Rabbit Creek Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Make sure you have enough water for about 6 miles of running. Stop to look around; it's a challenging but very beautiful trail.

Your run begins with a water crossing (Mill Creek), so don't put your shoes on just yet from the Cades Cove parking area. Once past this crossing, the trail is set on a mountain crossing all below 2,400 feet but moves quickly upwards toward Coon Butt Mtn. The descent out of the mountain heads toward campsite #15 which is a nice site if you are staying the night. Look around before you choose your home for the night as there is one site right on the water and one further up into the woods. This is a good place to fill up your water supplies.

To continue on, you'll need to cross this creek and the best place to cross is directly in line with the trail across the creek (too deep for boots/shoes). Once back on the trail, you'll climb up Pine Mountain up to about 2,200 feet. The top is the only place where we were able to get a cell signal (with grand views once on top). The descent is fairly steep so pay attention. The bridge crossing is out over Abrams Creek so the safest place to cross this is again right across from the trail on the other side. The water can be swift so you may want to start down a bit further to end at the trail. You can end here or continue the loop. Little Bottoms Campsite #17 is another well-groomed, very popular location, so privacy is fairly non-existent.

Bears have been sighted in the area.