You Go Sister! My Family's Favorite Historic Site Hike in the Smokies
Our Favorite Hike To The Walker Sisters Cabin in the Smokies
The Walker Sister Cabin is my family's favorite historic site in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It makes for a perfect afternoon outing for the family, and the kids (and you) will love walking through the cabin and imagining the lives lived here by the Walker sisters, a group of 6 sisters who were allowed to stay in their family’s homestead after the park was established in 1926.
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. The park service has kept the cabin and the surrounding buildings as a glimpse of what settler life was like and a testament to the independence and resourcefulness of the Walker Sisters.
Today, you and the kiddos can walk the grounds of this peaceful property, sit on the front porch and listen to the quiet stillness, and explore the small rooms of the two-story restored cabin.
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. 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.
If you'd like to learn more about the Walker sisters and their homestead, click here.
How To Get To The Walker Sisters Cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse
To reach the Walker Sister cabin, park at the Little Greenbrier School House parking lot and walk 1.1 miles on the Little Brier Gap Trail.
Before embarking on the trail, 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).
Walk The Little Brier Gap Trail To The Walker Sisters Cabin
After visiting the school and taking turns being the teacher, you're now ready to get the wiggles out on a fun hike. The Little Brier Gap trail is located at the end of the gravel road that runs behind the cemetery in front of the school house.
The trail is nice and wide and slightly uphill but overall an easy 1.1 mile stroll to the Walker homestead. Pack a picnic to enjoy on the grounds of the cabin or afterwards drive one mile to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area where you can dine riverside and try to catch tadpoles and crawdads.
Note that the graveled Little Greenbrier Road to the schoolhouse is short (roughly 0.4 miles) but narrow and is only open to cars from late March to early December.
You Can Add The Metcalf Bottoms Trail For A Longer Hike To The Walker Sisters Cabin
For a slightly longer (3.8 mile roundtrip) hike, park at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area and begin your hike on the Metcalf Bottoms Trail. This trail is 0.7 miles in length and leads to the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse. From there, you'll resume your walk to the cabin on the Little Brier Gap Trail located above the parking area (1.1. mile).
Map courtesy of the National Park Service and OpenStreetMap contributors.
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