Huskey Gap (via Newfound Gap Road)
| Trail Features: | Quiet Forest Hike, Wildflowers |  |
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| Trail Location: | Newfound Gap Road | ||||
| Roundtrip Length: | 4.2 Miles | ||||
| Total Elevation Gain: | 1240 Feet | ||||
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 590 Feet | ||||
| Highest Elevation: | 3180 Feet | ||||
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 6.68 (moderate) | ||||
| Parking Lot Latitude | 35.6632 | ||||
| Parking Lot Longitude | -83.52641 | ||||
Directions to Trailhead:
From the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, drive 1.5 miles south along Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) to the Huskey Gap Trailhead. The parking lot for the Huskey Gap Trail will be on your right.
Trail
Description:
The Huskey Gap Trail is usually one of the trails on the Great Smoky Mountains Association hiking schedule during the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Tour (in April). Although this is a good trail for viewing wildflowers, it can also be a little crowded in the spring due to its close proximity to Gatlinburg.
Starting from the trailhead you'll notice some traffic noise from Newfound Gap Road. Don't worry though, after several minutes of walking through this second growth forest the noise quickly disappears.
As the traffic noise fades, look across the land below the trail and you'll notice the remains of a stone fence from some of the former homesteads in this area. You'll also notice some rather large tulip trees in this area as well.
Some of the wildflowers that can be found during the spring include Canadian Violets, False Solomon's Seal, Yellow Trillium, Purple Phacelia, Crested Dwarf Iris, Star Chickweed, Sweet White Violet, Wild Geranium, May Apple, Cutleaf Toothwort, Common Blue Violet, Rue Anemone, Sweet Shrub, Dog Hobble, Dogwood, Trillium Erect, Wild Ginger, Yellow Mandarin, Bishop Caps, Foam Flower, Blue Cohosh, Squirrel Corn, Silver Bell, Squaw Root, Halberd Leaf Violet and Cinquefoil.
At 2.1 miles hikers will reach
Huskey Gap where the Huskey
Gap Trail intersects with the Sugarland Mountain Trail. You won't have
much of
a view here; however, if you continue just a short distance beyond the
trail
junction, you will have a few peeks into the mountains towards the west.
On your return trip, look due east for glimpses of Mt. LeConte through the trees.
The trail receives its name from Sam Huskey who had a homestead near the gap around the turn of the century.
If you're in a group with multiple cars this hike could be extended by heading north on the Sugarland Mountain Trail towards Fighting Creek Gap (Laurel Falls area). You could also continue heading west on the Huskey Gap Trail towards the Little River Trail, and then proceed north to the parking area at Elkmont.
