The multiple payoffs along the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail makes it one of the most rewarding non-waterfall Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails. The trail has tons of variety including a walk-through rock arch, its own Inspiration Point, lots of whitewater streams and the Alum Cave Bluffs themselves. If possible choose a clear sunny day to hike so you can take advantage of all the phenomenal lookouts along the trail.
The Alum Cave Bluffs are located just under 34 miles (54.2 km) north of Bryson City, 12 miles (18.7 km) north of Clingmans Dome and 11.2 miles (18 km) south of Gatlinburg, TN placing it almost square in the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is easily accessible and an absolute blast to hike!
Hiking Up to the Alum Cave Bluffs
The Alum Cave Bluffs Trail is a 4.4 mile (7.1 km) out-and-back trail with a 1,125’ (342.9 m) elevation gain that earns it a moderately difficulty rating. There is a small parking lot with facilities. Parking is also available along the side of the US-441, but it can all fill up quickly so plan an early morning start if possible. The trailhead for the Alum Cave Bluff hike is hidden behind a few heavy bushes but it’s easy enough to find. Once you see the opening there are signs and a wooden bridge that crosses over the Walker Camp Prong stream. The trail starts immediately after the bridge along a narrow path surrounded by high bushes, vegetation and trees. You very quickly encounter another wooden bridge, this one over the Alum Cave Creek, which will remain your companion for the next 1.3 miles (2.1 km) of relatively easy terrain.
There are several areas that allow direct access to the water that are worth exploring. As is normal in the Smoky Mountains, we saw a number of fallen trees covered with moss taking on otherworldly shapes as they gradually become part of the ground cover. About 25 minutes in, an opening occurs allowing a tremendous view of a continuous cascade featuring large boulders and multiple waterways converging to produce quite a show of sight and sound.
One section of the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail features an all rock path, flattened into a walking path by decades of hikers, which ends at a wooden bridge crossing over the water flow of Styx Branch. There are several more bridges crisscrossing the water over the next quarter mile. On your left, take note of the bright ground vegetation, moss-covered logs and surrounding thick dense bushes.
Arch Rock
Next is the first big payoff of the Alum Cave Bluffs hike, unique among the Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails, the Arch Rock. This naturally occurring phenomenon produces an archway carved out of a huge boulder. Rock steps have been constructed below the arch allowing hikers to safely ascend through the opening to the top layer.
On the other side of the arch are a series of steep rock stairs that carry you high above both the arch and the water below. At the top of the stairs is an Alien like bundle of tree roots laying atop a huge slab of stone followed by a narrow stone and dirt path that is less dangerous than it at first appears, even when the path is wet. More fantastic rock faces appear soon followed by another bridge back over the Styx Branch.
One steep area has rock shale “stairs”, with some good footholds, framed by moss-covered rock permeated by exposed tree roots . . . remarkable! The Alum Cave Bluffs Trail becomes narrower and steeper with gradations on both sides as the terrain switches from slopes to steep rock cliffs. More amazing exposed tree root groupings work their way along the edge of the trail, one extending for about 25’ (7.6 m) while the other exhibits a thicker, heavier structure.
Inspiration Point
The notable incline continues, sometimes through thicket mazes that produce a cool tunnel effect. Soon you arrive at the second payoff . . . the Alum Cave Bluffs Inspiration Point. Because of the overcast weather, similar to our first visit to Clingmans Dome, we weren’t able to see the purportedly stunning overlook views across the horizon. While unfortunate, the Point is even more remarkable for its massive boulders, called a heath bald, that dominate not only the path but also the point itself. The bald itself is not uncommon on many of the Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails but few others also have the view to accompany the phenomenon.
There is a section on your left, that could easily be missed, that allows you to walk almost completely out to the edge of the cliff. It’s difficult to capture the enormity of this area of the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail with mere pictures, especially given the overcast day, but it was remarkable to experience!
The top of the precipice is a perfect place to relax for a moment and prepare for the big payoff just a few minutes away. The cliffs to your right start to rise higher and higher as you approach a series of wood stairs that end at the base of the Alum Cave Bluffs.
Alum Cave Bluffs
The Alum Cave Bluffs itself rises to 80’ (24 m) in height and reaches an elevation of 4,950’ (1,510 m). The most impressive aspect of the bluff is how it curves to overhang the clay base below. The top ledge drips water, a welcome relief in the summers, but falling icicles (sometimes in excess of 2-3 feet) can be very dangerous in the colder months. The views of the Anakeesta Ridge from the bluff are amazing but, again, not available for us on our visit due to the heavy fog.
The overhanging cliff is composed of black Anakeesta slate even though the color is clearly brown in shade. This is a perfect place to stop and have a snack, eat your lunch or just relax for a few minutes. There is a calmness that is unmistakable when underneath the overhanging rock. Our fellow hikers remarked on it as well. Of course, its also possible we were all simply exhausted and misinterpreted the respite as serenity.
The steps up to the rock face are relatively new, part of the Trails Forever effort begun in 2015 to repair the entire Alum Cave Bluffs Trail, stem the creeping erosion and make the experience safer for hikers. Our trip back down the mountain would have been different on a clear day but it still was beautiful and afforded us perspectives not noticed on our journey up to the bluffs.
Hiking Back from Alum Cave Bluffs
The Trails Forever repairs were more appreciated on the way down with slick areas mitigated by the addition of stairs in particular high decline spots. The rocks on the mountainside of Inspiration Point were far more compelling from this perspective. The mist created some fascinating images of tree branches scattered around the trail and from the valley below.
The highlight of the return hike is the Arch Rock. Aside from the natural beauty and uniqueness of the arch itself, you marvel at the engineering necessary to create the staircase that allows hikers to fully experience the interior section. In all, the 4.4 mile (7.1 km) out-and-back hike took us around 3 hours to complete including a 15-minute respite at the Alum Cave Bluffs. As with our first visit to Clingmans Dome, the overcast day cast a shadow (pun intended) on some of the overlooks but added a different perspective that was beautiful in its own right.
Final Thoughts
The Alum Cave Bluffs are utterly unique among Great Smoky Mountains hiking trails. While the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail offers a multitude of payoffs including Rock Arch, Inspiration Point and the whitewater of both Walker Camp Prong and Styx Branch . . . it’s the Alum Cave Bluffs that make the journey so worthwhile.
Have you visited the Great Smoky Mountains? If not, definitely add it to your bucket list and let us know what you enjoyed the most!
