The Walker Sisters Cabin Trail Is A Terrific Family-Friendly Hike In The Smokies
The Walker Sisters Cabin is my family’s favorite historic site in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
The park service has kept the cabin and the surrounding buildings as a glimpse of what settler life was like and as a testament to the independence and resourcefulness of the Walker Sisters.
It’s a favorite trail, because not only is it an easy hike for the family but it combines two of the best historic structures in the Smokies that you can actually enter and explore.
On the way to exploring the small rooms of the two-story Walker Sisters Cabin, you will walk right by the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse, another historic structure you can step inside and explore.
The grounds of the Walker Sisters property are quite peaceful. Sit on the front porch of the cabin and listen to the quiet stillness while the kiddos imagine life from days of yore.
Here’s what you need to know along with some tips!
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For more of our favorite hikes, see Favorite Hikes With Kids In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Walker Sister Cabin History
John Walker, a Union Army veteran, and his wife, Margaret, moved onto the homestead in 1870. Over the years, his family grew to eleven children.
Over time, family members died, moved, or married leaving six of the unmarried sisters to live their remaining lives at their mountain homestead.
The 6 remaining sisters were allowed to stay in their family’s homestead after the park was established in 1926.
For over forty years after their father died, the surviving sisters would continue to raise sheep, grow crops, plow their own fields and make their own clothes.
The Walker sisters became famous after park visitors to their cabin were fascinated by their self-sufficient lifestyle.
The last two sisters who remained living at the cabin died there in 1962 and 1964.
If you’d like to learn more about the Walker sisters and their homestead, click here.
How To Get To The Walker Sisters Cabin
You have two options for your hike to the Walker Sisters Cabin- a short 2 mile roundtrip option via Little Greenbrier Road or a longer 3.4 mile roundtrip option from Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.
Both options are nice, easy hikes with minimal elevation gain.
Option 1: Park Near The Schoolhouse On Little Greenbrier Road
The shortest way to reach the Walker Sisters Cabin is to drive up Little Greenbrier Road, a gravel road off Wears Cove Gap Road, and park at the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse parking area.
It is a 2 mile roundtrip hike from here to the Walker Sisters Cabin.
Important: This is a very small parking area and the Little Greenbrier Road is closed in winter.
From the parking area, you’ll walk an easy mile on the Little Brier Gap Trail which is located in front of the schoolhouse to reach the Walker Sisters Cabin.
For a longer hike to the Walker Sisters Cabin, you can park at the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area. See this option below.
Option 2: Hike The Metcalf Bottoms Trail
For a slightly longer (3.4 mile roundtrip) hike to the Walker Sisters Cabin, park at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area and begin your hike on the Metcalf Bottoms Trail.
Parking is ample, and you have the added benefit of enjoying the Little River here before or after your hike. Picnic by the river and try to catch tadpoles and crawdads!
This trail from Metcalf Bottoms to the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse is 0.7 miles in length.
From the schoolhouse, you’ll resume your walk to the Walker Sisters Cabin via the Little Brier Gap Trail located above the schoolhouse parking area. It is about one mile from the schoolhouse to the Walker Sisters Cabin.
Tip: Stop by Elvira’s Cafe in nearby Wears Valley for a great meal on the way to or from the Walker Sisters Hike. For even more options, see our Favorite Restaurants In Townsend for some great outdoor dining places.
Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse
Make sure to spend some time at the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse. Built in 1882 with the help of John Walker, the last classes in the small schoolhouse were held in 1935.
If you are here on a Tuesday, there is often a volunteer dressed as a teacher from the time period to lead classes.
See this link for more: School days at Little Greenbrier.
Otherwise, the kids will have a good time standing up front and instructing their siblings (and you).
Walker Sisters Cabin
After visiting the schoolhouse and taking turns being the teacher, you’re now ready to continue on your fun hike to the Walker Sisters Cabin.
The Little Brier Gap Trail is located at the end of the gravel road that runs behind the cemetery in front of the schoolhouse.
The trail is nice and wide and slightly uphill but overall an easy 1 mile stroll to the Walker Sisters homestead.
Pack a picnic to enjoy on the grounds of the cabin or afterwards at the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area (if parked there).
More of Our Favorites In the Smokies
No time to plan your vacation to the Smokies? Check out our Detailed Guide To Visiting The Smokies– how to spend 5 terrific days- best trails, where to stay, and fun activities for the entire family.
Favorite Hikes With Kids In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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Check out our Smokies webpage to see even more of our favorite places in the park we love so much – best hikes, favorite campgrounds, biking Cades Cove, lodging, and more!
