Spence Field (via Anthony Creek)
| Trail Features: | Panoramic Views, Mountain Laurel |  |
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| Trail Location: | Cades Cove Picnic Area | ||||
| Roundtrip Length: | 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 | 36.60493 | ||||
| Parking Lot Longitude | -83.77008 | ||||
Directions to Trailhead:
To reach Spence Field you'll begin this hike from the
Anthony Creek Trailhead in the Cades Cove picnic area. From the Townsend
"Y" intersection, go west on Laurel Creek Road towards Cades Cove and
drive 7.5 miles to reach the turn-off for the Cades Cove Campground. Turn left
towards the campground. Almost immediately you'll 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:
The Anthony Creek Trail starts off by following Abrams Creek
out of Cades Cove. At just 0.3 miles from the trailhead hikers will pass the
Crib Gap Trail junction, and then shortly thereafter, the Anthony Creek Horse Camp.
You may have already noticed some of the "clues" left on the ground
indicating that this trail also functions as a horse path.
We last 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 will branches
off to the right. Continue going straight here. Further up the path, the
Anthony Creek Trail dead-ends into the Bote Mountain Trail, roughly 3.5 miles
from the picnic area. Hikers will need to turn right here to continue on to
Spence Field.
As you climb the Bote Mountain Trail you'll begin walking through a long stretch of trail where the rhododendron forms a tunnel over the trail. You'll 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 sheep and cattle that were driven to and from Spence Field prior to the establishment of the national park.
At just over 5.1 miles you'll reach the Appalachian Trail, and Spence Field. If you turn right at this junction you’ll pass through a series of small grassy meadows. These are pleasant meadows, but nothing compared to what you'll find on the other side of the junction.
If visibility is good you'll have outstanding views of the
North Carolina side of the Smokies. And if you're there in June, you'll have
one of the most spectacular displays of mountain laurel found just about
anywhere. The hillsides and meadows are literally covered in the white and soft
pink flowers from this member of the heath family.
You'll only need to walk 100 yards or so beyond the junction to find a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch, or just soak 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 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, an online book on the Park website, states that neither Russell or Spence Field are natural grassy balds, but were actually cleared by settlers for the purposes of grazing sheep and cattle.
If you still have the energy at this point, you could continue walking eastward along the Appalachian Trail for another 1.2 miles to reach Rocky Top. You'll also have to climb another 550 feet, but the views from this vantage point just may be some of the best in the Park.
