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    Vacation » Hiking » Hike to Brushy Mountain

    Hike to Brushy Mountain

    Posted: 09/26/2011 | Last updated: 08/17/2015 by Erin 6 Comments
    Post may contain affiliate links via Amazon Associates or other programs. (Disclosure)

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    Trail: Brushy Mountain via Trillium Gap
    Distance: 6.8 miles round trip
    Total Elevation Gain: 1,745 feet
    Directions: At light #8 in Gatlinburg, turn onto Airport Road.  After 0.7 miles, stay to the right onto Cherokee Orchard Road.  Travel another 2.2 miles into the one-way Cherokee Orchard Loop.   Stay 0.9 miles on the loop and turn right onto Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The parking lot for the trail to Brushy Mountain will be on the left side of the road, and people also park alongside the road beyond the parking area.  This is a very busy trail, so I recommend getting there as early as possible.  We were able to snag an actual parking spot because we start our hikes around 8am, but when we came back it was an absolute sea of cars with both sides of the road lined with vehicles.  Madness, I tell you.  Madness!

     

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Did you expect anything else?  C'mon, you know the drill by now!

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Trillium Gap trail leads to Grotto Falls (where most beginner hikers turn back), Brushy Mountain, and the summit of LeConte.  In fact, this trail is the llama route up LeConte for workers at the Lodge, so the trail is littered with llama poo.  Watch your step!

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    It was a misty day, and the trail is heavily shaded.  It was downright dark in some places.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    The early morning sun filtered through the mist and was really quite beautiful.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    We saw our first small waterfall just before reaching Grotto.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Because we arrived early, we had Grotto Falls completely to ourselves, which was ideal because we were able to take the popular "standing behind the falls" photos!  When we came back down later in the day, the place was so crowded with people that getting a clean photo would have been impossible.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    It's so unique to be able to walk behind the falls!

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    From behind the falls.  We got wet from the spray, but at least it was a hot day!

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Past the falls, the trail continues up the mountain.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    As we climbed, the clouds got thicker..

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Spooky-wooky!

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Shrewm.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Pretty light filtering through the leaves.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Chestnut!

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    I got a little excited when I saw these red leaves.  I thought for sure it was a hint of fall!  Not likely (this hike was in August) but hey.. I can dream.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    The clouds were moving quickly, so we experienced periods of sunlight, followed by dark mist again.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    You'll eventually come to a crossroads where you can choose several directions, including the LeConte summit or Brushy Mountain.. we were just 0.2 miles from our destination!

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    This was the neatest part of this trail, or maybe any trail, that I've seen.  The last quarter mile of the trail is literally a tunnel of rhododendrons and mossy rocks.  The trail itself is loose flat rocks that made walking quickly a pain in the butt, but it was so flippin' cool!

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    When we reached the end we were greeted with what we expected.. a view obscured by thick fast-moving clouds.  It was still cozy and nice.

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    As the clouds blew through, sometimes we couldn't see to the next hillside, and sometimes we could.  We even caught a brief glimpse of LeConte!

     

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    The usual.  Fluffernutter and Elviswich (pb and banana)  No, we aren't creatures of habit - why do you ask?

    Hiking the Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
    I was feeling nostalgic and brought along some animal crackers to relive a bit of my childhood.

    Overall, great trail!!  Definitely take our advice and go early, because the crowds were a real pain when coming back down through Grotto Falls, and parking later in the day would have been impossible.  So set those alarms and brew that coffee!

    Related posts:

    1. Hike to Mt. LeConte!
    2. Hike to Rainbow Falls
    3. Hiking Little Bottoms Trail - Crazy Tornado Damage!
    4. 2011 Hiking Round-Up
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    About Erin

    Erin is a mom of two human babies and two fur-covered babies. She loves comfy clothes, eats too much peanut butter, and watches excessive amounts of Netflix. Make her day and toss her a like on Facebook or follow her on Instagram. Post may contain affiliate links including those via the Amazon Associates program

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Justin Young

      October 26, 2016 at 8:16 pm

      Thanks for the pictures and trail writeup. I hiked this many years ago now and still remember that rhododendron tunnel. Maybe I'll go back up someday soon 🙂

      Reply
    2. Natasha Arwood

      September 15, 2013 at 10:01 pm

      How early did you start at the trail?

      Reply
      • Erin

        September 16, 2013 at 8:30 am

        We were at the parking area by around 8am. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Susan Sutherlin

      September 27, 2011 at 8:29 pm

      Lovelieness....

      Reply
    4. Remington

      September 26, 2011 at 10:40 pm

      Yay for hikin' pitchers!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Erin! I love food and I bet you do, too! I cook for my family and share the recipes that we love. We also like to camp, so there will be a fair bit about that around here, too.

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