Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness
A climb through old-growth hemlock to Laurel Falls and the Buzzard Point overlook on Walden Ridge.
- Length
- 5.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 700 ft
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Route
- out-and-back
Trail conditions
No recent condition reports. Hiked it lately?
Report current conditions →Find the trailhead
Parking
Nearest parking from OpenStreetMap (not verified by us).
Directions to parkingParking data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Weather at the trailhead
78°FOvercast now
Sunrise 6:26 AM · Sunset 8:48 PM
- TodayDrizzle81° / 71°F58% precip
- SunOvercast77° / 66°F22% precip
- MonDrizzle86° / 63°F42% precip
Forecast from Open-Meteo. Mountain conditions change fast; check again before you go.
The trail leaves the Walden Ridge trailhead outside Dayton and climbs gradually along Richland Creek through old-growth hemlock to Laurel Falls, an 80-foot plunge that thins to a misty veil by late summer. Continuing past the falls, the route tops out at the Buzzard Point overlook with broad views east over the Tennessee Valley. Snow Falls is a side spur for those who want the longer day. Dogs welcome on leash; no entry fees.