The forested stretch of East Tennessee is both wild and raw, home to the famed Great Smoky Mountains National Park and countless animal and plant life. One of the most underutilized routes through the park is the hike to Mount Cammerer in Tennessee 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 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. Our friends over at AllTails have the Mount Cammerer difficulty rated as a hard hike. We would agree that it is a difficult climb but well worth the effort.
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 welcome. The Low Gap Trail route provides the shortest means to the summit of Mount Cammerer, though the hike also boasts an impressive elevation gain. With so much beauty packed into one trail, the Mount Crammerer reviews all agree this is an amazing trail.
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 the 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 Mount Cammerer in Tennessee 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! The best way to do that is to download the AllTrails app and it will help you with everything you need before you head out on this epic hike. Learn more about the beauty found in the Great Smoky Mountains with this OnlyInYourState video:
To make the most of your time in the Smokies stick around the Gatlinburg area for a little by booking a stay at the Nestled Inn.
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