Great Smoky Mountains National Park · North Carolina, Tennessee

Bradley Fork Trail

7.2 mi of trail, end to end · Hike Bradley Fork Trail: 2.4 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 2,800 ft of climbing · 2,250 ft–5,071 ft · native surface · trail class Developed, Moderately Developed

WaterfallsHistory

2,937 ft 5,071 ft · 3.2 mi high 5,071 ft

Along the way Tom Huskey's Child Cemetery Hitchin Post Falls Taywa Creek Cascade

Trailhead Bradley Fork Trail Trailhead 2,247 ft Drive there

Hike Bradley Fork Trail 2.4 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

no dogs · entrance fee applies

Start Trailhead located in the Smokemont Campground.

A small cascading waterfall on rocks in a stream.
Hike 7.3 miles along Bradley Fork Trail from Smokemont Campground to Hughes Ridge Trail. Photo: Bob Carr

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } Overview

The Bradley Fork Trail offers a scenic and diverse outdoor experience, featuring picturesque creeks surrounded by dog hobble and rhododendron, seasonal wildflowers, fishing access, horseback riding opportunities, and backcountry camping .

The trail begins as a flat, wide old roadbed and gently ascends for the first 4 miles toward the Hughes Ridge Trail, with all creek crossings bridged. At 1.2 miles, hikers reach the Chasteen Creek Trail junction, which leads 0.1 miles to backcountry campsite #50. At mile 4, the trail intersects with the Cabin Flats Trail, where it becomes steep and narrow, transitioning into rocky terrain that requires extra caution. This rugged section continues until the trail ends at the Hughes Ridge Trail, offering a more challenging hike through the backcountry. A backcountry permit is required to camp at the site.

Parking & Trailhead

Hikers should access this trail from the back of Smokemont Campground , at the far end of the D loop, where a small parking area is avalible. Don't forget your parking tag !

Nearest Restroom

Smokemont Campground

Alternate Hikes

Deep Creek Waterfall Loop : 2.4 miles (3.9 km) roundtrip

Little River, Cucumber Gap, Jakes Creek Loop : 5.4 miles (8.7 km) roundtrip

Oconaluftee River Trail : 3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip

Kephart Prong Trail : 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip

Accessibility a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } This trail is not ADA accessible. GRIT Freedom Chairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis for use on a portion of this trail. These all-terrain mobility devices can be used for the first 1.3 miles , starting from the back of Smokemont Campground and leading to Campsite #50 . Please note: The trail surface includes uneven dirt, rocks, and gravel , with sections of exposed roots and large rocks that may affect travel for wheelchair or mobility device users. There are a few steep sections along the route. Use descriptions, maps, and photos to determine which hikes are suitable for you. For information about the reservation process and other trail segments where GRIT Freedom Chairs can be used, visit the trail accessibility page.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 244 trails in Great Smoky Mountains National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.