Roughly 5.6 miles from the Townsend “Y” headed toward Cades Cove, the Turkeypen Ridge Trail lies just off of Laurel Creek Road.
You will cross a small branch of Laurel Creek as the trail ascends, passing old fields ablaze with wildflowers such as azaleas and trillium. Once you pass through a gap in the mountains, the trail levels out and follows the ridgeline, bringing you to the cooler, moist hollows closer to the mountain. The forest changes from pine and oak to that of rhododendron, mountain laurel, and other hardwood.
The last .75 miles is a descent to Dorsey Gap, where you can return to your car via the path you came, or or head right and follow the Schoolhouse Gap Trail back to Laurel Creek Road.