Hiking Trails

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Grandaddy of them all, the Appalachian Trail is accessible from Timberwolf Creek by a beautiful ride through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, all the way to the North Carolina-Tennessee border. There are other access points, but we love this hour-long ride. Take a your water and a lunch and make an afternoon of it.

You don't have to hike entire length to find out what the Trail is all about. This is from National Geographic Adventure:

"Ours would be a far cry from the half-year or more often set aside to hike the whole thing, but enough, we hoped, to get a true taste of America's most famous hiking route: a crash course, AT 101.

School started on a dirt track carved between mountainous Catawba rhododendrons and stands of Scotch heather. There's something odd, almost presumptuous, about the notion of stepping directly from an automobile into the wilderness. It appeared to Steve, Daniel, and me that this wouldn't be much more than weekending on a sort of median strip, and that the weight on our shoulders and the new leather on our feet were akin to play gear; by the standards of this epic path, we were enacting a weekend-warrior dress-up. But the trail didn't care, and soon we didn't either. After all, the woods were real, the path through them was uneven and rocky, and, in case our minds doubted it, the weight on our backs and the slope underfoot provided a steady reminder to our quads and knees that our hike was authentic, if abbreviated. Within minutes, what had started on a modern American road had somehow veered off into primitive, off-road Appalachia. Our first lesson, it seems, was in time travel."

Balsam Mountain

Flat Creek Falls*: Location: Heintooga Picnic Area; Miles (roundtrip length): 4; Rating: Easy; Climb (feet); 600 down; Trail Features: A short hike through a northern hardwood forest.
Flat Creek Falls*: Location: 1 mile south of Polls Gap on Balsam Mountain Road; Miles (roundtrip length): 2; Rating: Easy; Climb (feet): 180; Trail Features: A short hike through a northern hardwood forest
Photo by Jan Calame, Fremont, CA
Spruce Mountain*: Location: Polls Gap, on the Balsam Mountain Road; Miles: (roundtrip length): 10; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 519; Trail Features: Through conifer forest to the top of Spruce Mountain

Big Creek

Mt. Sterling: Location: Big Creek Campground (via Baxter Creek Trail); Miles (roundtrip length): 12; Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 4130; Trail Features: Through changing forest to Mt. Sterling.

Cades Cove

Abrams Fall: Location: West end of the Cades Cove Loop Road; Miles (roundtrip length): 5; Rating: Moderate; Climb (feet): 340; Trail Features: Walk along a clear stream to 20' falls
Gregory Bald: Location: Turnaround on Forge Creek Road in Cades Cove (via Gregory Ridge Trail); Miles: (roundtrip length): 11; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 3000; Trail Features: Ascends through virgin hardwood forest; azaleas bloom at the bald late June
Rich Mountain: Location: Start of Cades Cove Loop Road, just beyond gate; Miles: (roundtrip length): 8; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 1600; Trail Features: Follow Rich Mountain Loop, Indian Grave Gap; Crooked Arms Ridge trails
Rocky Top: Location: Cades Cove Picnic Area (via Anthony Creek Trail); Miles (roundtrip length): 12; Rating: Strenuous; Climb (feet); 3476; Trail Features: Good views from the Appalachian Trail
Spence Field: Location: Cades Cove Picnic Area (via Anthony Creek Trail); Miles: (roundtrip length): 11; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 2922; Trail Features: Follow Anthony Creek and Bote Mountain Trails
Spence Field: Location: Laurel Creek Road, approximately 3 miles west of Townsend "Y" (via Bote Mountain Trail); Miles: (roundtrip length): 14; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 3300; Trail Features: An old road; some good views.
Thunderhead: Location: Cades Cove Picnic Area (via Anthony Creek Trail); Miles (roundtrip length): 13; Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 3562; Trail Features: Follow Anthony Creek; Bote Mountain, and Appalachian Trails.

