Mount Cammerer via Low Gap Trail is a 11.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Cosby, Tennessee that features a river and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, horses, and backpacking and is accessible year-round. Horses are also able to use this trail.
Mount Cammerer
Although it's a roundtrip hike of more than 11 miles, this hike to Mt. Cammerer is still the shortest and most commonly used route to the summit of the 4928-foot mountain. From the trailhead hikers will climb the Low Gap Trail for three long miles before reaching the Appalachian Trail. This is a steep and relentless climb that traverses over several switchbacks, while taking hikers through a beautiful, mature hardwood forest as they proceed up the Cosby Creek valley.
The first section of trail travels between Cosby Creek and the Cosby Campground. Portions of this section share the same route with the Cosby Nature Trail, a short loop hike that begins from the campground. At four-tenths of a mile from the trailhead you'll reach the Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail junction. To continue on the Low Gap Trail you should turn right here.
At just over eight-tenths of a mile hikers will reach an alternative path for reaching the Low Gap Trail. Although this spur trail would shave some distance off your hike, you have to stay at the campground in order to use this route.
At roughly 2.9 miles hikers will finally reach the Appalachian Trail. By this point you will have already climbed more than two thousand feet, thus completing the hardest part of the hike.
To continue on towards the Mount Cammerer Trail hikers should turn left at this junction.
Along the early portions of the Appalachian Trail you'll continue climbing, however, the terrain isn't quite as steep as the Low Gap Trail. At roughly 3.7 miles the trail begins to level off, and travel becomes much easier. Hikers will now traverse along a ridge that offers decent views of the Cosby and Toms Creek valleys through the trees.
At just under 5 miles hikers will reach the rugged spur trail that leads to the summit of Mt. Cammerer. The spur is roughly six-tenths of a mile long, is fairly level, but does involve some rock scrambling as you approach the fire lookout. Although the last tenth-of-a-mile traverses over some fairly rugged terrain, it's nothing that would be considered exceedingly difficult.
Trail Features: Panoramic Views, History mount-cammerer-tower
Trail Location: Cosby
Roundtrip Length: 11.1 Miles
Total Elevation Gain: 3045 Feet
Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: 549 Feet
Highest Elevation: 5054 Feet
Trail Difficulty Rating: 17.19 (strenuous)