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Smoky Mountain Trail suggestions
Posted on 8/1/14 at 1:49 pm
Posted on 8/1/14 at 1:49 pm
Planning a trip to the Smokies with some friends soon and was wondering if you guys had any suggestions, as I have never been to the park myself. Our plan is to camp in the eastern-most side of the park (Cataloochee) and work our way back west, ending with a couple nights in Gatlinburg.
Any suggestions (day hikes, points of interest, etc) would be greatly appreciated! TIA
Any suggestions (day hikes, points of interest, etc) would be greatly appreciated! TIA
10
Posted on 8/1/14 at 2:10 pm to Kilgore Salmon
Cades Cove, Abrams Falls.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 2:11 pm to Kilgore Salmon
i don't know much about the park, but if you get a chance go whitewater rafting on the nantahala river, ride on the great smokey mountains railroad both in N.C. and go do the tour of the forbidden caverns in sevierville TN.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 2:12 pm to Kilgore Salmon
Rainbow Falls Trail to Mt. Leconte
Posted on 8/1/14 at 2:16 pm to Golfer
I have a book of pretty much all of the hiking trails in the national park. The book is thiiiiiiiiiiiiiick. Look up some of the more popular ones and take your pick.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 2:20 pm to PillageUrVillage
Chimney Tops is a good destination. Alum Caves is also nice. I personally like any waterfall.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 3:00 pm to Golfer
quote:
Rainbow Falls Trail to Mt. Leconte
Hiking up the mountain and staying at Mount Leconte Lodge is on the bucket list.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 3:28 pm to Shexter
Did it two summer's ago...they didn't have any room at the Lodge so we went up in the morning, at lunch and went back down. 14.4 miles round trip...LOOOONNNG day.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 3:31 pm to Golfer
quote:
LOOOONNNG day.
came down Rainbow Falls or Bull Head?
Posted on 8/1/14 at 3:42 pm to Kilgore Salmon
Our family goes to the Smokies every year or so. If you can go after school starts it will be less crowded. The more time I spend in the mountains and less time in the tourist towns the better.
Cades Cove is a great place when not crowded. We usually see bears there. About half way around the loop is Abrams falls trail not a difficult hike and the falls are nice.
Have stayed at Mt. Leconte Alum Cave trail is our favorite hike to Mt. Leconte, but Rainbow Falls trail goes by the falls which is an added plus. We have done up and back and it is a long day, but we went Alum Cave trail.
Chimney Tops is very nice, but we have only been on that trail in the snow. One of our best hikes ever.
Lots of things to do in the area, but if you want to avoid the crowds, stay in the mountains.
Cades Cove is a great place when not crowded. We usually see bears there. About half way around the loop is Abrams falls trail not a difficult hike and the falls are nice.
Have stayed at Mt. Leconte Alum Cave trail is our favorite hike to Mt. Leconte, but Rainbow Falls trail goes by the falls which is an added plus. We have done up and back and it is a long day, but we went Alum Cave trail.
Chimney Tops is very nice, but we have only been on that trail in the snow. One of our best hikes ever.
Lots of things to do in the area, but if you want to avoid the crowds, stay in the mountains.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 4:12 pm to Kilgore Salmon
i've done rainbow/alum, abram's and cade's cove. all three were great and different.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 4:14 pm to Kilgore Salmon
just stay away from gatlinburg..
Posted on 8/1/14 at 4:14 pm to Kilgore Salmon
quote:
ending with a couple nights in Gatlinburg
Skip the second night in Gatlinburg. You can see that whole town in a day.
Save up ($170 per person) and take an hour long helicopter that flies out to Cade's Cove.
https://scenichelicoptertours.com/shop/national-park-tour/
quote:
Our midrange flights put you above Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, surrounding high mountain valleys, pristine estuaries and the adjacent foothills of the national park. Our most popular flight, The Gatlinburg, not only covers the areas mentioned previously, but also puts you above Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The longer tours extend further into the national park with views of such places as Cades Cove, The Chimneys, Clingmans Dome, The Sawteeth and Mt LeConte.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 4:25 pm to TeamWillow
quote:go in the morning, get in line for pancakes at the pancake haus(?). after breakfast, go try a few free shots of moonshine then never return to that hellhole.
just stay away from gatlinburg..
Posted on 8/1/14 at 4:42 pm to DLauw
If all world governments break down due to some apocalypse and I'm still alive, I'm going live in Cades Cove.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 4:58 pm to PillageUrVillage
Can somebody please suggest a waterfall type hike for a fit family close to I40? I'm driving thru Asheville in 2 weeks. Thanks so much!!
Posted on 8/1/14 at 7:09 pm to Kilgore Salmon
Greenbrier
Brook trout and many small streams no crowds
Brook trout and many small streams no crowds
Posted on 8/1/14 at 7:42 pm to choupiquesushi
quote:
Greenbrier
You shut your mouth about Greenbrier!
ETA:
been going there my whole life... Sure ain't a hideaway like it was when I was a boy, now...This post was edited on 8/1/14 at 7:44 pm
Posted on 8/1/14 at 8:27 pm to Rebnbama
Thanks for all of the suggestions. So many great places to choose from. Seems like Cade's Cove or Mt Leconte would be our best bet. Whichever campground is in close proximity to a multitude of day hikes would be ideal.
Posted on 8/1/14 at 8:52 pm to Kilgore Salmon
Only thing about Leconte...
We started out as this.....
And in 4 hours went to this.....
Started about 40 degrees which we expected with a little bit of rain. Cold front came through dropped temp to 11 degrees and snowed. Making it up to the cabins sucked once we hit halfway, the pregger wife made me carry her pack and we were slipping pretty much everywhere. Didnt pack for 11 degrees and had to buy sweatshirts and yaktrax at the cabins. Coming down was an adventure trying not to slip off the mountain. Halfway down it shot to like 60 degrees and everything melted.
Fun times, would do it again in a heart beat....prepared or not.
We started out as this.....
And in 4 hours went to this.....
Started about 40 degrees which we expected with a little bit of rain. Cold front came through dropped temp to 11 degrees and snowed. Making it up to the cabins sucked once we hit halfway, the pregger wife made me carry her pack and we were slipping pretty much everywhere. Didnt pack for 11 degrees and had to buy sweatshirts and yaktrax at the cabins. Coming down was an adventure trying not to slip off the mountain. Halfway down it shot to like 60 degrees and everything melted.
Fun times, would do it again in a heart beat....prepared or not.
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