Little Greenbrier Gap Hiking trail reopened since black bear activity declined

Previously closed little Greenbrier gap hiking trail in the Little Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the Metcalf picnic grounds has been reopened as black bear are no longer active in the area and a potential threat hikers.

The little Green Brier Gap hiking trails is 2.8 miles round trip and starts near the Little Greenbrier School and takes hikers to the Walker sisters cabin and ends at the Little Greenbrier hiking trail which runs from Wear Gap road to the Laurel Creek Falls Trail.

The unimproved road that from Wears Gap Road to the Little Greenbrier Gap Hiking trail trailhead is closed for the winter, but hikers can park near the roads entrance (do not block the gate) and walk the 1/2 mile to the trailhead or park by the Little River over the bridge at the Metcalf picnic area and walk .6 miles up from the lower trail that runs to the trailhead.

Besides the trail now being opened, the Little Greenbrier School has had new wood shakes installed on the roof of the school.

This is one of the quieter sections of the Great Smoky Mountains national park and the hike is not very strenuous so now that the trail is open I would suggest it to anyone looking to hike in the GSMNP.

Road to Little Greenbrier School in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed because of black bear activity

The hiking trail starting at the Little Greenbrier School to the main Little Greenbrier hiking trail connecting Wears Cove with the Laurel Falls in the great Smoky Mountains National Park has been closed for nearly 3 weeks now due to excessive black bear activity which posses a serious risk to anyone entering the area. The park Service has recently closed the unimproved road from Wear Gap Road to the Little Greenbrier School with no opening date.

This road was closed with no public announcements and no clear answer from park staff and volunteers so the assumption offered to Your Smokies News is that some visitors to the national park were acting foolishly and even though the trail was closed people ignored the national park service posted warnings. Since park visitation is still high for leaf season and the bear in the national park are still active this road may remain closed for a while.

We will keep checking the road and will announce as soon as we see that the road to the Little Greenbrier School is open. We hope that it will open as soon as this road is slated to be closed New Years for the winter season.