Backpacking the Appalachian Trail to McAfee Knob, Virginia USA
The Appalachian Trail is one of the most renowned thru-hikes in the United States. Spanning over 2200 miles, we had to at least see one of its top highlights, Mc Afee Knob, before closing our first summer on the East Coast.
Follow KinesiOdyssey wherever you are!
Facebook: facebook.com/kinesiodyssey
Instagram: instagram.com/kinesiodyssey
Twitter: twitter.com/kinesiodyssey
Pinterest: pinterest.com/kinesiodyssey
Appalachian Trail October 2012 Virginia Section
Hiking the AT 120 miles through south central virginia to the James River
Backpacking the Appalachian Trail from Marion VA to Thunder Ridge Overlook VA
The sounds and smells of nature can hold you in its captivating spell, in enough time you can…. just be part of it…. in body…
and ...…in spirit.
It is in this time… magic can happen
And…. supernatural forces can…
interact with you,
you are one with all things.
You do not fear and it does not fear you, you are one…
The Adventures of Puma Ghostwalker…Hiking the Appalachian Trail…..
An autumnal October twelfth, a full moon supplying the entire local inhabits, a smorgasbord of fresh clams providing they dig them up.
The shallows of an impressive low tide was completely at its lowest point when he approached the beach,
two sea gulls were skirmishing in midair.
The bearer of the prize victorious, retaining the hard dug clam.
Sea gulls with their relatively short legs, (for a bird that would forage at a waters edge) were quite successful uncovering the tasty morsels.
Standing in the shallows the gulls would probe the sandy bottom where the clams lay just beneath the surface; grabbing the calm in its bill the sea gull would take flight.
The burdening cargo clumsily laying in the gull’s mouth, an easy target for an in-flight robbery tests the gull’s tenacious hold. Soaring high, the gull zeros in on a
rock bellow, using the skills of a bombardier, eyeing the target to crack open its precious cargo.
Puma, out for a break from climbing trees finds closeness with nature that few have mastered, some call it, the call of the wild.
Having just stepped off the Appalachian Trail… hiking close to 800 miles, in a three month journey…
Only!!!.. to immediately.. go to climbing trees in New York City where the Puma resides.
This abrupt transition delayed any thoughts and reflection of Pumas recent vision quest.
Puma Ghostwalker left NYC in late May 2011 taking his backpack down to Springer Mountain Georgia, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
The north bound Puma hiked up past Roanoke Virginia when a hurricane due to hit New York City, pulled him off trail, dedicated to go back home and face the destruction
of falling trees on houses.
Two months later Puma gets a break and grabs his Nikon d 7000 and a 300 mm lens and hits a local state park for the day.
The sea air and sounds bring him back in time and soon he was walking on trail the smells indeed… you never forget the smells and Kitea.
Kitea was a shape-shifter; she came to him at night late in the season when Puma slept alone in the shelters.
With not many hikers on trail
Puma would sleep in the shelters that were built and maintained by the local hiking clubs of that particular location.
She would always come to him
late in the evening.
Appearing as a mountain lion she would approach him,
Puma reaching out and scratching her ears and rubbing her neck
Kitea… instantly transforming to human form and with the same agility… leap in one move laying aside Puma for close human contact, a closeness
she had done with him many times before.
Every morning Kitea would be gone and Puma just thought of it as lucid dreams, a part of his vision quest.
Swiss Miss was a north bound hiker from Switzerland, she met-up with Puma in Virginia and became his companion.
She came to America to hike the Appalachian Trail,
to learn what it feels like to be alone in nature and commune with her Mother Goddess.
Ahead of… or trailing Puma she spent many days in the stillness of the forest,climbing mountain after mountain.
The darkness of the night, deep in the forest, moon and star light struggles to penetrate.
One night camping right at the shore of Jennings creek, a bear came down to the creek for water, the soft sounds of the creek was no match for the heavy breathing and lapping of the water by the bear.
The sounds and smells of nature can hold you in its captivating spell, in enough time you can…. just be part of it…. in body…
and ...…in spirit.
It is in this time… magic can happen
And…. supernatural forces can…
interact with you,
you are one with all things.
You do not fear and it does not fear you, you are one…
After hiking for two weeks with Swiss Miss, Puma was being called back to New York early in preparation for the hurricane that’s about to hit the city.
The final day on trail,Puma discovered a mountain lion kill… reenacting the hunt,
Puma recorded a video for Youtube.
Following the animal from were it ambushed a deer…
then a tumble 5 meters where she made the death bite, …right on the trail…
that caught Puma’s eye then, dragging the creature down the mountain for consumption,
it was at that moment…
Puma thought about Kitea as a real being out there and maybe…….just maybe….
Virginia
Which U.S. state has about the same population figures as Austria? Find out in the latest addition to our state video series: Judy Friedberg from the Management Section presents her home state. #50states #VA
Transcript:
Hi, I'm Judy Friedberg and I am happy to tell you about my home state of Virginia.
Officially known as the Commonwealth of Virginia, this mid-Atlantic state is
bordered by Washington, DC, Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina. And,
to the East, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean border Virginia's Eastern
Shore, another peninsula of Virginia land.
