Ramsey Cascades Trail in The Greenbriar Section of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It has been a month since I have been on a hike. Today, Saturday September 1, 2018,  I met my friend Rhonda at the Wal Mart parking lot and we loaded up the Jeep and headed for the mountains. On the two lane stretch of highway between White Pine and Newport, as we motored along chatting and listening to music, I looked in my rear view mirror to see the bubble top of a Smart Car so close to my bumper I could not see the front of the car. Next thing I know it whipped out across the centerline and sped past me. In shock I looked over at Rhonda who was starting to giggle, “Whatever you do!” I implored. “Please don’t tell anyone I was just passed by a Smart Car!” As The tiny two seater sped away, we laughed so hard we cried. Rhonda said… “ I did’t know they could go that fast!” And so our day began.

If you like a steep, rocky, rooted challenge with a spectacular payoff at the end of a 4 mile grueling climb Ramsey Cascades Trail is the trail for you. It has it all. This was my third trip to the tallest waterfall in the Smokies. The trail is labeled as strenuous and it is not a mislabel. Ramsey Cascades tumbles 100 FT along Ramsey Prong which forms the slopes of Greenbriar Pinnacle and Mt Guyot the park’s second highest peak. To get to this beautiful, spectacular waterfall one begins at the parking area for this Trailhead, located in the Greenbriar section of the Smokies.

The paved, gravel road leading into this section of the Park is a rough ride, with pot holes, narrow sections, and pavement to gravel interchanges. The River is a popular swimming, tubing, kayaking and fishing attraction with many pull offs to stop and enjoy the water.

We got to the trail head at 9:15 and it was fairly empty, a good sign that a body just might get to enjoy the Falls without having to share the space with too many others. On previous trips the parking area had been full. There was a slight chill to the air with the temperature hovering around 69 degrees.

Ramsey Cascades is a 4 mile long trail so the total distance we hiked was 8 miles round trip. We started out at 2165’ elevation and maxed out at 4256’ gaining a little over 2100’ over 4 miles. The trail starts off gently enough as we crossed a nice wooden bridge then it starts up a gentle but steady incline. Rhonda asked me once as we climbed if this was really the easy part of the trail. It is all about perspective. Heart rates climbing and brows sweating, we felt the effects of climbing. We were just getting started.

A mile and a half in the ‘easy’ part of the trail ended and we began the climb in earnest. There is nothing easy about the terrain or elevation gain. Uneven, rocky, and rugged it climbs. Accompanied by the sound of running water for most of the hike, one can bask in one of the most relaxing sounds in nature even as one pushes one’s body beyond everyday exertion.

About 2+/- miles in we crossed the ‘new’ log bridge. Ramsey Cascades Trail was closed for many months in 2016, 2017 due to a bridge being knocked out by a fallen tree. The trail was reopened in 2017 and I hiked it solo in June of last year. This trip was not so hot and muggy as that June adventure. Sharing this trail, it’s unique beauty and its physical challenge, is worth the return.

We passed a couple different groups of hikers on the way up. We were passed by a couple groups on their way down. When we arrived at the Falls we lucked out and had them to ourselves for a little while. I sat on a rock, the chilly spray cooling the air and my overheated body. I ate my snack and just soaked in the splendor. We took photos and others began to show up.

Returning down the rocks climbed on the way up became the new challenge of the day. Carefully, picking my way down, over, and around the rocks I had to step aside as the multitudes made their pilgrimage towards the Falls. Couples, groups, families and solo hikers of all ages, shapes and sizes were determinedly trudging up as we made our way down. Knowing how challenging I found the hike I could only respect those on their way up.

At the end of the hike We rewarded ourselves by soaking sore feet in the cold mountain water. Ramsey Cascades is well worth the workout takes to get there.