Tennessee trails · Chimney Top Trail

Chimney Top Trail

A 7.3-mile network in Tennessee, with 1,794 ft of climbing. Reaches Little Fork Mountain and other pass/spring/summit destinations. Managed by the state.

Open in the interactive map →

Length

7.3 mi

Elevation gain

1,794 ft

Difficulty

Expert

Max grade

39%

Steepest mile

+883 ft

Tread at ≥10% grade

3.6 mi

Shape

network

Managed by

State

Elevation profile

The climbing leans toward the middle third: 48% of the ascent falls between mile 2.4 and mile 4.9. It gives back about 1,072 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.

3-D terrain

USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5

Reaches

Little Fork Mountain (summit)
Low Gap (pass)
Chimney Top Mountain (summit)
Love Mountain (summit)
Tub Spring (spring)

Heads up

Stream ford: expect at least one unbridged crossing.

Getting there

Chimney Top Trail — parking nearby. About 52 min drive (28 mi) from Rockwood. 36.12484, -84.50462 · directions

Daylight at the trailhead

On October 14, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 7:18 a.m., the sun rises at 7:43 a.m. and sets at 7:03 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 7:29 p.m. (EDT) — 11 h 20 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 7.3-mile route takes roughly 3 h 36 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 11:19 a.m. — 7 h 44 min before sunset.

Loop options

Chimney Top Trail + Interpretive Trail + Old Mac Trail — 10.4 mi loop, 3,207 ft gain
Interpretive Trail + Chimney Top Trail + Spicewood Trail — 9.2 mi loop, 2,874 ft gain

Nearby trails

Lookout Tower Trail — 2.6 mi
Cumberland Trail — 9.8 mi