***  Due to the continued closure of the Cosby Entrance Road, a different hike is now planned for this date ***

This challenging hike will take us from the bottomlands of Cades Cove all the way up to the Appalachian Trail. We will begin at the Cades Cove picnic area, working our way up the Anthony Creek Trail admiring any lingering spring wildflowers along the way.  We will continue our climb to higher elevations on the Bote Mountain Trail, passing through hemlock forests and a spruce/fir ecosystem. Then at about 4900’ we will reach the AT and Spence Field.  We will follow the AT south a few miles, enjoying views along the way, to the Russell Field shelter.  Here we will enjoy our lunch (and a well-deserved rest) before we start the descent back down the mountain on the Russell Field Trail and the Anthony Creek Trail to Cades Cove to complete our hike. This hike is about 13.2 miles and rated Very Difficult due to an unrelenting 3200’ elevation gain.

Because of the challenge parking can be in Cades Cove, we will start our hike a little early.  Meet at Kroger in Alcoa (244 S. Hall Rd, on the right coming from Knoxville just past Burger King; park on the side near the KARM Store) ready to leave at 7:00am {Drive: 58 miles RT @7¢/mile=$4.00 rounded} or at the Anthony Creek trailhead at the back of Cades Cove Picnic Area at 8:00am.  The leader will meet you at the trailhead.