About Maddron Bald Trail
Maddron Bald Trail is a big climb to a high bald, and it passes one of the park's finest old-growth stands. The trail runs about 7.1 miles from the Cosby side up to the Snake Den Ridge Trail, with roughly 3,500 feet of climbing in total. The Albright Grove Loop Trail, a short side loop of well under a mile, wanders through giant trees and is a popular shorter hike.
The hike
The lower trail is gentle along a creek, then it climbs steadily in the upper half. Tulip poplars and hemlocks tower above the trail in Albright Grove. The bald itself is not a big open view but a quiet destination.
When to go
Spring and fall are best.
Getting there
The trailhead is on the Cosby side of the park, off TN-32 near Cosby. The park charges for parking rather than entry: a parking tag is $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes. America the Beautiful and other federal passes are not accepted.
Know before you go
Pets are not allowed. Overnights need a backcountry permit.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Ramsey Cascades: an 8-mile round trip to a tall waterfall
- Porters Creek Trail: about 4 miles round trip to Fern Branch Falls
- Hen Wallow Falls: a 4.3-mile round trip near Cosby
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.
Cell service is spotty across much of the park, so download a map ahead of time and tell someone where you are headed. Stay on the trail, keep dogs and other pets on the few trails where they are allowed, and give wildlife plenty of room. Trail conditions are posted on the park's closures page.
Good to know
- How long is Maddron Bald Trail?
- Maddron Bald Trail is 7.1 miles one way, with about 3,500 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.
