About
Length (round trip)2.6 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain400 ft up
Typical time1 hr 30 min
TrailheadMetcalf Bottoms picnic area
SurfaceOld roadbed and forest path
Best seasonApril to June for wildflowers, mid-October for fall colour. High elevations are cold and icy from November to March.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilitySome steep sections plus occasional roots and rocks.
What you'll see 🏛️ Historic site

Overview Hike 3.4 miles (5.5 km) roundtrip from the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park through hardwood forest to see remnants of past Smokies residents including stonework; the historic, one-room Little Greenbrier School; and the preserved homesite of the Walker family. This hike begins on the Metcalf Bottoms Trail, located just beyond the bridge that connects Wears Cove Gap Road to the picnic area. leading to the historic Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse. The path is a well-packed dirt trail that gently climbs through the forest. Alternatively, the schoolhouse can also be accessed via a seasonally open gravel road off Wears Cove Gap Road. From the schoolhouse, the route continues uphill along a wide gravel roadbed, which is part of the Little Brier Gap Trail. This section leads to the preserved 19th-century homestead of the Walker family. Originally built in the 1840s, the cabin features two spacious rooms with fireplaces and a charming front porch. The site also includes a spring house and a corn crib, offering a glimpse into Appalachian mountain life of the past. Length 3.4 miles (5.5 km) roundtrip Parking & Trailhead After parking at the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, walk across the small bridge north of the picnic area to find the Metcalf Bottoms Trailhead. Don't forget your parking tag . Nearest Restroom Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area Alternate Hikes John Oliver Cabin : 0.3 miles (0.5 km) roundtrip Little River, Cucumber Gap, Jakes Creek Loop : 5.4 miles (8.7 km) roundtrip Noah Bud Ogle Homesite: ~0.7 miles (1.1 km) roundtrip loop

Tips
The Walker sisters refused to leave when the park was created and lived on here without electricity into the 1960s. The schoolhouse is open to walk into.
Location

Metcalf Bottoms picnic area

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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