The Jakes Creek, Cucumber Gap, and Little River trails form a varied loop through the Elkmont Historic District and hardwood forests in the Little River basin. Visitors will enjoy ecological diversity, good wildlife viewing, Husky Branch Falls, and excellent fishing and swimming along Little River.

Looking down from Upper Husky Branch Falls - the upper falls are housed under a low tree canopy and are accessible from a trail spur off Little River

A black-bellied Salamander peers out into the open from beneath a rock at Husky Branch Falls

A fight for life - tree canopies create challenging conditions for understory plants seeking sun to produce chlorophyll

Beautiful Bee Balm flowers line the Little River Trail near Husky Branch Falls - the flower got its common name from the belief that its leaves could ease the pain of a bee sting

Yellow poplar and red maple trees rise in large numbers from the forest floor on the Little River Trail

A Timber Rattlesnake crosses the Cucumber Gap Trail - one of two venomous snakes in the park along with the Copperhead

The Little River is a popular fishing destination in the Smokies

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies gather to mate along the Little River Trail

While swimming in the park's rivers are never recommended, the Little River successfully tempts two daring visitors

The large Turk's cap Lily on the Little River Trail - this lily can grow to heights of 6'- 10'

Remnants of settlement activity can be found throughout the loop - such as these rock walls

A lone brilliant red Bee Palm flower stands guard over Husky Branch Falls

The spur trail to Upper Husky Branch Falls takes visitors away from the Little River up to a secluded section the forest

White Rhododendron is a dominant ecological feature along the Elkmont Loop

A hiker walks among giants on the Cumberland Gap Trail

Upper Husky Branch Falls is a great place to carefully search for salamanders

Due to their size, the Eastern Timber Rattlesnake is considered the most dangerous venomous snake in the eastern United States - Encounters in the park are extremely rare (bites are even more rare)

Cool, damp conditions make the Smokies an ideal home for the over 2700 species of fungi occur on the park

A stand of yellow poplar trees - identified by straight limbless trunks and unique leaf shape

Husky Branch Falls - a 'branch' is a tributary which leads away from or into a larger river

The Little Rive Trail is an easy wide, flat fire road which runs parallel to the river

Once thought extinct but now making a comeback in the park - beavers use debris in slow moving areas of the river to trap crayfish and other prey

Lower Husky Branch Falls lets into the Little River

The rushing waters of the Little River create perfectly polished boulders

The Cucumber Gap Trail passes under a rhododendron canopy