Clingmans Dome – Easy to Moderate (N 35.5545, W -83.4950): Clingmans Dome is the highest peak in the Smokies and Tennessee–6,642 feet. The view is astounding when the weather’s good. Start early–later in the day the parking area gets crowded and the air gets hazier. A few trails...
Chimney Tops – Strenuous (N 35.6357, W -83.4699): This 4-mile roundtrip hike is a true peak experience. Great views and exhilarating exposure are both found at the top of this rocky summit. This hike is not easy, but it’s one of the park’s easiest high adventure hikes. Head up the...
Appalachian Trail – Strenuous (N 35.6110, W -83.4248): Everybody wants to try the storied Georgia-to-Maine footpath. From Newfound Gap, the trail heads east to fabulous views at The Jump-Off and craggy Charlie’s Bunion. Head up the AT to start this 6.5-mile out-and-back hike to the...
Grotto Falls Trail – Moderate (N 35.6804, W -83.4626): The 2.6 mile roundtrip hike to Grotto Falls is fun because the trail swings behind and below the cascade. Llama teams regularly use this trail (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) to resupply LeConte Lodge so you might see them going...
Alum Cave (Great Smoky Mountains): Moderate to Strenuous (N 35.6288, W -83.4508): Tennessee’s LeConte Lodge is the East’s highest overnight hostel and a stay is great fun. Many people take this shortest trail to the hut, but there’s a great view half way up and much to see...
Deep Creek Trail (Bryson City): This is a great place to walk, run or mountain bike near Bryson City. Head off up the level road grade along the wide, green, and pristine Deep Creek. Soon the sound of the stream rises to a higher pitch and as you amble up to 5 benches on the riverside...
The easiest of the park’s nature trails make nice walks. The Spruce-Fir Self-Guiding Nature Trail is a half-mile wander through a mossy, high elevation Canadian Zone forest at the park’s highest elevations. It’s very level and easy, but you will need to stride along sections of single...
For a longer but still gradual walk, Big Creek is great as an out and back waterfall hike of 4 miles. Take a left up the gated road just back from the picnic area parking. The old railroad grade rises easily its entire length along one of the park’s most scenic streams. At 1.4 miles...
This 2-mile greenway style path between Gatlinburg and the Sugarlands Visitor Center is a great walk, run or bike ride. The path winds along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River beside Newfound Gap Road. It passes under the Gatlinburg Bypass and crosses the river at one point. You’ll...
One of the park’s best walks combines two separate experiences. The 1.5-mile ORT leads from the Mountain Farm Museum, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, to the town of Cherokee–or from Cherokee to the farm. Hiking either way (or out and back for a 3-mile trip) offers a major dose of...
With your hands as your paddles, there’s no way to get closer to the water than tubing. Tube rental companies border Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering rides to put-ins or easy directions to the one-mile walk upstream. Deep Creek offers two sections — the narrower whitewater of...
Cliffside Lake Recreation Area & Van Hook Glade Campground Van Hook Glade Campground is approximately four miles from the heart of Highlands, NC in Nantahala National Forest and very close to Franklin, NC. This small, secluded campground is directly across the street from the...