This is a popular route in the spring thanks to the wide variety of wildflowers that grow along the trail. However, at other points in the year, it offers a quiet trip through the woods.
Making your way through the forest, you have the opportunity to take in the hardwoods and pines in the area. Be on the lookout for trees where bears have marked their territory with scratches. You’ll also find breaks in the trees over two miles into the trail that offer views of the crest of the Smokies, especially Thunderhead Mountain.
The trail climbs gently until you reach the highest point, Chestnut Top. From Chestnut Top, you’ll descend slightly into Bryant Gap, where you’ll meet the park boundary to the right. The trail levels out for the next mile or so until you come to the junction of Schoolhouse Gap Trail and the end of the trail.
The parking area for the Chestnut Top Trail is located roughly one hundred yards north of the Townsend “Y” on Route 73. The parking lot is on the east side of the road, while the trailhead is located directly across the street.