Albright Grove Loop - Hike to Albright Grove in Smoky Mountains

Directions to Trailhead:

At the junction of 441 and 321 in Gatlinburg (Light 3), head north (east) onto 321/73. Drive 15.5 miles and turn right, just past Yogi’s Campground, onto Baxter Road. Drive about one-half mile (passing some houses) and look for a sign for the Maddron Bald Trailhead on the right. Take a hard right turn and drive down to the trailhead. The Albright Grove Loop Trail is accessed from the Maddron Bald Trailhead. Because of theft and vandalism here, overnight backpackers may want to park at nearby businesses on US 321 which provide this service for a fee.

Trail Description:

The Maddron Bald Trail was built in the early 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps which operated from a camp near the trailhead. The trail, an old gravel road for the first 2.3 miles, begins as a gradual ascent towards Albright Grove. It temporarily levels-off as it passes a one-room cabin, known as the Baxter Cabin, roughly 0.7 miles from the trailhead. The cabin was built in 1889 by Willis Baxter as a wedding present for his son, and was constructed from one giant chestnut tree. Baxter's chicken coop, originally situated on the homestead, was moved to the Mountain Farm Museum near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in North Carolina.

At 1.2 miles the trail reaches a large open area and the four-way intersection of the Maddron Bald Trail, Old Settlers Trail, and the Gabes Mountain Trail. The Old Settlers Trail is one of the longest trails in the park. It stretches westward for 15.9 miles and connects the Maddron Bald Trail with Greenbrier. The Gabes Mountain Trail stretches in the opposite direction and leads to the Cosby Campground towards the east. The Maddron Bald Trail continues southward, rising gradually along the slopes above the Indian Camp Creek valley.

Maddron Bald is named for Lawson Maddron (c. 1809-1896), a prominent Cocke County minister. A Maddron family cemetery is located near this four-way trail junction.

At roughly 2.3 miles the gravel road ends and the trail turns into a rugged dirt path. From this point, the trail narrows as it leads through sections of old-growth forest.

At roughly 2.7 miles the trail crosses Indian Camp Creek via footbridge and then ascends steeply before leveling at the first junction with the Albright Grove Trail at 3 miles. Turn right onto the Albright Grove Loop Trail.

The Albright Grove Trail is a 0.7-mile loop that ends up again at the Maddron Bald Trail.

Albright Grove is an excellent example of an old-growth cove hardwood forest, one of the most diverse forest types in North America. It also contains some of the oldest and tallest trees in the Smokies. Most of the large hardwood trees in the Smokies were cleared by loggers or killed by blights during the first half of the 20th century. While Albright Grove has suffered through the various blights and infestations, it was never intensively logged. Hemlock and poplar trees dominate the grove, but you’ll also find Fraser magnolias, basswood, and beeches.

The loop trail levels again, and then descends. Where it begins to descend, look for a small spur trail to a giant tuliptree on the left. A few yards further along and you’ll pass the largest tree in Albright Grove, a tuliptree with a circumference of 25 feet.

The grove is named after Horace Albright (1890-1987), the second director of the National Park Service. He was also an early advocate for national park status for the Smokies.

You’ll reach the Maddron Bald Trail again at roughly 3.7 miles.

Albright Grove
Trail Features:		Old Growth Forest / History / Flowers
Trail Location:		Cosby
Roundtrip Miles:		7.0 miles
Total Elevation Gain:		1500 feet
Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:		429 feet
Highest Elevation:		3380 feet
Trail Difficulty Rating:		10.00 (strenuous)
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