Twentymile Loop Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Wildflowers

A popular run in the remote Twentymile area that combines the Twentymile, Twentymile Loop, and Wolf Ridge trails to form a roughly 8 mile loop. The trail leaves the Twentymile Ranger station and climbs into a second growth forest along an old railroad grade. After roughly half a mile, the trail forks.

There are no services along this trail, so make sure to bring any water and food that you need. There is no cell reception in this part of the park, so make sure people know where you are going before heading out on your run.

The trail is fairly wide and clear of roots and rocks, especially on the Twentymile Trail, making running easy. The trail is narrower when you get on the Twentymile Loop Trail so you'll need to watch your step.

The trail leaves the Twentymile Ranger station and goes around a gate and climbs into a second growth forest along an old railroad grade. The Kitchen Lumber Company logged the area through the 1920s, so you'll be walking through second growth forest. The trail is wide through this section, making for easy walking as it climbs gently uphill.

After roughly half a mile, the trail forks. To the left, a steeper climb up the Wolf Ridge Trail awaits. To the right, the Twentymile Trail climbs gently along the old railroad grade. A short side trail to the Twentymile Cascade breaks off to the right where you can see a small cascade in Twentymile Creek before continuing on your run.

After 1.8 miles from the ranger station, you arrive at Campsite 93, a small campsite along the trail. As you run through the woods, tuplip trees, maples, and magnolia trees can be seen here. At 3.1 miles, you arrive at Proctor Field Gap where the Long Hungry Ridge Trail and Twentymile Loop Trail intersect with the Twentymile Trail. For those wanting to access Gregory's Bald, continue on the Twentymile Trail to climb more steeply to the junction with the Appalachian Trail.

However, for this run take a break here to grab a snack and drink as there are plenty of trees and rocks to sit on. The Twentymile Loop Trail narrows and drops downhill while the Long Hungry Ridge Trail heads uphill as well. The trail drops for about half a mile before starting a steady climb around ridges until you pass through a gap and start a steep descent as the trail makes its way toward Moore Springs Branch. After crossing a footlog, the trail arrives back at Wolf Ridge Trail.

Going right takes up you toward Gregory's Bald, while going left leads you back toward the Twentymile Ranger Station and your car. The trail is slightly wider here and crosses the creek on several log bridges, which makes it easier. The Little Brown Book (Hiking Trails of the Smokies) mentions having to wade or rock hop creeks, but this is no longer needed due to the bridges.

On a warm day, there are several deeper holes if there is a lot of water in the creek that can offer a place to cool off during your run. The trail meets back up at the junction with the Twentymile Trail, and you retrace your steps back to your car.

Tuliptrees, maples, pines, hemlocks, oaks, white ash, magnolias and basswoods can be seen in this second growth forest. In the spring time, you can see wildflowers, like pink lady's slippers, can be seen along the trail.

As mentioned above, the Twentymile area was extensively logged by the Kitchen Lumber Company in the 1920s. They build railroad tracks, some of which the trails, throughout the area to get the timber out of the area. Once the area became a National Park, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made improvements to the area and trails.