AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mount Harrison–Bear Cub Way, 4 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 4,012 ft · 7 hr 8 min

Mount Harrison–Bear Cub Way, 4 sights is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Elkmont, TN. The route reaches Mount Harrison. It climbs 4,012 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,280 – 4,026 ft · steepest grade: 31%15.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Laurel Falls Parking B 35.67194, -83.58018
Nearest town Elkmont, TN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Harrison–Bear Cub Way, 4 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 4,012 ft · 7 hr 8 min

Elevation 2,281–4,027 ft

Out & Back · Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Trailhead: Laurel Falls Parking B · 35.67194, -83.58018

Weather Sep 5: Mostly clear, high 89°F / low 73° · precip 6% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 7:10 AM · sunset 7:59 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Laurel Falls Parking B, heading W.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto Laurel Falls Trail, heading W.
  3. 4 miBear right onto Cove Mountain Trail, heading NE.
  4. 2.1 miBear left, heading E.
  5. 0.3 miPass Mount Harrison.
  6. 0.9 miTurn right onto Bear Cub Way, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftBear left onto Ski High Drive, heading NE.
  8. 0.5 miReach Mount Harrison, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.5 miBear right onto Bear Cub Way, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Cove Mountain Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  13. 0.9 miBear left, heading W.
  14. 1.3 miBear left onto Laurel Falls Trail, heading W.
  15. 4 miContinue straight onto Laurel Falls Parking B, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/mount-harrison-bear-cub-way-out-back-4-sights

Trail surface

62% dirt16% paved22% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 89°F73°
Precip6%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity67%
Rained 0.1″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
90°70°
Sunrise 7:10 AM12 AM3 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:59 PM
Sat 89°72° 26%
Sun 84°68° 31%
Mon 77°65° 49%
Tue 83°62°
Wed 85°65°
Thu 87°68° 29%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.0 mi in (~151 min). Leave by 5:09 PM for the 7:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Laurel Falls Parking B Trailhead

Hikes near Elkmont, Tennessee