Alex Hauck

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Goshen Prong to Miry Ridge Loop

Goshen Prong to Miry Ridge Loop

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

February 27 – March 1, 2026

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Blog Post:

This hike is one of my greatest adventures so far. It had everything; beauty, peace, challenging times, pucker factor, and learning experiences. It was a three day, two-night odyssey deep into the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that soothed my soul while mentally and physically challenging me.

My Route:

(1) Jakes Creek	....................................	0.7
(2) Cucumber Gap	....................................	2.4
(3) Little River	....................................	1.0
(4) Goshen Prong	....................................	7.7
(5) Appalachian Trail	....................................	5.2
(6) Miry Ridge	....................................	5.0
(7) Jakes Creek	....................................	3.6

Campsite Stayed At:

Night One | #23 Goshen Prong
Night Two | #26 Dripping Springs

Day One:

You can hike this by starting out at the Little River Trailhead if you like. I have not hiked Cucumber Gap in eleven years, so I decided to start at Jakes Creek and hike down the short way to Cucumber Gap. From there I would hook up with Little River.

I really enjoyed the 2.4 miles of Cucumber Gap, and it was a nice way to warm up my legs. The last time I was on the trail was mid-August, so it was hot and muggy. I also did not remember crossing a creek, so it must have been really dry. I do remember also most stepping on a snake as it looked like a tree root on the trail. This time around without leaves on the trees the morning sun was beautiful, and the nice cool air added to the enjoyment.

The trail junction of Jakes Creek & Cucumber Gap

After getting off Cucumber Gap, I was on Little River for just about a mile. Got to pass the little waterfall on the side of the mountain and cross the bridge where you get a nice view of the Little River itself. A year ago, I hiked all of the Little River Trail and stayed the night at Campsite #30 Three Forks. If you would like to know more about the Little River Trail, you can Check out the related link section below.

Just past the junctions with the Little River Trail, you walk across a bridge over the Little River and for me it was like entering a story book. This was all new ground for me and the river Fish Camp Prong was fantastic. I decided to stop and have my lunch while watching the flowing water. I saw a few people hanging out in this area of the trail but after I got a mile to a mile and half in, I did not see anyone until the next day on the Appalachian Trail. There is something both great and a little anxious about being out there by yourself.

The trail winds around following Fish Camp Prong and you are treated with beautify cascades and small waterfalls. There is a spot where Fish Camp Prong meets up with a mountain stream coming down from Coon Hollow that made me feel I was strolling through the Shire from Lord of the Rings. It truly was one of the most beautiful spots that I have found in the Smoky Mountains. I would love to come back to this spot and cross the river to explore the hollow for a bit.

A spot that feel right out of Lord of the Rings

The Goshen Prong Trail continues winding around Fish Camp Prong when you come to a crossing. Just after this crossing is backcountry camp #23 Goshen Prong. It is a beautiful spot between Fish Camp Prong and a mountain slope. I plan to come back here and would love to stay a couple of nights. I set up camp, tried and failed to get a fire going, ate, and then hit the rack.

Day Two:

I slept great during the night; it was cold, but my sleep system kept me warm and toasty. As the story progresses, I probably wound up sleeping too well! Both my socks and shoes were frozen and instead of using my second pair of socks I decided to keep my Sealskinz on, which also turned out to be a mistake. Had coffee and breakfast then packed up to hit the trail.

I really need to be more proactive on high-milage days. I should have set an alarm so I would have gotten up earlier, then should have torn down camp while drinking my coffee and eating breakfast. I should have been on trial at least two hours earlier, and that would have been an immense help later in the day.

Goshen Prong signage showing it is 4.4 miles to the Appalachian Trail

Back on trial you immediately come to a trail sign where Fish Camp Prong and Goshen Prong fork pointing you up Goshen Prong and telling you it is 4.4 miles to the Appalachian Trail. Looks as if there is another trail here but I would imagine it is an unofficial trail that has formed by fly fishermen heading down Fish Camp Prong.

It is at this junction that the trail gets steeper and narrower. A little way up the trail there was a section where a cable used to be fixed to the side of the mountain, but a huge tree came down destroying both the cable and the trail. Be careful, through this section, it is a little sketchy. While hard, the trail is beautiful as it follows Goshen Prong upwards with some small waterfalls and cascades along the route.

The hike up went about as I suspected about a mile and hour, sore legs, and my shoulders starting to hurt from my pack. After all these years I am still having trouble getting my weight down in my pack. There are still things I am not willing to go out into the mountains without, like fire starting material, extra clothes, and such. I still need to figure out how to get my pack weight down, but it does improve each time I am out.

A train rail left over from the logging days of the park.

About two miles up the trail from camp there is a cave on the side of the trail. Did not have time to do any exploring today, but it would be nice to check out on another trip with some more time. The morning sun along the trail just made everything seem magical, but for one of the first times I felt alone and truly isolated in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. The feeling is hard to explain, but if you think about it and something did happen, you would be hard for people to get you for rescue.

