Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Flats–Gold Mine Gap, 7 sights

12.4 mi · ▲ 1,906 ft · 5 hr 5 min

The Flats–Gold Mine Gap, 7 sights is a 12.4-mile out-and-back in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Happy Valley, TN. The route passes Gold Mine Gap, The Flats and Cane Gap. It climbs 1,906 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 82/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi1,112 – 2,064 ft · steepest grade: 19%12.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Cooper Road Trail 35.61063, -83.93286
Nearest town Happy Valley, TN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Flats–Gold Mine Gap, 7 sights

12.4 mi · ▲ 1,906 ft · 5 hr 5 min

Elevation 1,112–2,065 ft

Out & Back · Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Trailhead: Cooper Road Trail · 35.61063, -83.93286

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 8:01 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start on Cooper Road Trail, heading E.
  2. 2.5 miPass Gold Mine Gap.
  3. 50 ftSharp left onto Gold Mine Trail, heading W.
  4. 1 miReach The Flats, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 1 miBear left onto Cooper Road Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.5 miPass Cane Gap.
  7. 1.7 miBear right onto Hatcher Mountain Trail, heading SW.
  8. 2.5 miSharp left onto Little Bottoms Trail, heading N.
  9. 2.2 miTurn left onto Cooper Road Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 7:11 AMSunset 8:01 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

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