Mount Cammerer via Low Gap Trail

Best hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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“There's nothing quite like a beautiful view and a nice cup of coffee. - You have to see this 360 view at Sunrise.”

Mount Cammerer via Low Gap Trail is a 11.9 mile round trip destination located near Cosby, TN. The trail is rated difficult and you can expect to gain a total of 3,169 ft of elevation on this hike. The view at the summit provides a 360 view of Smoky Mountains.This is one of my favorite hikes in the Smoky's and if you're up for an adventure I suggest catching sunrise at the summit.

Daypack Gear

• Osprey backpack

• Jetboil

• Fillable tea bags, for brewing coffee

• Kind bars

• Water bladder

• Phone tripod with remote

• Keen boots

• Headlamp

Departing for Sunrise

In order to catch sunrise you have start at the trailhead which is located in the Cosby Campground 3 hours prior to sunrise. You can adjust that time according to your average hiking pace but allow yourself enough time to hike nearly 6 miles to reach the summit. I hiked with a friend and it took us a little over 2 hours to reach the summit. Make sure to pack a headlamp for the journey you'll be hiking in the dark. When you eliminate something like daylight you learn to appreciate different aspects of the trail; the sounds of wildlife and the stillness of the night to name a few.

There's nothing quite like a beautiful view and a nice cup of coffee. I typically pack my very light weight Jetboil to warm water and enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea. If you don't have a Jetboil I highly recommend it. I used fillable tea bags, for brewing coffee. This is a mega pro tip, I'm talking about a game changer. Try it out and thank me later.

The break of dawn

There's a very magical moment as the sun rises at the fire tower when the windows completely light up a fire orange from the sun's reflection. Imagine for a moment the sky in the background, a sea of beautiful colors and the towers windows lit up a bright orange. On top of a serene sunrise a backdrop of endless rolling mountains accompany that moment. Imagine enjoying that view with a hot cup of coffee, just magical!

The hike back

It's so hard to say goodbye, so the song says, and it's true. The surprise about hiking up while dark is that the hike back is all new. One of my favorite things about the the Great Smoky Mountains is the fog that moves so swiftly through the mountains. Fog on the trail gives it such a mystical look and feel. We were lucky enough to experience the fog passing through. A portion of the trail is along the Appalachian trail which great to trek on such an iconic path.

Walking through patches of wildflowers, crossing streams and beautifully crafted foot bridges. This is at the top of my list for favorite hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.