
Distance (One Way)
Elevation Gain
Trailhead
Trail Description
Gregory Ridge Trail is a 5 mile trail accessible from the end of Forge Creek Road. It is most often trekked to reach Gregory Bald (5.8 miles from the trailhead) about 0.8 of a mile away from intersection with Gregory Bald Trail.
The Gregory Ridge trailhead is only about 2 miles from Cades Cove on Forge Creek Road. You can reach it via the Cades Cove loop just past the visitor center and Cable Mill area. About 0.1 of a mile past the gate for Parson Branch Road, you will find a small circular parking area for 6-10 vehicles.
Note: If you park your car here, you can get back to Cades Cove on the two-lane Forge Creek Road. Continuing south past the trailhead (toward the Gregory Bald Trail trailhead) on Parson Branch Road will force you to exit on the southern side of the park. For this reason, Gregory Ridge Trail is the more popular hike option for hikers reaching the trail through Townsend, so they can exit the way they came in.
This trail includes 3 footbridges, backcountry campsite #12 just a couple miles from the trailhead, and some significant old growth forest after campsite #12. This trail is mostly a relentless climb and is considered one of the more difficult trails in the park. After passing the backcountry campsite, the trail has an average slope of 800 feet per mile. Your climb is rewarded, however, with lots of beauty on and around the trail.
In the summer you'll enjoy the shade of a lovely tunnel of mountain laurel. At around the 4.0 mile marker the trail will open up significantly, yielding views of the western side of the park's mountains. Some sights to look out for include Forge Knob, Brier Lick Knob, Doe Knob, Mud Gap, Ekaneetlee Gap, Spence Field, and Thunderhead Mountain - the highest peak in the area at 5,527 feet.
The last quarter mile of Gregory Ridge Trail levels out nicely before meeting Long Hungry Ridge Trail and Gregory Bald Trail at Rich Gap. To reach Gregory Bald, take a right onto Gregory Bald Trail and continue uphill for about three quarters of a mile. In late June, you'll be treated to a magnificent display of flame azaleas in a variety of spectacular different colors. The genetic mix of colors is unique to this location.
Gregory Bald is one of two balds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that is maintained by the park service; the other is Andrews Bald. No one is completely sure how these grassy balds were originally formed. Some theories suggest lightning strikes, animal grazing, or development by the Cherokee people that originally occupied these lands before they were forced out by white settlers.
It is possible to make the trek to Gregory Bald a loop hike by adding on a bit of road walking on Parson Branch Road. You can descend Gregory Bald Trail for 4.5 miles to Sams Gap, and then continue your descent for 3.3 more miles on the road to reach your car back at the Gregory Ridge trailhead for a total of 13.6 miles round trip. Alternatively, if you prefer a longer trek up than down, you can park your car at the same trailhead, ascend on Parson Branch Road and Gregory Bald trail for a total of 7.8 miles up, and back down Gregory Ridge trail for 5.8 miles.
[+ Read More]Gregory Ridge Trail (Gregory Bald) Elevation Profile

Trail Difficulty Scales Explained
Elevation Grade
10%
Fairly Steep
Paul Petzoldt Scale
10.3
Strenuous
5
10
15
Shenandoah Scale
163
Strenuous
50
100
150
Photo Gallery (12)












Trail Map
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Gregory Bald and the Flame Azaleas
I had the pleasure of hiking to Gregory Bald on Saturday to see the flame azaleas. It was wonderful to experience the beautiful azaleas, but the getting there was honestly a challenge. We hiked the Gregory Ridge Trail. The trailhead is loca...
Read This PostWildflower Trails in the Great Smoky Mountains
Wildflower trails in the Smokies are not in short supply. From flame azaleas to rhododendrons, the Great Smoky Mountains are filled with so many glorious types of wildflowers. Check out these top wildflower trails this upcoming spring or su...
