead as streams flow alongside and leaves rustle in the breeze.
At eight tenths of a mile, the journey may be over quickly, but this spot can provide a peaceful, secluded and well-marked, though brief, walk.
Those wanting more time in the woods may then opt to start out on the Jakes Creek Trail, not far away. With its trailhead near the still-standing portion of the former logging and resort town of Elkmont, Jakes Creek Trail travels uphill from a cluster of restored houses.
More abandoned structures—some complete, preserved dwellings, others only the remains of a rock chimney and staircase—dot the landscape sporadically alongside this trail, offering some old homesites for modern visitors to view and imagine those who resided in the area long ago.
The Jakes Creek Trail continues up the towering Appalachian mountain terrain, connecting this area to the rest of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Little River Trail passes near the Elkmont area as well. This one, a more challenging 12-mile trail, winds alongside the Little River, and also connects to the vast network of other Smoky Mountain trails, offering all the hiking anyone could want.
The national park contains a total of over 800 miles of trails, many portions of it quite difficult, so those looking for long hikes and overnight wilderness adventures, or a quick nature walk, can all find what they are seeking in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Today, the Elkmont Campground remains the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park during camping season, with over 200 sites for RV and tent camping. During the winter months, though, the area can remain fairly low-traffic.
Learn more about Elkmont ghost town here.
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IF YOU GO:
Elkmont Nature Trailhead
Elkmont Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
