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| Spence/Russell Field Loop | ||
| Trail Features: | Panoramic Views, Mountain Laurel | |
| Trail Location: | Cades Cove Picnic Area | |
| Roundtrip Miles: | 13.3 miles | |
| Total Elevation Gain: | 3050 feet | |
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 459 feet | |
| Highest Elevation: | 5044 feet | |
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 19.40 (strenuous) | |
| Parking Lot Latitude: | 35.60493 | |
| Parking Lot Longitude: | -83.77008 | |
Directions to Trailhead:
The Russell and Spence Field loop hike begins from the Anthony Creek Trailhead in Cades Cove. From the Townsend "Y" intersection, go west on Laurel Creek Road towards Cades Cove. To reach the Anthony Creek Trailhead, drive 7.5 miles to the turn-off towards the Cades Cove campground. Turn left towards the campground. Almost immediately you値l need to make another left turn towards the picnic area. The Anthony Creek Trailhead is at the far end of the picnic area.
Trail Description:
Early on, the Anthony Creek Trail passes the Crib Gap Trail junction at just 0.3 miles from the trailhead, and then shortly thereafter, the horse livery stable. You may have already noticed some of the "clues" left on the ground indicating that this trail also functions as a horse trail.
We hiked this trail in mid-June when the rhododendron was just beginning to bloom on the lower sections of the trail.
At just over 1.7 miles the Russell Field Trail branches off to the right. Turn right here to begin the loop portion of the hike. You値l notice right away that this new path is already a steeper climb than the Anthony Creek Trail. At roughly 3.5 miles, the trail makes a sharp left and then levels out for the next 0.75 miles.
At roughly 4.75 miles you値l see a couple of short side trails branching off to the left. These lead to a small meadow that was most probably part of Russell Field before the Park Service allowed the forest to take over. If you need a break, this is a great place to take one as this appears to be the last remnant of Russell Field.
The Russell Field shelter and the junction with the Appalachian Trail are reached at 5.2 miles. To complete the loop, you値l need to turn left onto the Appalachian Trail. We passed several fine displays of mountain laurel along the path on the approach to the junction and on the first stretches of the Appalachian Trail.
Russell Field is possibly named after Russell Gregory, an early settler in the Cades Cove area. He and/or other cove residents used the field to graze cattle during the spring and summer when the fields in the cove were needed for growing crops. Like most Cades Cove residents, Gregory supported the Union during the Civil War. He was ambushed and murdered by Confederate guerillas from North Carolina in 1863.
Gregory Bald, a couple miles to the west of here, is also named after Mr. Gregory.
This next section of the loop consists of a three-mile walk along the Appalachian Trail towards Spence Field. The trail passes through a series of small grassy meadows before reaching the Bote Mountain Trail junction. These are pleasant meadows, but nothing compared to the meadows you値l find on the eastern side of the Bote Mountain Trail junction. Before reaching the eastern end of Spence Field you値l pass the Eagle Creek Trail junction at 8.1 miles and the Bote Mountain Trail at 8.16 miles. You値l only need to walk another 100 yards or so to find a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch and to take in the grand scenery.
If visibility is good you値l have stunning views of the North Carolina side of the Park. And if you池e there in June, you値l have the most spectacular display of mountain laurel I致e seen anywhere. The hillsides and meadows were literally covered in the white and soft pink flowers from this member of the heath family.
Spence Field is named after James Spence who built a cabin in this area in 1830. The History of the Grassy Balds in GSMNP, an online book on the National Park Web Site, states that both Russell and Spence fields aren稚 natural grassy balds, but were actually cleared by settlers for the purposes of grazing cattle.
If you still have the energy, you could continue walking eastward along the Appalachian Trail for another 1.2 miles to reach Rocky Top. You値l also have to climb another 550 feet but the views may be some of the best in the Park.
If you致e decided you池e ready to turn around you値l need to backtrack to the Bote Mountain Trail junction. Turn right here and begin heading back down the mountain.
As you descend the Bote Mountain Trail you値l begin walking through a long stretch of trail where the rhododendron forms a tunnel over the trail. You値l also notice that the trail has sunk a couple of feet below the ground on either side of the trail. My guess is that this is a result of a combination of erosion and the trampling of the cattle that were driven to and from Spence Field prior to the establishment of the Park.
At roughly 9.8 miles into your hike you値l reach the Anthony Creek Trail. You値l need to turn left here and hike the 3.5 miles down the Anthony Creek Trail to return to the trailhead at Cades Cove.