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| Spence Field (via Anthony Creek) | ||
| Trail Features: | Panoramic Views, Mountain Laurel | |
| Trail Location: | Cades Cove Picnic Area | |
| Roundtrip Miles: | 10.3 miles | |
| Total Elevation Gain: | 2842 feet | |
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 552 feet | |
| Highest Elevation: | 4919 feet | |
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 15.98 (strenuous) | |
| Parking Lot Latitude: | 35.60493 | |
| Parking Lot Longitude: | -83.77008 | |
Directions to Trailhead:
To reach Spence Field on this hike you'll begin 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. Continue going straight here. The Anthony Creek Trail then dead-ends onto the Bote Mountain Trail at roughly 3.5 miles. You値l need to turn right here.
As you climb 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 just over 5.1 miles you値l reach Spence Field and the Appalachian Trail. If you turn right here the trail passes through a series of small grassy meadows. These are pleasant meadows, but nothing compared to what you値l find on the other side of the junction.
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.
You値l only need to walk 100 yards or so beyond the trail junction to find a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch and to take in the grand scenery.
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.