Little Cataloochee and Long Bunk Trails

The Cook Cabin c. 1856

The Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its many elk and for several historic structures that are maintained by the National Park Service.  The main valley at Cataloochee was settled in the 1830s, however the more isolated Little Cataloochee Valley was settled a generation later beginning in 1854.  Farming and cattle raising were how families earned a living.

This hike was a key swap hike, so two of us hiked from the Cataloochee end and two others hiked from Mt. Sterling Gap end.  We drove each others cars, so my car would be where we ended the hike.  The most important part of a key swap is to meet the hikers coming from the other direction and swap car keys.

To reach Little Cataloochee, we began hiking along Palmer Creek on the Pretty Hollow Trail.  After 0.8 mile we turned off on the Little Cataloochee Trail, climbing up the divide to  Davidson Gap and then descending into Little Cataloochee Valley.  It was evident this valley supported several farms.  Trees all the same size had taken over what was at one time cleared land, and stone walls were seen not far off the trail.

Stone wall near the trail.

About three miles in we came to the Little Cataloochee Church, which back in the day would have been one of the centers of the settlement.

Little Cataloochee Church, 1889

Near the Cook Cabin (see photo at the top of this post) a sizable stone foundation could be seen.  We guessed it was all that was left of a house or barn, but the Hiking Trails of the Smokies guide book identifies it as the remains of an apple house.  Apples were widely grown in Little Cataloochee.

Remains of an apple house.

Farther up the trail we came to the Hannah Cabin, built in 1864.  If you look closely on the porch in the second picture, you will see a hiking companion who joined us here.

Unlike the Cook Cabin, the Hannah Cabin has no windows.

Our hiking companion on the porch.

The Catalochee area of the park is not too far from the park boundary, so during hunting season it is not unusual to see a bear hunter's dog with a radio collar on the trails.  Hunting is not allowed in the national park, but I guess the dogs don't read the "Welcome to GSMNP" signs!  The dog followed us to the junction with the Long Bunk Trail, where we met up with our fellow hikers (and swapped keys) and decided to have lunch.  This became a challenge because as soon as the food came out the dog was all over us - he was hungry!  We stood and ate a few bites as he jumped from one of us to another looking for a handout.  He did pose for a picture.

He stood still for a picture. Almost looks like a statue.

Before ascending the Long Bunk Trail to the Mt. Sterling Trail and our waiting car, we had to hike the last mile of the Little Cataloochee Trail out to the trailhead on NC Hwy 284.  Most people would not hike this mile out to the road unless they had a car parked there.  But when you are hiking ALL the trails in the Smokies, these little pieces of the trails need to be covered.  So we hiked 1 mile out and 1 mile back to complete all 5.1 miles of the Little Cataloochee Trail.  

It rained the first hour of the hike, and the rest of the day we were hiking under overcast skies.  As we climbed higher toward the Mt. Sterling Trail, the fog seemed to descend on us.  While not raining, droplets of water collected and fell on us from the leaves of the trees.  We kept waiting for the sun the forecast promised, but we never saw it.  As we hiked on the temperature dropped and the wind picked up.  When we got to the car at 3:15 it was 45 degrees in a stiff wind.  

While we had no sun and overcast skies, the colors were still bright.  Red, orange, and yellow maples were bright despite the grey skies.  Some leaf-peeping pictures end this post.  The day netted me 10 more new trail miles and my total trail miles has hit 295 - almost 300 miles of the 800+ under my belt!