Hannah Mountain Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views

The Hannah Mountain Trail affords one of the very best running surfaces of any trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. The grade is always easy and the track smooth, free of obstruction, and cushioned underfoot with thick carpets of pine needles.

The most difficult part of the Hannah Mountain Trail is the first hundred yards, where it fords Abrams Creek and begins climbing away from the stream. Abrams Creek is wide and deep at this juncture and, after rain, crossing can be extremely difficult. Beyond the stream the trail skirts the edge of a creek bottom before easing away from the stream drainage.

Two miles above Abrams Creek, the trail enters Scott Gap and intersects the Rabbit Creek Trail. At the junction, an access path on the right exits down to the Scott Gap Backcountry Campsite (#16).

When leaving Scott Gap, the trail continues on gentle grades until nearing the crest of Polecat Ridge. It soon drops away from the ridgeline and enters the cooler recesses of the Polecat Branch drainage. A sharp left-hand turn marks the end of the descent and the beginning of a climb into Flint Gap and the Flint Gap Backcountry Campsite (#14).

Beyond Flint Gap, the trail follows along the northwest slope of Hannah Mountain, affording nice views down into the heavily forested Hannah Branch drainage. After working its way to an eastern exposure, the trail reaches the crest of Hannah Mountain and continues on the ridgeline to its terminus at Sams Gap.

This content was contributed by author Ken Wise. For a comprehensive hiking guide to the Great Smoky Mountains and to see more by Ken, click here.

White pine, pignut hickory, red maple, and a variety of oaks dominate the landscape.