The Abrams Creek Experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Abrams Creek Experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is great for hikers, bikers, campers, equestrians, and anglers! Nestled on the northwest tip of the National Park, the Abrams Creek Campground and Ranger Station are definitely on the quieter side of the Smokies making it the perfect destination for making family memories to last a lifetime!

Abrams Creek in Autumn. (photo by Jennifer McKee, AllTrails)

Directions to Abrams Creek
To reach the Abrams Creek Campground (elevation 1,125 feet) and Ranger Station from the Foothills Parkway West and Highway 129 junction is approximately 8 miles. Turn left on Highway 129 to Happy Valley Road. Turn left onto Happy Valley Road and turn right on Abrams Creek Road. Proceed about a mile to the Campground.

Abrams Creek Campground
Abrams Creek Campground does not accept reservations and has an on-site, first-come first-served, self-registration system. Cost per site is $14. The small campground has 16 sites for tents or RVs up to 12 feet in length. There are no electric hookups or shower facilities; only cold, running water and bathroom facilities available. Each campsite does have a picnic table and fire grate. The campground will close October 13, 2015 and re-open in mid-May 2016.

Popular Hiking Trails at Abrams Creek

Rabbit Creek Trail – 7.8 miles in length
Rabbit Creek Trail begins near the Ranger Station and will take you into Cades Cove near the Visitor Center. Back country campsite #15 is located on this trail. Be watchful as this trail is used by both humans and horses.

Cooper Road Trail – 10.5 miles in length
Cooper Road Trail begins at the eastern end of the campground and meanders along an old road bed to access backcountry campsite #1 and then on to Cades Cove. Cooper Road Trail can be combined with Little Bottoms Trail and Abrams Falls Trail to also access Cades Cove by way of the popular Abrams Falls. Cooper Road Trail is open to equestrian activities.

These are just a couple of our favorites of the many trails in the Abrams Creek area, there’s also Hannah Mountain Trail, Cane Creek Trail, Gold Mine Trail, Hatcher Mountain Trail and Beard Cane Trail. So much to explore! One of our favorite resources for trail information is the book, Hiking Trails of the Smokies, available for about $20 from the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

Fishing in Abrams Creek
Because of the high-quality water chemistry of Abrams Creek, it is considered by many anglers to offer some of the best fishing in the National Park. Abrams Creek accessed from the Abrams Creek Campground contains more smallmouth bass than trout during most of the season. Better opportunities for rainbow trout are available upstream near the area known as Little Bottoms. A Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required in National Park streams and rivers.

Biking near Abrams Creek
Bicycles are not permitted on any trails in the Abrams Creek area; however, the nearby Foothills Parkway West is a favorite among cyclists.