by Julie Dodd
Bullhead Trail, one of the popular trails leading to Mount Le Conte and LeConte Lodge, is now open seven days a week. The trail had been closed four days a week since spring for restoration work.
The nearly six-mile trail, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is being restored by the Trails Forever Crew funded by Friends of the Smokies. The crew worked from May through November and plan to complete the restoration in 2026.
The goals of the restoration are to improve hiking ease and safety and to reduce erosion. The improved trails enable the Park’s Search and Rescue teams to reach injured hikers more quickly and safely transport them to medical care.
In addition to working on the Bullhead Trail this year, the Trails Forever Crew also made improvements to the top sections of Rainbow Falls Trail, Alum Cave Trail, Trillium Gap Trail and Boulevard Trail to improve drainage around the Mount Le Conte summit.
Teamwork involved
The seven-person National Park Service Trails Forever Crew was assisted by a six-person American Conservation Experience (ACE) Crew and a six-person Southeastern Conservation Corps (SECC) Crew.
Friends of the Smokies contributed $643,000 during 2025 to fund the Trails Forever Crew and the crew’s equipment and materials. Friends also provided $180,000 to support the ACE and SECC Crews.
“Without the support from Friends of the Smokies the rehabilitation of Bullhead Trail would not be possible,” said Josh Shapiro, Trails Forever Crew supervisor.
This year’s trail work involved lots of logistics, Shapiro said.
The members of the Trails Forever, ACE and SECC Crews divided into two groups for trail work. The group working on the lower portion of the trail was the frontcountry crew. The group working on the upper section of the trail was the backcountry crew.
The Trails Forever Crew members working the upper section stayed overnight in the Mount Le Conte NPS Bunkhouse. The backcountry members of the ACE Crew stayed in the Mount Le Conte Shelter. The NPS Mule Team resupplied the backcountry crew with food and gear throughout the season.
Trail improvements
This year, the Trails Forever Crew built 33 staircases – two stone staircases and 31 locust log staircases.
The stone step sections were built utilizing stone found near the trail. The crew split the stone using hand tools — feathers and wedges — to create stairs with a consistent step height.
The crew used approximately 300 locust logs for the construction of the 31 locust staircases.
“A helicopter transported locust logs, tools, and supplies to the NPS Trail Crew Bunkhouse near LeConte Lodge,” Shapiro said. “The Mule Team transported locust logs, tools, and supplies to all areas of the trail below the Rainbow Falls Junction with Bullhead.”
Restoration work also included repairing approximately 300 square feet of rock retaining walls, widening approximately 2.5 miles of trail, brushing back 2.5 miles of trail corridor to keep the trail clear, and maintaining and improving approximately 150 trail drainages. The crews also constructed three armored stone drain pans, which involved placing stones below the trail surface to reduce erosion problems in trenched areas.
Volunteers assisted
Volunteers contributed 416 hours to restoring the trail, Shapiro said.
The volunteers removed rocks from the trail that were tripping hazards and improved trail drainage. Volunteers also cut back vegetation that encroached on the trail and peeled hundreds of locust logs used in constructing staircases.
“We we’re fortunate to have such a dedicated and hardworking volunteer crew on Bullhead Trail this year that took a lot of pride in completing high quality work,” Shapiro said.
You can support Trails Forever restoration projects
Bullhead Trail is the eighth trail Friends of the Smokies has restored since the Trails Forever program began in 2012.
The Friends of the Smokies Trails Forever Crew has restored Abrams Falls Trail, Alum Cave Trail, Chimney Tops Trail, Forney Ridge Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Ramsey Cascades Trail and Trillium Gap Trail. You can learn about each trail restoration project by clicking on the links.
Friends of the Smokies is the official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Through private donations, fundraising events, and specialty license plates in North Carolina and Tennessee, Friends of the Smokies raises money to fund needed projects and programs in the national park that would otherwise go unfunded.
Learn more about how to get a Friends of the Smokies license plate at BearPlate.org. You can make a direct tax-deductible donation at our website. We also are grateful for those who pitch in at our donation boxes throughout the park. Every gift makes a significant difference.
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