Hike to the summit of Mount Cammerer in the Great Smoky Mountains

The hike to the summit of Mount Cammerer is a prime example of the excellent trails and views the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer.  

This 11.1 mile round trip path will have hikers taking the steep Low Gap Trail to the Appalachian Trail which will lead to the summit of the 4,928 foot Mount Cammerer.

Begin the journey at the Low Gap Trailhead by the Crosby Campgrounds.  The Low Gap Trail is a steep 3 miles of grueling switchbacks that don’t seem to let up.  Keep in mind, the majority of the elevation gain is on this section of the hike and is the only difficult climb hikers will face.  Hikers will get views of beautiful streams and wildlife around this section of the trail.  I personally managed to see two black bears along the Low Gap Trail.

After the 3 miles of the Low Gap Trail, hikers will arrive at a junction with the Appalachian Trail.  The junction is clearly marked and also a great place to take a breather and regain some energy.  Hikers will want to take a left at this junction to continue 2.1 miles on the Appalachian Trail towards the Mt. Cammerer Trail.

This section of the Appalachian trail will begin with a little elevation gain but quickly flattens out to a relatively easy hike.  Along this trail hikers will see a variety of beautiful wildflowers as well be teased with hints of the vista to come as travelers approach Mount Cammerer.

After 2.1 miles of the Appalachian trail, Hikers will again come to a small junction which will point to the rugged Mount Cammerer Spur trail.  The trail is somewhat uneven and does require a little rock scrambling to get to the end.

Hikers will know they have made it when they see the top of the old fire lookout tower.  This tower, built in the 1930s, sits atop Mount Cammerer and provides a full 360 degree view of the surrounding Smoky Mountains.

On a clear day, the views are spectacular and some of the best in the Great Smoky Mountains. They alone are well worth the journey to the summit.