Cataloochee

Boogerman: Location: Caldwell Fork Trail near Cataloochee Campground; Miles (roundtrip length): 7; Rating: Moderate; Climb (feet): 1000; Trail Features: A hike through a mature hardwood forest
Mt. Sterling: Location: Cataloochee Schoolhouse; Miles (roundtrip length): 12; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 2430; Trail Features: Along Pretty Hollow Creek to Mt. Sterling

Clingman's Dome Road

Andrews Bald*: Location: Clingmans Dome Parking Area; Miles (roundtrip length): 4; Rating: Moderate; Climb (feet): 600 down; Trail Features: The easiest bald to reach; fine views; azaleas in June
Noland Divide*: Location: Clingmans Dome Road; 3/4 mile east of the Clingmans Dome Parking Area; Miles: 14-1/2 (one-way); Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 4129 down; Trail Features: From conifer forest to Deep Creek Campground
Road Prong*: Location: Indian Gap, 2 miles from Newfound Gap on Clingmans Dome Road. Trail ends in the Chimney Tops Parking Area; Miles: 3-1/2 one-way; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 1840 down; Trail Features: Follows route of old wagon road; now a rough footpath; two stream crossings without foot bridges
Silers Bald*: Location: Along the Appalachian Trail; excellent views; Miles (roundtrip length): 10; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 900 down; Trail Features: Along the Appalachian Trail; excellent views

Cosby

Albright Grove: Location: At Park boundary adjacent to Safari Campground (private) on U..S. 321 approximately 15 miles east of Gatlinburg; Miles (roundtrip length): 7; Rating: Moderate; Climb (feet): 1500; Trail Features: Follows old road for 3 miles of second growth forest to a 1-1/2 mile walk through virgin cove hardwood forest.
Hen Wallow Falls: Location: Cosby Campground at site A-55; Miles: (roundtrip length) 4; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 520; Trail Features: A walk through areas with large trees
Mount Cammerer: Location: Low Gap Trail in Cosby Campground; Miles (roundtrip length): 12; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 2470; Trail Features: The shortest and easiest trail from the north side of the Park to the Appalachian Trail; excellent 360 degree view from Mt. Cammerer

Deep Creek

Indian Creek Falls: Location: Deep Creek Road, 1/2 mile from Campground Amphitheater; Miles (roundtrip length): 2; Rating: Easy; Climb (feet): 100; Trail Features: Follow creek to a 60' waterfall
Juneywhank Falls: Location: Deep Creek Road, 1/4 mile from Campground Amphitheater; Miles (roundtrip length): 1-1/2; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 150; Trail Features: A short hike to an unusual cascade
Lonesome Pine: Location: Across from bridge in the Deep Creek Campground (on Noland Divide Trail); Miles (roundtrip length): 6; Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 2640; Trail Features:To pine forest on Beaugard Ridge
Toms Branch Falls: Location: Deep Creek Road; 1/2 mile from Campground Amphitheater; Miles (roundtrip length): 1/2; Rating: easy; Climb (feet): 20; Trail Features: Follows old road and Deep Creek; second growth forest

Elkmont

Cove Mountain: Location: Laurel Falls Parking Area; 4 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center on Little River Road; Miles (roundtrip length): 8; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 1840; Trail Features: Laurel Falls and a virgin cove hardwood forest
Cucumber Gap: Location: 2-1/2 miles above Elkmont Campground on road along Little River; Miles (roundtrip length): 5-1/2; Rating: easy; Climb (feet): 700; Trail Features: Follows an old logging grade through young forest
Upper Little River: Location: Locked gate on road along Little River, above Elkmont Campground; Miles (roundtrip length): 6; Rating: easy; Climb (feet): 500; Trail Features: Follows Little River; good view of large boulders and rushing waterfall

Fontana Dam

Shuckstack: Location: Fontana Dam; follow the Appalachian Trail north; Miles (roundtrip length): 7; Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 2200; Trail Features: Fine views; considerable climbing

Gatlinburg

CHEROKEE ORCHARD

Mt. LeConte: Location: 4 miles south of Gatlinburg (via Rainbow Falls Trail); Miles (roundtrip length): 13; Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 4017; Trail Features: After falls, steep climb through a heath bald and spruce-fir forest
Mt. LeConte: Location: 4 miles south of Gatlinburg (via Bullhead Trail); Miles (roundtrip length): 14; Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 4017; Trail Features: From second-growth forest, past huge boulders, into spruce-fir forest
Rainbow Falls: Location: 4 miles south of Gatlinburg (via Airport Road); Miles (roundtrip length): 5-1/2; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 1750; Trail Features: Follows LeConte Creek to 80' waterfall

