44 Cosby Nature Trail

Cosby Self-Guiding Nature Trail makes a great outing for families staying at the nearby campground, but it’s also worth driving here just for the hike. The trail passes through a splendid forest with many large trees. In spring wildflowers carpet the ground. Use the trail brochure to learn some of the history and nature at the numbered posts.

Start: Cosby Campground

Distance: 1.0-mile loop

Hiking time: About 45 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Trail surface: Forest trail

Best season: Spring for the wildflowers

Other trail users: Hikers only

Maps: Hartford USGS quad; Trails Illustrated #229 Great Smoky Mountains; Trails Illustrated #317 Clingmans Dome Cataloochee

Other: The parking lot holds only a few vehicles, but you shouldn’t have a problem. If it’s full, you can park at the hiker parking lot behind the campground registration building, which is where you want to park for any extended hiking in the area. Restrooms are available at the picnic area.

Finding the trailhead: From the US 321 and TN 32 junction in Cosby, drive 1.2 miles and turn right at the sign for Cosby Campground. Follow this road 2.2 miles (passing by the trailhead for Hikes 45 and 46) to the parking lot on the left at the campground amphitheater. The signed and obvious trail begins from the parking lot. GPS: N35 45.245' / W83 12.419'

The Hike

Start from the parking lot and in a few feet meet Low Gap Trail. Low Gap Trail starts at the hiker parking area behind the campground registration building and creates part of the loop for the nature trail on its way to the Appalachian Trail. Turn right, but do not take the immediate side path that leads down to Cosby Creek. Continue straight, and in a short distance, another path turns to the left. Take this path and wind through a scenic forest and over numerous foot logs. You come back to Low Gap Trail a short distance above where you broke off from it. Turn right, cross Cosby Creek on a foot log, and then come to a side path cutting sharply left that leads to the road. Stay to the right and hike a short distance back to the trailhead.

Miles and Directions

0.0Start on the obvious path from the parking lot. In a few feet turn right on Low Gap Trail and pass by a side path on the left.

0.1Look for a signed path on the left for the nature trail.

0.8The nature trail returns to Low Gap Trail. Turn right on it.

1.0Arrive back at trailhead.