The Tennessee Hike That Leads To The Most Unforgettable Destination
By Meghan Kraft|Published February 24, 2022
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
The forested stretch of east Tennessee is both wild and raw, home to the famed Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a countless amount of animal and plant life. One of the most underutilized routes through the park is the hike to Mount Cammerer by way of the Low Gap Trail, and it leads to a stunning overlook tucked away high above the valley floor below. Located near Cosby, Tennessee, this hike may be difficult, but the payoff is one of the best in the state. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you’ll have a view of the range below from a 1930s lookout, a true historic gem.
Mount Cammerer is located right on the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina, so much so that both states claim to be its home. There are multiple ways to hike the mountain, including along the Lower Mount Cammerer Trail and the Mount Cammerer Loop, but it’s the Low Gap Trail that offers some of the best views as well as a solid challenge to the most determined of outdoors folk.
Low Gap Trail is an out-and-back route that is roughly 12 miles in total and gains a solid 3,169 feet in elevation from beginning to end. The route is quite difficult, even for the most experienced hiker, so make sure you bring snacks and the proper amount of water for your visit.
You’ll hike along waterways and streams, and you can choose to traverse the trail via horseback. Although dogs aren’t allowed on the trail, horseback riders are welcomed. The Low Gap Trail route provides the shortest means to the summit of Mount Cammerer, though the hike also boasts an impressive elevation gain.
You can hike the Low Gap Trail throughout the year, though it’s in the summertime that you’ll be treated to lush foliage and a myriad of wildlife. The hike will take you along the Cosby Creek Valley, and as you climb high into the mountains, you’ll experience views of Inadu Knob, Snake Den Ridge, and the valley below.
Are you brave enough to hike Low Gap Trail in the wintertime? The chillier seasons provide a different kind of challenge, but the snowy landscape is truly magical. Not many people take the wintry plunge, so if you do, make sure you have the proper supplies to traverse the remote trail in the cold.
Once you’ve trekked the trail to its turnaround point, you’ll be treated to a view from a historic 1930s lookout tower. The structure was built from rock quarried from the area, and lumber, hardware, and glass were brought in by horseback. The lookout was utilized by "fire watchers" until the 1960s when more modern fire detection methods were put in place.
Mount Cammerer is named after Arno B. Cammerer, one of the men who was instrumental in fortifying the Great Smoky Mountains as a protected national park. Cammerer is known for directing the National Park Service for a significant amount of time, from 1933 to 1940. Make sure to read the plaques situated at the lookout point, so you can learn all about the area while enjoying majestic, panoramic views.
What a beautiful hike! The hike to the Mt. Cammerer Lookout may be difficult, but it’s worth the effort when you’re rewarded with such a spectacular view. Make sure you do the proper research before you set out because this hike is a doozy!
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