Northern Districts of Cherokee National Forest Hiking Trails

The northern districts have excellent hiking and riding trails with vast expanses of forested hills and mountains, scenic overlooks and lots of wildlife.

This is only a select list of trails, so check with the ranger station for more trails, current maps and information. These trails are linear and not looped, unless otherwise noted. Trail mileages are one way.

Hiking Trails

Little Paint Creek Trail, #11:

Easy, 3.0 miles. Check out the trailhead information board for area history and logging/railroad remnants you can still see along the trail.

Paint Creek Trail, #10:

Easy, 3.0 miles. Meanders along Paint Creek from the Paint Creek Rec. area.

Granny Lewis Trail, #108:

(Temple Hill vicinity) Moderate, 2.9 miles. Meanders along Granny Lewis Creek.

Appalachian Trail segment, Highway 91 to 421, #1:

Moderate, 6.9 miles. See description of the Appalachian Trail, running from Georgia to Maine, on this page.

lron Mountain Trail segment. Highway 421/91 to Damascus, VA, #54:

Moderate 12.9 miles. Paralleling the A.T. on opposite mountain tops, this trail can be cornbined with the A.T. to form a multi-day loop route.

Holston Mountain Trail, #44:

Moderate, 8.3 miles. This trail was formerly a segment of the A.T., and offers excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

Horse Trails

Stamping Ground Trail, #110:

(Unaka Mountain/Limestone Cove) Moderate, 3.38 miles. Passe through the Unaka Mountain Wilderness.

Horse & Mountain Bicycle Trails

Jennings Creek Complex, #21, 24, 195:

(Old Forge/Round Knob vicinity) Three easy to moderate trails form a 5-mile loop.

Chimney Rock Trail, #154:

(Weaver Bend vicinity) 2.5 miles. Use forest roads to lengthen ride.

Rogers Ridge Horse Trail, #192:

(Laurel Bloomery vicinity) Moderate, 5.7 miles. Climbs to the crest of Rogers Ridge and passes through mountain balds.

Flatwoods Horse Trail, #46:

(South Holston Lake vicinity) Easy, 13.75 miles. Can be combined with forest roads to form a system of loops.

As noted on page 2, gated (closed) roads may be used for horseback and mountain bicycle riding. Here are some suggested roads:

Forest Road 107:

(Unaka Springs vicinity) 6.4 miles.

Forest Road 410:

(Martin's Creek vicinity) 2.5 miles.

Forest Road 4365:

(from Long Branch to Nelson Gap) 1.38 miles; gated seasonally.

Forest Road 41:

(from Paint Creek Recreation Area to Paint Rock) 10 miles.

Forest Road 4431:

(Dogwood Bench Road, from U.S. 421 to Forest Road 32) 7.6 miles

Forest Road 4002:

(Pine Mountain Road from U.S. 421 to Forest Road 32) 5.4 miles.

ATV Trails

Buffalo Mountain ATV Trail #29:

Easy to moderate, 12.79 miles. Paved trailhead at Horse Cove Gap; scenic views of Unaka Mtn.

all information deemed reliable but not guaranteed