Distance: 0.6 miles, one way
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 100 ft.
Connections: Little Brier Gap Trail

The Metcalf Bottoms Trail is an easy, pleasant hike that leads you to the Little Greenbrier School, an old log building originally built in 1882. The Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area is located around 11 miles west of Gatlinburg on the Little River Road and about 7.5 miles east of the Townsend “Y” intersection.

To access the trailhead from picnic area walk across the bridge over the Little River. The trail begins on the right after crossing the bridge.

At around 0.1 mile you’ll head uphill and pass a water tank on your right and an old homesite on your left marked by an old rock wall.

At around 0.5 mile you’ll cross over three footbridges before arriving at the Little Greenbrier School at 0.6 mile.

You can enter the schoolhouse and see the old blackboard and desks that were part of the school when it was last used in the 1930s. On a slope in front of the school is an old cemetery, the final resting place for many of the area’s early inhabitants.

Above the parking area you can access the Little Brier Gap Trail for a 1.5 mile hike to the Walker Sisters Cabin.

The Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse is also accessible by driving 0.5 miles up Wear Cove Gap Road from the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area but if you’re looking for a nice, short hike leave your car at the picnic area and hit the trail.