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An ascent past dilapidated vacation homes as the trail climbs along Jakes Creek to Jakes Gap.


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Map Key

3.7

Miles

6.0

KM

Point to Point

4,046' 1,233 m

High

2,231' 680 m

Low

1,815' 553 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

22%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Wildflowers

Closed when the Little River Road is closed from the Townsend "Y" to Sugarlands Visitor Center. For park road conditions, information can be found at twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps or by calling (865) 436-1200 and dialing extension 2, 2.

Description

From the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, drive 4.9 miles west along the Little River Road to the turnoff for the Elkmont Campground. Turn left into Elkmont, and go 1.4 miles to the campground, turning left and driving another 0.6 miles. At this point, you can take a right and go another 0.5 miles to a parking area.

The turnoff for the Elkmont Campground will be 12.6 miles away from the Townsend "Y" on the Little River Road.

The trail climbs for roughly 0.4 miles past these vacation homes as it follows an old railroad bed. At mile 0.3, the Cucumber Gap Trail breaks off to the left and then at mile 0.4, the Meigs Mountain Trail goes off to the right. It's a wide, gravel trail (it had to support the trains hauling lumber out of the valley) as it approaches Jakes Creek as it works its way uphill. The gravel ends around 1.2 miles, as the trail crosses a series of creeks via log footbridges, and this area of the trail can be dangerous after heavy rain. This is typical of creek valleys in the Smokies, so make sure you check the weather before heading out. The trail narrows at this point as it climbs a switchback into a forest dominated by Fraser magnolias. Rocks and tree roots are common obstacles on the trail from this point on.

Around mile 2.6, you have gained about 1,000 feet of elevation and arrived at Campsite #27, which is a popular campsite with several sites and fire rings. The trail continues to climb as the creek starts to disappear. Gently climbing for the last 0.7 miles, the trail reaches Jakes Gap at an elevation of 4,055 feet. The trail has climbed over 1,500 feet since leaving Elkmont.

At this point, there are several options. The Panther Creek Trail drops down to the Middle Prong Trail and the Tremont area while the Miry Ridge Trail goes off to the left and continues to climb to the Appalachian Trail. The other option, enjoy a downhill hike back to your car.

This area was logged by the Little River Lumber Company in the 1900s, so there aren't a great number of old growth trees in this area. After the lumber company was finished logging the area, the land was sold to settlers and vacationers, whose homes can still be seen, even though they are dilapidated now. If you've read about the ghost town in the Great Smoky Mountains, this is the area described in those tales.

Flora & Fauna

Fraser magnolias, tuliptrees, maples, and black locust trees are just some of the young trees you can see in this area. Due to selective logging in the 1800s and heavy logging in the 1900s before the area was a park, there aren't many old growth trees in this area of the park.

Wildflowers can be seen along various portions of the trail in the spring.

Deer, bear, wild turkeys, and other animals have been seen throughout the area.

Contacts

Shared By:

David Hitchcock

Trail Ratings

  3.7 from 6 votes

#10

in Elkmont

#23372

Overall
  3.7 from 6 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
17%
3 Star
33%
2 Star
17%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#10

in Elkmont

#444

in North Carolina

#23,372

Overall
25 Views Last Month
6,863 Since Sep 4, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Old cottages.
Jan 14, 2016 near Gatlinburg, TN
Jakes Creek Trail - gravel road.  Flowering trees during the springtime.
Jan 14, 2016 near Gatlinburg, TN
Sunrise just below Jake's Gap on the Jakes Creek Trail
Apr 22, 2019 near Gatlinburg, TN
A cold winter morning at Jakes Gap
Apr 22, 2019 near Gatlinburg, TN
Dilapidated homes in the Elkmont campground area.
Jan 23, 2016 near Gatlinburg, TN
Sun breaking through the clouds and lighting up the mountain side.
Jan 23, 2016 near Gatlinburg, TN

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 15 days ago
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Check-Ins

Dec 27, 2021
Shawnee Reller
2.7mi
Jul 8, 2021
Amin Afrazi
Nov 7, 2020
Rob DeMotts
Uphill whole way.Cute creek crossing at 1 mi.Bring a pole.Nice intersection at end.Took Miry 2 more miles to #26.Cute.Sm water source.#27cute.no water 12mi
Oct 25, 2020
Brett Wolfley
Pretty easy except all uphill in. Started at campsite J13 in Elkmont CG, hiked 2 miles then turned around back to campsite
Sep 8, 2020
Cm Schnet
Feb 2, 2020
Jama Gray
Oct 7, 2019
Brett Gregory
To Avent Cabin and back — 2h 30m
Jun 25, 2019
Shawnee Reller
Catherine Adam Ariana and I saw the old houses and beautiful waterfall — 1h 00m
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