The Incredible Hike In Tennessee That Leads To A Fascinating Abandoned Settlement
By Chris Dodge|Published November 27, 2023
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
The Great Smoky Mountains are filled with marvelous wonders big and small. I feel like you could spend a lifetime in those mountains and never see it all. For instance, did you know there is an abandoned settlement in the Smokies? I’m not talking about the ghost town of Elkmont, either — there is lesser-known gem just waiting to be discovered, too! This trail is like walking back in time to see these old mountains the way they were long before this became the nation’s most visited national park.
The Old Sugarlands Trail starts close to the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Despite the proximity to this popular stop, the trail tends to see far fewer visitors than some of the other more popular spots in the park.
Because of this, the trail is a great place to go when you are looking for a peaceful hike. This trail partly follows the abandoned Sugarland Road which later changed into the highly trafficked New Found Gap Road. That being said, the trail is wider than many of the other hikes in the park.
You may find plenty of wildlife on your journey. Bears are not an uncommon sight in the park... so be on the lookout. Part of the trail will also be following a river, so you will have the stream as a soundtrack to your hike.
Not far into the trail, you will start to see stone walls and abandoned structures. Among some of the fascinating finds left over from passed-on people is the remains of an old clock tower. Keen-eyed observers will find many relics hidden around the forest floor.
Where there once was civilization is now abandoned, but the forest keeps growing. The contrast between old man-made ruins and the abundant life found in the Smokies is striking and makes this trail all the more alluring.
A highly recommended detour is to Rock House and the adjacent abandoned cemetery. Rock House is an impressively intact stone structure left to be reclaimed by nature. You can still see many walls of the home and even a doorway.
The cemetery is equally as interesting where many prominent Appalachian people were buried. Browse the rows of tombstones and see familiar names like the Ogles. This trail is a nice place to visit when the leaves fall because the improved visibility allows for a better view of some of the abandoned structures.
Did you know about this abandoned settlement in the Smokies? I hope this encourages you to explore our incredible national park and appreciate its natural beauty as well as its historical significance. I recommend using the AllTrails App which is a must any time I go hiking. Download the Old Sugarlands and Rock House Trail and keep track while you hike.
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