Hen Wallow Falls – a very popular and picturesque Smoky Mountain waterfall, is the destination of thousand of hikers every year which means trails like the Gabes Mountain Trail see a lot of action during the spring and summer months.
The 6.6 mile Gabes Mountain Trail is well worth the hike not only because of the falls, but for the old growth forest found surrounding the trail.
To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 40 in Tennessee take the Foothills Parkway to Cosby, TN. Take Tennessee Hwy. 32 at the Cosby Post Office, turn into the park and head toward the Cosby Campground. Park at the campground registration building and cross the road to meet the trail.
The trail is sheltered by mountains and giant trees of every species to its north. You’ll cross a number of small creeks by foot log on your way as well as a side trail back to the Cosby Campground. An old traffic loop that used to take visitors to Hen Wallow Falls is passed before you notice a number of old home sites along the trail on the other side of the loop. You can tell by the old chimneys.
Continuing on, the trail ascends and crosses another creek before rising past some large rocks and at mile 2.1 you come to an offshoot which takes one right down to the base of the falls. You’ve reached Hen Wallow Falls.