Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower Hike: A Hidden Gem In Cosby, Tennessee, Offering Breathtaking Views Of The Smoky Mountains

Published on February 5, 2026

The Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower is an attraction that provides visitors pinch glimpses of nan galore landscapes and rolling hills of nan Great Smoky Mountains, wrapped astir nan municipality of Cosby, Tennessee. That very aforesaid building was precocious renovated and is now offering visitors moreover more.

A Journey to nan Historic Tower

The Civilian Conservation Corps built nan Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower while it served arsenic 1 of nan galore occurrence lookout towers successful nan Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This building is located successful nan bluish information of nan Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on pinch galore different attractions, and sits adjacent nan municipality of Cosby, Tennessee.

In nan 1990s, section hikers Gary Wade and Tom Trotter led a restoration task that revived nan tower, making it a awesome extremity for those who bask hikes and nan outdoors. The building is simply a destination for those who return connected nan Low Gap Trail. The way offers a awesome situation and moreover greater rewards for those who want to spot nan Smoky Mountains from a typical viewpoint.

The Trail to Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower

The hike to Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower is nan way for superior hikers. The travel is astir 10 miles information trip, and it promises to beryllium beautiful and supply nan worth of a challenge. The way starts connected nan southeast broadside of nan Cosby Campground. The Cosby Campground is simply a beautiful area wherever you tin bask nan scenery. Just retrieve that this campground is only unfastened from nan mediate of April to nan extremity of October. So, moreover wintertime is retired of nan mobility for this campground, and erstwhile it’s closed, hikers will person to parkland elsewhere.

Putting nan acquisition connected nan tract is an acquisition successful and of itself. The Low Gap Trail climbs a full of 3,149 feet. You will request hiking poles, arsenic nan slope tin beryllium steep, and nan falls tin beryllium rugged. The reward is worthy nan risk, though: nan ridge statement of nan Smokies is simply a position you will not forget. You will besides beryllium joined by nan Appalachian Trail for conscionable astir a last half-mile agelong to nan tower.

After nan Cammerer tower is nan view. You will first spot nan steep slopes of nan Pigeon River Gorge. The restoration of nan Smokies will beryllium successful each direction, but look hillward connected nan extracurricular and spot a boundless position of nan slopes extracurricular of nan gorge. The Keep offers a freshly restored patio and keeps nan entranceway to caput inside.

If you want to respect nan Smoky Mountains, nan building is simply a bully spot to visit. In nan fall, nan mountains toggle shape into various shades of red, yellow, and orange. This allows awesome photograph opportunities to seizure nan principle of nan autumn season. It’s besides recommended to sojourn nan building successful nan greeting to watch nan sunrise. It’s a awesome spot to watch nan sunrise!

Hiking Preparation and Tips

It will return a agelong clip to get to nan lookout tower, but location are galore awesome views on nan way! To bask nan views, beryllium judge to return awesome breaks. Because nan way tin beryllium steep and challenging, astir importantly, you must bring tons of h2o and bully hiking shoes. Also, if you’re personification who likes hiking poles, you should bring those too!

When hiking successful autumn, retrieve to cheque nan existent upwind forecast and hole for cooler temperatures. Because astir hikes return respective hours and nan daylight will beryllium disappearing quickly, make judge you springiness yourself plentifulness of clip to return. If you deliberation you will beryllium hiking erstwhile it is dark, it would beryllium a bully thought to bring a headlamp aliases flashlight. After a agelong time of hiking, beryllium judge to retrieve nan difficult uphill information that will beryllium waiting for you connected nan return trip.

More Information connected Cosby and nan Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower

Although Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower is simply a celebrated destination, it is reasonably distant and requires immoderate readying to access. Black Cab successful Cosby is simply a bully action for arranging your transportation. If you are renting a car, nan closest awesome airports are McGhee Tyson (57 miles) and Asheville Regional (77 miles). For those flying successful from farther away, nan closest awesome airdrome is Charlotte Douglas International, astir 182 miles from Cosby.

Parking astatine nan Cosby Campground, erstwhile open, is ideally located for entree to nan Low Gap Trailhead. In winter, parking is located adjacent nan campground. Once you get successful Cosby, Tennessee, renting a car is suggested for optimal entree to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

An Underrated Treasure successful nan Great Smoky Mountains

The operation of history, accomplishment, and earthy wonderment makes nan Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower hike 1 of nan underrated treasures successful Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike showcases nan Smokies astatine their best. Every play is special, but summertime and autumn guidelines retired erstwhile visitors tin bask nan views from a restored occurrence lookout tower, 1 of nan gems of nan Smoky Mountains.

If you’re looking for nan astir challenging hikes successful nan astir beautiful National Parks, nan Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower hike successful Cosby, Tennessee is simply a must. The Smoky Mountains are waiting for you connected nan different side, and nan reward is 1 of nan champion views.