Anthony Cr-Russell Field-AT-Bote Mnt- Anthony Cr

Hike Name: Anthony Cr-Russell Field-AT-Bote Mnt- Anthony Cr Location: east TN Length: 14 Submitted by: Dave Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more Tennessee trail reviews Tennessee national parks Tennessee state parks
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Description
I started up Anthony Creek Trail at the back of the Cades Cove Picnic Area about 8:30 a.m. A beautiful trail alongside of Anthony Creek. After about 2 miles I took the Russell Feild trail up to the shelter. All of the guides described this trail as steep and difficult. I did not find this to be the case. It was a fairly gradual grade through a nice old growth forest with wildflowers and rhodedendron still in bloom with the highlight being Russell Field. An old bald almost completely retaken by the forest. Another 1/2 mile took me to the shelter. This is were I had made my reservation anticipating a rough climb but there I was at 1:00 in the afternoon wanting to press on to Spence Field. I took a short nap and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the AT to the south. The next morning I broke camp early and headed up the AT towards Spence Field. This trail would offer some spectacular views in the fall to early spring but the foliage blocked most of mine. After about two miles, I saw my first bear. He was sleeping in the brush about 20' from the trail when I evidently woke him and he ran to the otherside of the ridge. Not taking time to recover from the start I picked up my pace a little and until I reached Spence Feild. This bald took my breath away with two acres of clearing and a gorgeous veiw of the mountains. I then went down to the shelter to get some water and saw my second bear. I came around a bend and there he was at the shelter not 60' from me looking up at a food bag. He turned and looked at me and ran off into the brush before I could get my camera. After getting water I pressed on to and down Bote Mountain trail. This was a rocky trail with lots of loose stones that will slowly turn your feet into hamburger, but it is worth it for all of the long rhodedendron tunnels. At about 2mi down Bote Mountain I came to Anthony Creek Trail and took it its full length(3.5 mi) back to the picnic grounds. All in all with some good views, wildflowers, and two bears I could not have asked for much more, just next time I will make my reservation at the Spence Field shelter.

Directions to Hike
From Gatlinburg take Hwy 33 into the park and follow signs to the Cades Cove Picnic Grounds. Trailhead is at the back of the pinic grounds

Contact Information
Backcountry Office:(423) 436-1231. Must call this number to make shelter reservations.

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