About Dry Sluice Gap Trail
Dry Sluice Gap Trail is a steep backcountry connector above the Smokemont area. It climbs about 4.1 miles and 2,450 feet from a junction with the Cabin Flats Trail up to the Appalachian Trail. It is not a casual day hike; most people use it as part of a multi-day loop.
The hike
The trail climbs steadily through hardwood and then spruce-fir forest. It has no major viewpoints, but it is quiet. Carry a map, since the junctions are numerous and the trailheads are far from roads.
When to go
Summer to fall are best. Winter can be icy.
Getting there
Access is by hiking in from the Smokemont area, for example by way of the Bradley Fork Trail. You need a parking tag for any stop over 15 minutes in the park. It costs $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful are not accepted. Buy it at a visitor center or on recreation.gov, and display the physical tag.
Know before you go
Pets are not allowed. Overnight trips need a backcountry permit. Check the closures page before you go.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Oconaluftee River Trail: an easy riverside walk that allows dogs
- Kephart Prong Trail: a 4-mile round trip to a CCC camp
- Chasteen Creek Cascade: a 3.6-mile round trip
Planning and safety
Treat this as a full-day commitment. Steep mountain trail often takes closer to one mile per hour on the climbs, so build in extra time. Start early, set a firm turnaround time, carry a headlamp, and tell someone your plan before you lose cell service.
Check conditions the morning you go. The park posts trail and road closures and cautions, and storms, ice and Hurricane Helene repairs can change access with little notice. Carry water, a rain layer and a map, keep a safe distance from bears and elk, and pack out everything you bring in.
Good to know
- How long is Dry Sluice Gap Trail?
- Dry Sluice Gap Trail is 4.1 miles one way, with about 2,450 feet of climbing. It is rated strenuous.
- Are dogs allowed on this trail?
- No. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed only on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Do I need a parking tag to hike here?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
