Gabes Mountain - Snake Den Mountain Loop - 17.75 Miles Round-Trip

The Cosby Campground - Gabes Mountain Trailhead is located 21 miles east of Gatlinburg, TN in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It provides access to Hen Wallow Falls and a network of trails that lead through deep coves, high ridges and remote old growth forests.

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The Gabes Mountain, Maddron Bald, and Snake Den Ridge Trail form a long, challenging route highlighted by Hen Wallow Falls, Cove Hardwood Forests on the Albright Grove Loop and the ecologically curious summit of Maddron Bald. Visitors will enjoy a variety of ecotones and light traffic on this lengthy hike through the Smokies backcountry:

The Gabes Mountain Trail begins with a steady climb in a damp hemlock and hardwood forest. It gradually roughens on a shifting and heavily rooted path that gains 500' on the first mile. Note subtle changes in forest composition as you progress into a drier forest past 1.0 mile (2,710').

You'll reach the spur for Hen Wallow Falls at 1.8 miles (2,935'), a worthwhile excursion if time permits. Hen Wallow Falls, only 2' wide at the top, fan out 20' across along its 90' drop down Hen Wallow Creek.

Trail conditions improve past the falls on a methodical climb into the mountains. Grades moderate considerably past 2.95 miles (3,267') on a long, winding stretch around several coves and ravines.

Mild grades with a net descent run quickly under towering hardwoods and hemlock to Greenbrier Creek, just over which is Backcountry Campsite #34 (4.4 miles : 3,087').

A short climb over Site #34 crests and begins another long, winding descent to the Maddron Bald Trail junction (6.5 miles : 2,460'). Turn left to continue clockwise travel.

The Maddron Bald Trail climbs steadily on wide packed gravel that gives way to a narrow, variously steep and rugged track past 7.2 miles (2,735'). You'll reach a scenic bridge over Indian Camp Creek, whose open sunlit banks invite a short respite (8.15 miles : 3,040').

A steep climb over the creek leads to the Albright Grove Loop Trail (8.25 miles : 3,165'), which circles a remarkable swath of old growth forest and rejoins the main trail at 8.85 miles (3,343').

Cove Hardwood Forests feature up to 30 canopy tree species and dozens of flowering shrubs and perennials. Primary constituents include silver bell, yellow poplar, basswood, sugar maple, buckeye, beech, and hemlock. Hickory, red maple, and various oak may also be found. Magnolia, dogwood, beech, holly, laurel and rhododendron fill out the understory.

The Maddron Bald Trail steepens past the second Albright Gove Loop connection on a lightly used, minimally maintained path. Anticipate several unaided stream crossings on this remote stretch. Grades moderate past 9.7 miles in the transition zone between hardwood and pine - oak communities (4,145').

You'll cross Otter Creek to Backcountry Campsite #29, which sits on a high bank (10.85 miles : 4,552'). A strenuous climb over Otter Creek leads to a hairpin turn at 11.7 miles (4,910'), where the forest abruptly introduces dense bands of fir. The trail bends east up the west ridge of Maddron Bald and levels through an opening on the summit with panoramic views to the south (12.4 miles : 5,205').

Maddron Bald is a heath bald, defined as a treeless area in mid - high elevations with distinct plant communities. Heath balds are primarily comprised of mountain laurel, sand myrtle, rhododendron, blueberry and huckleberry. Heath balds in the Smokies are usually attributed to rocky, shallow, and acidic soil beds that are inhospitable to most tree species, but tolerated by low-lying shrubs with more versatile root systems.

The trail re-enters timber and rises sharply through pine, oak, and fir to the Snake Den Ridge Trail split, the loop's highest point (12.85 miles : 5,414'). Here it tilts downhill on a 4.4 mile, knee-jarring descent to the Cosby Campground. Note the rapid transition through distinct ecological communities along the way (from spruce-fir to pine-oak to hardwoods and hemlock).

You'll pass through notably tall hardwood groves between 14-15 miles, and cross Inadu Creek at 15.4 miles (3,513'). The grade finally moderates past the bridge over Little Rock Creek (16.45 miles : 2,824') to an unmarked gravel road (16.5 miles : 2,761'). Note that many Park maps are not granular enough to illustrate this road.

Head downhill on the road .75 miles past an historic cemetery to the official end of the Snake Den Ridge Trail in the Cosby Campground (17.25 miles : 2,432'). Follow paved roads through the campground back to the Gabes Mountain Trailhead (17.75 miles : 2,210').