Cove Mountain
| Trail Features: | Waterfalls, Old Growth Forest |  |
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| Trail Location: | Little River Road | ||||
| Roundtrip Length: | 7.7 Miles | ||||
| Total Elevation Gain: | 1776 Feet | ||||
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 461 Feet | ||||
| Highest Elevation: | 4139 Feet | ||||
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 11.25 (strenuous) | ||||
| Parking Lot Latitude | 35.67208 | ||||
| Parking Lot Longitude | -83.58068 | ||||
Directions to Trailhead:
From the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, drive 3.8 miles to the top of Fighting Creek Gap. The parking lot for the Laurel Falls / Cove Mountain trailhead will be on your right.
From the Townsend "Y" intersection near
Cades
Cove, the Laurel Falls / Cove Mountain trailhead is 13.7 miles away.
Trail Description:
With Laurel Falls only a little over a
mile from the road,
this trail is one of the most popular destinations in the park. Finding
parking
during peak season can be a problem. If you're looking to avoid the
crowds,
your best bet is to begin your hike early in the morning, during the
early
evening, on a weekday, or during the off-season.
The Laurel Falls Trail was built in 1932 to provide fire crews with access to the Cove Mountain area in the event of a forest fire. By the early 1960s, however, Laurel Falls had become a popular hiking destination for visitors, and erosion was taking a toll on the trail. As part of the 1963 Accelerated Works Projects grant to the Department of Interior, the trail to Laurel Falls was paved in order to halt the problems with erosion.
In just over 1.1 miles, and a climb of about 315 feet, you'll arrive at the 60-foot falls. If you've never had the opportunity to see this beautiful waterfall you'll immediately discover why this trail is so popular.
After leaving the pavement, and the crowds, the trail ascends through a canopy of rhododendron for the next half-mile or so. As you walk through this section of trail the hum of Laurel Branch Creek can be heard cascading down the valley on your right. From time to time you'll have some decent views of the mountains to the south. Further up the trail you'll be able to catch a glimpse of Mount LeConte towards the southeast. Most of these views, however, will be obstructed once the summer foliage arrives.
The trail above Laurel Falls passes
through an old growth
forest. If you look closely you'll notice some very large trees along
the way.
At 2.8 miles the Little Greenbrier Trail spurs off to the left. Hikers should continue going straight at this junction to reach Cove Mountain.
At 3.7 miles the Laurel Falls Trail dead ends into the Cove Mountain Trail. Hikers should go left here for another tenth-of-a-mile to reach the old fire tower and the summit of Cove Mountain. The 60-foot tower, built in 1935 and one of only four towers remaining in the Park, is no longer used for monitoring forest fire threats. Instead, the National Park Service has transformed it into an air quality monitoring station. Hikers, unfortunately, aren't allowed access to the tower.
Although there isn't much of a view at the summit, the trail is still a very pleasant hike.
