Gregory Bald, Mountain summit in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States.
Gregory Bald is a mountain summit in Great Smoky Mountains National Park crowned by a 10-acre grassy meadow at its peak. The open plateau sits at about 4,949 feet and stands out as an unusual clearing surrounded by forest.
The mountain is named after Russell Gregory, a Cades Cove settler who raised cattle on the summit in the 1800s. Gregory died in 1863 during Civil War combat.
The Cherokee called the mountain Tsistu'yi, meaning Rabbit Place, believing a Great Rabbit dwelled there as their chief of all rabbits. This indigenous connection shapes how visitors understand the place today.
Reaching the summit requires stamina and follows several routes like the Gregory Ridge Trail, with an elevation gain of about 3,000 feet. It is best to start early and plan for a full day of hiking.
The summit displays a natural collection of flame azaleas that burst into bright orange and red blooms from mid to late June each year. This seasonal flowering makes visits during these weeks especially rewarding.
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