After quite the slog I finally reached the Appalachian Trail, took a good break and had some lunch. At this moment it started to set in that I was going to have a hard time getting to my next campsite before dark. My feet, legs and shoulders were all done, and any uphill was going to be a struggle. While I now was on a ridge line, it is filled with ups and downs, so I would really have to push the downs to make up for the slow uphill battles.

I felt bad as the beauty up here was amazing, but I would have to put that on hold as I raced against the sun for the rest of the day. Would love to have brought a hammock to relax and watch mountains in this area, but that will have to wait for another trip. After much struggle, I finally made it to Miry Ridge and started heading north. The sun had set and while I had an hour or so of residual light, I was going to get sundowned. I took one small break, got my headlamp ready, and was mentally preparing to push on.

Mountain view from along the Appalachian Trail

Ever since this trip I have been kicking myself for not taking just one moment to get a picture. The sun had finally set, and I could see the sky over Townsend with very deep blues and oranges. It was truly like a painting but never took the picture because I was too hyper focused on getting to camp, so I pushed on.

When I got to Lynn Camp Prong junction, I had been hiking in the dark for a while. There was a full moon to help but was also relying on the headlamp at this point. Still had about a mile and half left to go though it did help a little knowing the end was near. The Dripping Springs campsite was off the trail about a quarter of a mile, so I was a little worried I might pass it in the dark. I found it, went to camp and just crashed. I got my A-Frame shelter setup, and some water, but skipped dinner and went straight to bed.

Day Three:

Slept in a little because I knew that I only had seven or eight miles left, and it would be mostly downhill the whole day. While sore, I was happy with my recover, though I knew it was going to be a tough hike out as yesterday was killer.

Had chicken pot pie for breakfast as it was supposed to be my dinner yesterday and had more calories than the breakfast meal I had with me. It was really good! After hydrating, caffeinating, and eating it was time to get back at it. Dripping Springs was another really nice campsite.

After some more up and down, through cool looking closed in brush and open rocky sections along Miry Ridge I reached Jakes Creek. Happy to be finally hitting mostly downhill hiking, I was able to pick up a little bit of speed. Just like last time, the top part of this trail feels bearish until it narrows a bit and becomes more closed in. I would say from where I started the trail to the campsite is around a mile. I have stayed at the Jakes Creek campsite before, and it is another nice one, but today I kept heading down.

Bridge crossing Jakes Creek

After hitting the campsite, you start picking up Jakes Creek that you will follow for most of the trail back to Elkmont. It is a pleasant trail, especially with the sound of the rushing creek in the background. You will cross a bridge with a beautiful view of the creek where several small waterfalls meet. There is a bench here and a good spot for a snack.

Further down trail is a lovely little waterfall that spills over in a nice deep pool. Each time I have passed by I really have wanted to get in, someday I probably will. The trail keeps generally going down until you get back to the junction with Cucumber Gap where it is a short half mile uphill back to Elkmont.

This was a fantastic trip. The second day was a grind and about did me in, but the tough days are worth experiencing the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. I would like to do some of the Appalachian Trail where I can do some serious filming as the landscape was amazing through this section. As always, my friends hike on and stay safe out there...until the next adventure!

Related Blogs:

	March 22, 2025 - Overnight on Little River The backcountry of the Smoky Mountains was calling to me and I had to go. This was my first night out in the backcountry since my Slickrock /Citico trip, so I decided to hike down the Little River to the farthest backcountry camp on the trail #30 Three Forks... Publish Date: May 12, 2025 Blog \| YouTube Video
	March 11-12, 2023 - Hike Up Jakes Creek I had yet to do the whole Jakes Creek Trail and decided it would be fun to hike it then stay overnight at backcountry campsite site #27. Jakes Creek located at the Elkmont Campground has sever interesting things to see... Publish Date: May 16, 2023 Blog \| YouTube Video
	February 20 2021 - Lynn Prong / Panther Creek Loop Hike Lynn Camp Prong Panther Creek Loop via the Middle Prong in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday February 20, 2021. It was a beautiful day with some snow still in spots. Started at 7:00 am and... Publish Date: February 27, 2021 Blog N/A \| YouTube Video

Story Links:

Story Pictures:

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Snow on Chestnut Top

Snow on Chestnut Top
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
February 1, 2026

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Blog Post:

Here in East Tennessee, we received a decent snowfall, so I had to get up in the mountains to experience it. When I first moved down here eleven years ago when you had some snow, one could still get into the National Park, but anymore as soon as there is a possibility of snow or bad weather, they shut everything down. I also did not have that much time, so I drove to the Townsend Wye and trekked up Chestnut Top that I did almost a year ago.

- Area Trail Map for Chestnut Top Great Smoky Mountains National Park -

I did not get far on the trail this time, maybe around 2 miles in, as I have been dealing with side effects from the statin medication I had been taking. I at least got to experience the beauty of the snow on the mountain sides; it truly felt magical to be out there. I really wish I was able to get further down the trail, but it is what it is.

If you would like to see the whole trail, I will post links to last year's blog and video below. As always, my friends hike on and stay safe out there!

