Cherokee Hiking Club
198 Crews Drive, Benton, TN 37307

Hen Wallow Falls Trail
Saturday, April 28, 2012

Brief Description:   This fun hike will be to Hen Wallow Falls, which begins in the Cosby Campground of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The trail is rated easy to moderate with a round trip distance of 4.3 miles.  There are some brief, steep areas. This hike, which crosses some longer hikes (Maddron Bald, Albright Grove), goes through hemlocks, rhododendrons, and lush forest to the falls, which is 90 feet high. Following the hike, we plan to eat at Carver's Apple House, a favorite restaurant in the Cosby area. After the meal, hikers are welcome to make a visit to the "Bearfoot at Rabbit Creek" cabin of Phil and Lettie Burress which is only a short distance from the Apple House. 

Length:  4.3 miles

Difficulty Rating: Easy to Moderate

Elevation Gain: Several hundred feet from the trail head up to the falls.

Hike Leader:  Randy Morris, 423-650-0485. If interested in attending you must call Randy Morris no later than 8 p.m. Friday, April 27.

Directions to the Trailhead:  We will leave from Home Depot in Cleveland at 8:30 a.m. and meet any hikers from the Athens/Etowah area at the Athens Burger King (Exit 49) at 9:00 for the two hour drive on to Cosby. Please note that no one will be at the meeting locations if the hike is cancelled so it is imperative that you call Randy if you plan on attending as he will need a call list in the event of cancellation.

Post Trip Report: April 28 was a beautiful Saturday in the Smokies as four Cherokee hikers drove to Cosby Campground and met with Lettie Burress to hike the trail to Hens Wallow Falls.  It was a perfect hiking day on a great trail, to a pleasant ending at the Falls. Wildflower discoveries included Pink Ladies Slipper, yellow/burgandy trillium, and geraniums, as well as an eerie looking cluster of seven millipedes gathered in conference on a tree trunk.  The total hike distance was 4.2 miles. The rewarding hike was followed by a well-earned meal at Carver's Apple House (joined by Phil Burress) and a trip to their produce barn.  The group topped off their day with a visit to Phil and Lettie's cabin, where they admired the gurgling creek and grieved over the recent loss of an old hemlock. Hikers enjoying the day with Lettie were Edmund and Gail Gray, Jane Bohannon, and Sheila Bailey, as shown below (Jane took the picture).

 

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