Spence/Russell Field LoopDifficult

Cades Cove / Pigeon Forge, TN

Difficult
Spence/Russell Field Loop

Distance

13.7 miles

Elevation Gain

2,000 feet

Trailhead

Cades Cove

Location

Pigeon Forge, TN

Trail Description Written by Caroline Sullivan

Spence Field is a mountain highland meadow located on the Tennessee & North Carolina border at an elevation of 4,920 feet. The loop of trails around it is comprised of Anthony Creek Trail, Bote Mountain Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and Russell Field Trail. This loop winds through a mixed forest of hemlock, hardwood, and rhododendron.

Anthony Creek Trail is 3.5 miles long, and to complete this loop you will hike the entirety of it. The trailhead is located at the Cades Cove picnic area. Soon after you set out you'll pass the intersection with Crib Gap Trail, and after 1.6 miles you'll pass the intersection with Russell Field Trail, the last trail in the loop.

Bote Mountain Trail is a longer trail east of Cades Cove. The entirety of the trail is 4.2 miles long extending north where it intersects with Lead Cove Trail, Finley Cane Trail, and West Prong Trail. To reach Spence Field from the Anthony Creek junction you'll head south on Bote Mountain for 1.7 miles until you reach the Appalachian Trail.

At the intersection with the AT, you'll take a short 0.25 mile trip to the left to see the best views from Spence Field. It won't take you long to see your surroundings appear a good bit grassier. Once you make your way through a rhododendron tunnel you'll find the views open up to the east and south with some beautiful views of Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mountain to the east and plentiful mountain peaks to the south. Take some photos and have a snack before backtracking on the AT toward the intersection with Bote Mountain. Continue west on the AT past the intersection and toward Spence Field shelter to continue your loop hike.

Working your way around the loop, you'll continue west on the A.T. for 2.9 miles until you reach the Russell Field Trail junction. It's worth noting that the views aren't particularly worthwhile from either Spence Field shelter or Russell Field shelter, but they both make a nice spot to take a break. Hike north for 3.5 miles to reach Anthony Creek Trail again and return to Cades Cove in 1.6 miles.

A horse camp and campsite #9 are found along the way.

There are several trails in this area that could be combined to create a similar but longer loop hike. Starting at the same trailhead, instead of continuing on Anthony Creek Trail you can turn onto Crib Gap for 1.6 miles and then Lead Cove for 1.8. This will bring you to Bote Mountain Trail and add on 1.2 miles before the remainder of the hike starts following the same path to the Appalachian Trail - a total loop of 14.3 miles.

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Trail Difficulty Scales Explained

Elevation Grade

3%

Fairly Flat

Paul Petzoldt Scale

17.7

Strenuous

5

10

15

Shenandoah Scale

234

Very Strenuous

50

100

150

Hiker Tips & Trivia

  • Spence Field is named after a settler who built a cabin at the field in 1830: James Spence
  • Russell Field and Gregory Bald are both named after Russell Gregory, a 19th century Cades Cove settler and Union supporter. He and other settlers used the field for sheep and cattle grazing. Russell Gregory was killed during a Confederate ambush in 1863.
  • Anthony Creek Trail also functions as a horse trail
  • "I have to start out by saying one thing about this loop - there are a LOT of ROCKS on these trails! Rocks the size of marbles, baseballs, footballs, soccer balls, Volkswagens... I spent a lot of my time watching my footing to avoid turning an ankle." - Randy Small, 900 Miles
  • Most hikers report that the hardest part of this loop is the upper 1.7 miles of Bote Mountain Trail

Trail Map

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