Read This Post- Abrams Falls Trail (4.2 mi)
- Ace Gap Trail (5.4 mi)
- Albright Grove Loop Trail (0.7 mi)
- Alum Cave Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5 mi)
- Andrews Bald via Forney Ridge Trail (1.8 mi)
- Anthony Creek Trail (3.5 mi)
- Appalachian Trail Smoky Mountains Segment (71.7 mi)
- Baskins Creek Trail (2.7 mi)
- Baxter Creek Trail (Mt. Sterling) (6.2 mi)
- Big Creek Trail (Mouse Creek Falls, Midnight Hole) (5.8 mi)
- Bote Mountain Trail (6.6 mi)
- Boulevard Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5.4 mi)
- Bradley Fork Trail (7.3 mi)
- Brushy Mountain Trail (Mt. LeConte) (4.9 mi)
- Bullhead Trail (Mt. LeConte) (5.9 mi)
- Cataract Falls (Fighting Creek, Cove Mountain Trail) (0.5 mi)
- Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail (4.2 mi)
- Charlies Bunion via Kephart Prong Loop (14.2 mi)
- Chestnut Branch Trail (2.1 mi)
- Chestnut Top Trail (4.3 mi)
- Chimney Tops Trail (2 mi)
- Clingmans Dome Trail (0.6 mi)
- Cooper Road Trail (10.5 mi)
- Cove Mountain Trail (8.5 mi)
- Crooked Arm Ridge Trail (2.2 mi)
- Cucumber Gap Trail (2.4 mi)
- Curry Mountain Trail (3.3 mi)
- Dry Sluice Gap Trail (4.2 mi)
- Eagle Creek Trail (8.9 mi)
- Elkmont Nature Trail (0.8 mi)
- Finley Cane Trail (2.8 mi)
- Forney Ridge Trail (5.4 mi)
- Gabes Mountain Trail (Hen Wallow Falls) (6.6 mi)
- Gatlinburg Trail (1.9 mi)
- Goldmine Trail (0.8 mi)
- Grapeyard Ridge Trail (7.6 mi)
- Gregory Bald Trail (Gregory Bald) (7.3 mi)
- Gregory Ridge Trail (Gregory Bald) (5 mi)
- Grotto Falls (Trillium Gap Trail) (1.4 mi)
- Hannah Mountain Trail (9.5 mi)
- Hatcher Mountain Trail (2.6 mi)
- Huskey Gap Trail (4.1 mi)
- Indian Grave Gap Trail (3.7 mi)
- Jakes Creek Trail (3.7 mi)
- Kephart Prong Trail (2 mi)
- Laurel Falls Trail (4 mi)
- Lead Cove Trail (1.8 mi)
- Little Bottoms Trail (2.3 mi)
- Little Brier Gap Trail (Walker Sisters Cabin) (1.4 mi)
- Little Greenbrier Trail (4.3 mi)
- Little River Trail (6.1 mi)
- Low Gap Trail (5.4 mi)
- Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail (7.4 mi)
- Lumber Ridge Trail (4.1 mi)
- Lynn Camp Prong Trail (3.7 mi)
- Maddron Bald Trail (Albright Grove) (7.3 mi)
- Meigs Creek Trail (3.5 mi)
- Meigs Mountain Trail (6 mi)
- Metcalf Bottoms Trail (0.7 mi)
- Middle Prong Trail (Indian Flat Falls) (4.1 mi)
- Miry Ridge Trail (5 mi)
- Mt. Cammerer Trail via Low Gap + AT (5.6 mi)
- Mt. Sterling Ridge Trail (5.3 mi)
- Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome (7.9 mi)
- Noland Creek Trail (9.2 mi)
- Old Settlers Trail (15.8 mi)
- Old Sugarlands Trail (3.9 mi)
- Panther Creek Trail (2.3 mi)
- Porters Creek Trail (Fern Branch Falls) (3.7 mi)
- Rabbit Creek Trail (7.8 mi)
- Rainbow Falls Trail (Mt. LeConte) (6.6 mi)
- Ramsey Cascades Trail (4 mi)
- Rich Mountain Loop (8.7 mi)
- Roundtop Trail (7.5 mi)
- Russell Field Trail (3.5 mi)
- Schoolhouse Gap Trail (Whiteoak Sink) (2.1 mi)
- Shuckstack Fire Tower from Fontana Dam (4.6 mi)
- Spence/Russell Field Loop (13.7 mi)
- Spruce Flats Falls Trail (Buckeye) (1 mi)
- Sugarland Mountain Trail (11.9 mi)
- Swallow Fork Trail (4 mi)
- Sweat Heifer Creek Trail (3.7 mi)
- The Jump Off (Boulevard Trail) (3.3 mi)
- Thunderhead Mountain (Rocky Top) (6.1 mi)
- Trillium Gap Trail (Grotto Falls, Mt. LeConte) (8.9 mi)
- Turkeypen Ridge Trail (3.6 mi)
- Twentymile Loop Trail (2.9 mi)
- Twentymile Trail (5 mi)
- Whiteoak Sink via Schoolhouse Gap Trail (2.3 mi)
The above list of hiking trails in the Smokies is incomplete and constantly being updated. If you have information or photos you would like to contribute, please contact [email protected].