Laurel Fork Gorge

Trail Name Laurel Fork Gorge Trail Number 501 Land Owner Cherokee National Forest Wilderness Area Pond Mountain Nearest City Hampton State Tennessee Trail Marking Blue/AT White Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Medium Hiking Time 4 Hours0.25 Days <br />240 Min <br /> Distance: round-trip/trail only 5.5 Miles8.851 km <br /> / 2.57 Miles4.136 km <br /> Trail Type In-and-Out Climb/Descent Elevation 1,990 Ft606.552 Meters <br /> / -1,990 Ft-606.552 Meters <br /> High Point 2,557 Ft852.333 Yards <br />779.374 Meters <br /> Parking 36° 17' 8.00" N, 82° 9' 7.66" W Trailhead 36° 17' 8.00" N, 82° 9' 7.66" W Nearest Medical Elizabethton, TN Trip Reports Click Here Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"270px","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":["zoom"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":36.2855557999999973617377690970897674560546875,"lon":-82.1521273000000036290657590143382549285888671875,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

The Appalachian Trail travels through Laurel Fork Gorge, rarely straying far from the creek. Probably the most popular hiking destination for TEHCC is Laurel Fork Falls, a 50' cascading waterfall. There are AT access points at both the NW end of the gorge (Hampton) and SE (Dennis Cove).

Swimming is not allowed at the falls because of dangerous undertow in the pool. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE DIED HERE INCLUDING THOSE COMING TO HELP. They were not being seemingly careless, not drinking, not jumping from the top, simply swimming near the falls. There is an underwater rock shelf in the deep pool below the falls. The strong current will take swimmers underwater and keep them trapped below the shelf. Therefore, wading downstream of the falls is suggested for enjoyment.

How to get there

Hampton

1. From Elizabethton, go southeast on US 321 through Hampton for 1.3 miles.
2. Look for parking area on the right.

Follow blue blazed trail to AT.

Dennis Cove

1. From Elizabethton, go southeast on US 321 through Hampton for 0.8 miles.
2. Turn right (south) on FR 50 (Dennis Cove Road) and travel 3.9 curvy miles.
3. Look for AT access parking area on your left.

Route Description

The listed mileage and elevation change are for complete end-to-end and return hike. More typically the day hikes are an out-and-back from either access point. From Hampton, it's a 5.5 mile round trip. From Dennis Cove, it's about 2.6 miles round trip.

Typical Conditions

Well maintained Appalachian Trail, including blue blazed side trail from Hampton. Sometimes during spring, the upper trail may be required due to flooding.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Group size is limited to 10 people in the Pond Mountain Wilderness Area. Also dogs must be on leashes.

Overnight parking is not recommended at Hampton trailhead due to occasional vandalism to break into vehicles to steal items.

Misc. Information

A bit of history...
The Koonford Bridge was destroyed by flooding in 1998. Its center span was replaced few weeks later in one day by many volunteers. story link Two further wilderness trail bridges destroyed in the same flood were replaced before the thru-hikers arrived that year. And the rock steps by the falls were also created in 1998 through concerted effort. story link2

Forest Service website information.

Maps

Loading map...

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Photos

• 

  View of Laurel Fork Gorge from Potato Top

• 

  White Rhododendron bloom

• 

  Laurel Fork Falls

• 

  Steps heading up!