Originally Posted by
HooKooDooKu
What time of year are you planning?
Beard Cane Trail is covered with poison ivy from the moment it drops into the valley from the Hatcher Mountain Trail intersection to beyond CS#3.
I recall CS#3 being relatively nice. You have to watch out for poison ivy while setting up your tent, but as with most GSMNP camp sites, the ground is trampled down enough that poison ivy isn't a major issue in camp... that is until you have to dig a cat hole. After stepping away from the tent pads, I think I walked 100 yards down the trail until I could find a section of ground where the poison ivy cover was thin enough to take care of business.
CS#2 is relatively small... only 4 reservation spots available. It's a very short hike down to where the trail crosses the creek to get your water. While the trail isn't covered in poison ivy like Beard Cane, you still have to watch out for poison ivy in camp with patches growing here and there.
I don't recall any water crossings on Beard Cane that are not rock hops. Cane Creek, on the other hand, the creek crossings get more difficult to keep your feet dry, especially the last one if you hike the trail all the way to the park boundary. Water is never more than about ankle deep should you have to resort to fording the creek.
I would describe Beard Cane and Cane Creek to be good winter trails/campsites as you shouldn't have to worry about the poison ivy.
Note that if you want to make a loop that includes Cooper Road and Abrams Creek, if you follow the official path of Wet Bottoms trail to connect the two, there is a major ford of Abrams Creek. The ford itself isn't difficult or deep, but the banks are muddy on both sides. If you don't mind skipping the "official" trail, there is a "back" trail that goes from the bridge at the Abrams Falls parking lot to Bud Ogle's cabin. From that trail, there are several man-ways along the far side of the creek to get you back to Wet Bottoms after the creek crossing. However, if you are working towards the 900 miler club, I personally consider such an alternate route to be "cheating".