Story Links:

Story Pictures:

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Virgin Falls Overnight

Virgin Falls Overnight
Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park - Sparta, TN
December 26-27, 2025

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Blog Entry:

This was one has long been on my to-do hike list, and I finally made it out there for my last hike of 2025. It sure did not disappoint, with all its caves, rock formations, subterranean water flows, and waterfalls. Located in Sparta, TN, that is situated between Knoxville and Nashville, and is only about an hour and half drive for me to get to the trailhead.

One of Tennessee’s new state parks, Scott’s Gulf, was formed in 2025 and incorporated several existing areas; Virgin Falls State Natural Area, Lost Creek State Natural Area, Do Cove Historic Area, and the Hardie Trailhead (1). For my adventure I started at the Virgin Falls Trailhead off of Scotts Gulf Road where there is currently a little shack where you can check in.

- Scott's Gulf Wilderness Park Trail Map -

My Route:

- Click Here for AllTrials Recording -	(1) Virgin Falls Trail	......................	0.15
	(2) Upland Trail	......................	2.50
	(3) Side Trail Martha's Pretty Point	......................	1.00 (a)
	(4) Virgin Falls Trail	.....................	7.57

	Note (a) Mileage includes there and back.

I decided to hike the Upland Trail that takes you to the Martha’s Pretty Point Overlook and then circles you back around to the Virgin Falls Trail. Until you reach the end of this trail heading towards Martha’s Pretty Point, it is a soft even trail with not much elevation at all. This trail winds through a cypress and conifer forest as you breathe in the sweet scent of the spruce trees and pine needles all around.

- Martha's Pretty Point -

About a mile and quarter in you will come to a beautiful little area of Big Laurel Creek, and you will have to cross a rocky area that can be extremely slippery. After two and half miles you find yourself at the overlook with a stunning view of the surrounding area. After you take in the view, this is where the real fun begins, and you start heading down into the canyon. There is one section towards the end with a steep set of stairs that helps make your way down.

At three miles the Upland Trail ends and puts you back on the Virgin Falls Trail. At this point Virgin Falls Trail gets extremely rocky and steep. It follows a creek that will flow above ground creating beautiful cascades and small waterfalls and then disappear underground before popping back up again. At the time I was there, the water was so clear you could see the bottom of the creek from high up on the trail.

Continuing down the trail, you will come to Big Laurel Falls, a 40-foot waterfall that spills over the side of a cliff and then travels underground. It truly is an amazing site and a prelude for what is to come. Continuing from here, the trail stays rocky but is not quite as steep, and after another 1.20 miles you will reach the loop section of the trail. I had already completed one side quest today, so I left Sheep’s Cave for my hike out tomorrow and continued down to Virgin Falls.

- Big Laurel Falls -

From here you are 0.5 miles to Virgin Falls. After one more small steep downhill section, you finally come to Virgin Falls, and all the work is totally worth it once the falls come into view. Virgin Falls is a waterfall powerhouse during the wet season as it drops about 150 feet. What is even more amazing is that the falls come out from a cave and then drop back into another cave at its base.

The cave where the waterfall originates is called Virgin Falls Cave and it heads southwest for around 3,000 feet before ending in a massive ceiling collapse (3). You can actually hike up to the entrance of the cave to see the start of the falls, and it’s first drop up close. This is also a good place to collect water. It is hard to even begin to describe the beauty and strength of this waterfall.

- Virgin Falls -

After visiting the falls, it was time to get camp situated. From my campsite you can see the falls when the leaves are not full and especially hear it. I set up an Adirondack tarp shelter, collected some firewood, filled up my water supply at the top of the falls, and then settled in for the night. It was a beautiful night and unseasonably warm, so I was a little hot in my winter sleeping bag.

- My Camp -

The next morning, I of course had some coffee and breakfast, packed up and visited Virgin Falls one last time. I was intrigued about how the water works here as it will flow like a normal river or stream then go underground for a while before popping back up again. Doing some research here at home, I found out that the subterranean river at Scott’s Gulf was created by water dissolving the Cumberland Plateau’s limestone bedrock, creating underground passage systems known as karst topography (4).

Starting back along the Virgin Falls Trail and rounding the loop, I headed toward Sheep’s Cave. Sheep’s Cave is another of the caves where the river comes out to form a waterfall and after a time vanishes back underground. From here you complete the small loop and start the climb back up Virgin Falls Trail.

- Sheep Cave -

After a very tough climb, the trail will level out a bit once you get back to the trail junction with the Upland trail as you get out of the canyon. Today I continued along the Virgin Falls Trail where after another quarter of mile, give or take, you come to a stream crossing that has a cable across it to help with the slipper rocks. From here it is not much further until you come to Big Branch Falls. This waterfall is smaller than Virgin and Big Laurel Falls, but still beautiful and worth the stop. The waterfall stair steps down a little rock formation before hitting the pool below.

From here you wind back into more of a woodland area where it is just over a mile back to the trailhead and the parking lot. This hike, while tough, offers a lot to see and experience. I am definingly going back and doing this trail again, along with hitting more of this beautiful and geologically interesting area. As always, my friends, hike on, and stay safe out there.