Hiking The Smith Creek Trail

Health & Fitness

  • Author Shannon Rae Treasure
  • Published June 12, 2011
  • Word count 410

The trail length takes a total of 4.6 miles through thick growths of mountain laurel, hemlock, ferns, and rhododendron. The trail starts at Anna Ruby Falls as the Smith Creek forms at the confluence of York and Curtis Creeks which are also formed at the Tray Mountain.

The other side of the river flows to the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic while the other flows to the Mississippi. The trail from Anna Ruby Falls to Unicoi State Park is easy to moderate where the trail is marked by blue blazes. The trail head is behind the trail sign nearby the upper observation deck. It is already clearly marked and necessary to determine the foc

A few feet away from the creek, the pathway parallels the creek as it leads to the park.

The trail head is on the right side from the Anna Ruby Falls Trail about 2,180 feet of elevation. The treadway leads to Smith Mountain’s lower slopes where it enters a hardwood cove that is clustered with rhododendrons and mountain laurels. The Smith Creek Trail is mostly within the Anna Ruby Falls Scenic Area. From the cove, the pathway swerves eastward to the Smith Mountain’s lower side.

The midway point of the trail is right where you will find some boulder formations where some rocks are covered with moss. At 0.7 mile, the trail then proceeds to cross a small stream where it continues to make a gradual climb at around 1.3 miles to the Hickorynut Ridge. From the stream towards the ridge, the pathway is lined with wildflowers which are more visibly stunning during late May and early June. The Stomp Creek Falls is also visible on the northwest side of ridge between the months of November and April. The trail then continues to the south on the top of Hickorynut Ridge for the next 0.8 mile.

At 2.1 mile midway rounding the knob, the path then intersects a gap on the ridge which swerves down the eastern side. Moving away from the dirt road the path then approaches a rivulet as it continues to parallel the stream further along the trail.

Several wet-foot crossings will then welcome you around 3.2 to 3.9 miles on the trail. There are also wooden bridges on the path to help you cross the stream. At this point the trail follows a series of switchbacks to the south as it slopes down steeply to the Unicoi State Park. This then marks the end of the trail.

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