The 4-mile trail is one of the park’s most popular, and it ends at 100-foot Ramsey Cascades, the park’s tallest waterfall. A two-year rehabilitation project aims to improve trail safety and protect the park’s natural resources. Most of the work will be done by a professional crew funded through the Trails Forever Program, a partnership between the National Park Service and Friends of the Smokies, but volunteer efforts are key to helping the project progress. 

Trail work is hard, physical work — volunteers should be able to hike at least 4 miles and safely perform strenuous and often difficult manual labor. They will be asked to lift heavy objects and use hand tools such as shovels, rakes, axes and loppers while performing a wide range of tasks, including installing drainage features, rehabilitating trail surfaces, constructing raised trail segments and removing brush. 

Registration is required with Trails and Facilities Volunteer Coordinator Adam Monroe at 828.497.1949 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Volunteers should arrive with food, water, rain gear and any other personal items needed for a day in the woods.