Newfound Gap

Arch Rock: Location: Alum Cave Bluffs Parking Area; 9 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road; Miles (roundtrip length): 2-1/2; Rating: easy; Climb (feet): 400; Trail Features: Through hemlock and northern hardwood forest along Alum Cave Creek; trail goes through the rock
Charlies Bunion: Location: Newfound Gap; follow Appalachian Trail east; Miles: (roundtrip length): 8; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 980; Trail Features: A rocky prominence with spectacular views
Chasteen Creek: Location: Smokemont Campground; hike to Hughes Ridge and return; Miles: (roundtrip length): 10; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 2499; Trail Features: Well-maintained trail through second-growth forest; passes 15' waterfall
Deep Creek: Location: Newfound Gap Road, 1 mile south of Newfound Gap (via Deep Creek Trail); Miles: 15 (one way); Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 2900 down
Huskey Gap: Location: Huskey Gap Trail on Newfound Gap Road; end at Fighting Creek Gap on Little River Road; Miles: 4-1/2 (one-way); Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 1240; Trail Features: Good graded trail through second-growth hardwoods.
Kephart Prong: Location: Newfound Gap Road, 8 miles north of Oconaluftee; Miles (roundtrip length): 4; Rating: easy; Climb (feet): 830; Trail Features: Follows old road past abandoned fish hatchery and CCC camp to Kephart Shelter
Mingus Creek: Location: Mingus Mill Parking Area; hike to Mingus Creek Cemetery and return; Miles (roundtrip length): 4-1/2; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 748; Trail Features: Trail follows Mingus Creek
Mt. LeConte: Location: Alum Cave Bluffs Parking Area, 9 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road; Miles: (roundtrip length): 11; Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 2800; Trail Features: From Alum Cave Bluffs over steep landslide scars into conifer forest
Mt. LeConte: Location: Newfound Gap; take Appalachian Trail east and the Boulevard Trail; Miles: (roundtrip length): 16; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 1545; Trail Features: The least climb of any trail to the summit; through spruce-fir forest
Newton Bald: Location: Newfound Gap Road, 1/8 mile north of Smokemont Campground entrance; Miles (roundtrip length): 10); Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 2800
Old Sugarlands: Location: Gatlinburg side of stone bridge at Park Headquarters; Miles (roundtrip length): 3; Rating: easy; Climb (feet): 300; Trail Features: Trail through pine-oak woods along West-Prong of the Little Pigeon River
Smokemont Loop: Location: Smokemont Campground at the gate on Bradley Fork Road, near site D-19; Miles (roundtrip length): 6; Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 1260; Trail Features: A hike through oak and cove hardwood forests
Sweat Heifer: Location: Newfound Gap; take Appalachian Trail east 1-1/2 miles, then Sweat Heifer Trail and Kephart Prong Trail to Newfound Gap Road; Miles: 7-1/4 (one-way); Rating: moderate; Climb (feet): 3100 down; Trail Features: Partly follows on an old logging railroad grade; second growth forest.

Park Headquarters

Gatlinburg: Location: Park Headquarters area to Gatlinburg city limit.; Miles: 2 (one-way); Rating: easy; Climb (feet): 120 down; Trail Features: Along the west prong of the Little Pigeon River; second-growth forest and old homesite

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Grotto Falls*: Location: Parking area near post #5 on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail; Miles (roundtrip length): 3; Rating: easy; Climb (feet): 560; Trail Features: Through old-growth forest to a waterfall you can walk behind
Mt. LeConte*: Location: Parking Area near post #5 on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (via Grotto Falls and Trillium Gap Trails); Miles (roundtrip length): 14; Rating: strenuous; Climb (feet): 3473; Follows Roaring Fork to its source, through various forest types

For detailed trail information, publications on hiking are available to purchase at visitor centers. For leisurely enjoyment, expect to average one mile per hour on most trails.

*Access road closed in winter