There are several ways to get to this trail. You can work your way to the Schoolhouse Gap Trail from Laurel Creek Road to meet this trail, but you have almost 1,300 feet of climbing if you choose this way. Another access point is to park in Cades Cove and head out on the Crooked Arm Ridge Trail to meet up with the trail, as described here. If you are looking for a quiet trail without the crowd, this is the one for you.
The trail goes by a small spring that provides water for the camp, and then continues through the woods. Like most forests in the park, this area was harvested in the early 1900s before becoming part of the National Park. You’ll find newer trees growing in this area as the forest continues to recover from the logging efforts.
Erosion in this area can make it tricky to navigate, so make sure you are paying attention. You’ll need to rock hop a small spring, and then the trail begins to switch back as you move away from the ridgeline.
The trail will pass Whiteoak Sink between 2.5 and 2.75 miles and a famous cave called the “blow hole.” Due to White Nose Syndrome, a disease that infects bats, the cave is closed to humans. You’ll pass several cottages or homes that lie just outside the park boundary, a reminder of what the park would be like today if it wasn’t protected.