More than eight million people live in Virginia. Our state flower is actually a
flowering tree -- the dogwood. Our state bird is the cardinal.
Much of our state's natural beauty is protected by National Parks. My favorite is
Great Falls Park which highlights a rushing section of the Potomac River, which
flows to the Bay from the mountains in the west. Those mountains are also known
as The Blue Ridge Mountains, due to the coloring of the trees and shadows,
particularly in the early morning and early evening light.
Much of this area is included in Shenandoah National Park. Within the park is a
portion of the beautiful Appalachian Trail -- a rigorous hiking trail which extends
from Georgia to Maine. In the autumn, the leaves are at their most colorful.
Skyline Drive runs through the park. This is a fantastic way to see the beauty of the
mountains and the Shenandoah Valley from the comfort of your car.
The Shenandoah Valley is known for dairy farms and wineries. Virginia's farming
history also includes tobacco and cotton.
Virginia's nicknames refer to its rich history. The Old Dominion refers to its status
as one of the original 13 colonies. Virginia's other nickname is The Mother of
Presidents. Eight U.S. presidents were born here - more than any other state.
Some of their homes are open to the public as historic sites.
Mount Vernon, home of our first President, George Washington, sits high on a bluff
overlooking the Potomac River, not far from Washington, DC.
Monticello, home of our third President and drafter of our Declaration of
Independence, Thomas Jefferson, is located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The
University of Virginia, which Jefferson founded, is nearby.
But, back to some much earlier history...Native people, including the Powhatan,
Algonquin, and Iroquois, were already living in the area long before the English
settlers came. Some say the name Virginia was the settlers' way of honoring Queen
Elizabeth the First of England, who was also known as The Virgin Queen.
You may have heard of the story of Pocahontas? She was a native of the area and a
friend to the English settlers of the colony's first capitol, Jamestown, in 1616.
Williamsburg served as the capitol of the Colony of Virginia from the early 1700s
and was the center of political activity leading to the American Revolution.
Both Jamestown and Williamsburg have active historic centers where you can learn
more about colonial life.
Richmond became the state capital in 1780 and remains so today. In 1861, after ten
states seceded from the United States, Richmond became the capital of the shortlived
Confederate States of America.
After the Civil War ended, and these states re-entered the Union, Richmond
developed into a railroad crossroads for the region. These strong railroads helped
develop trade routes between the middle of the country and the Atlantic Ocean and
led to the founding of Newport News Shipbuilding which continues to produce
battleships and aircraft carriers. Nearby Hampton Roads is the largest naval base on
the east coast.
Virginia is also home to the world's largest office building, The Pentagon,
headquarters of the Defense Department.
Other Virginia coastal attractions are historic lighthouses including Cape Henry,
Fort Monroe and Assateague. Assateague is also the home of the Chincoteague wild
ponies. And, if you visit there perhaps you will order some delicious Chesapeake
Bay blue crab and a beer for your dinner.
Today, media, technology, software, communications, and consulting are the fastest growing sectors of Virginia's economy. The education sector, particularly Virginia's
200-plus colleges and universities, and the government employment sector are also
growth areas. All of this and more, make Virginia the wealthiest of the southern
United States.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about Virginia today.
Appalachian Trail | Virginia | Two
4/21/19
In this episode — Blackburn Trail Center to Keys Gap; Appalachian Trail mile 1012.9 - 1019.2; collaboration with Sweeps/ Section Hiking The AT 12/52
The Town of Appalachia, Virginia - the Only Appalachia in Appalachia
The town of Appalachia, Virginia is the only town named Appalachia in the United States.
Skyline Drive Virginia!
#Skylinedirve #Virginia #Greatamericanroads
This video is about the amazing Skyline Drive in Virginia! Links to follow!
***Do you want to start your own YouTube Channel? Or, do you need help with your own channel? Help support this channel, and get help creating your own amazing videos by clicking the following link!
Trust me, it works!
Connect with a Nose for Life
Facebook @billmarionlife
Twitter @billandcaroline
Information Links
Skyline Drive
Skyline Drive Fees
Bears in Virginia
Bears Skyline Drive
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah Valley
Wildflowers Shenandoah National Park
Blue Ridge Parkway
Hiking Skyline Drive
Camping Skyline Drive
Appalachian Trail
Hot Springs, NC A Trail Town on the Appalachian Trail
Hot Springs is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. It is one of many trail towns located on the Appalachian Trail. The population was 560 at the 2010 census.
Elevation: 1,332′
Appalachian Trail Section 2013
Bland Va - Big Walker Motel day before we start our section hike
Backpacking the Appalachian Trail from Damacus VA to Marion VA
The Adventures of Puma Ghostwalker… Rattlesnakes and Lightning…….Very, Very Frightning…….Me….. Galileo
When I left to hike the Appalachian Trail last May, I had the knowledge of several books on hiking the AT (as it is called) and how to do it. I still arrived at the Gainesville Georgia bus depot with an 85 pound backpack. It had all the things I found necessary to hike “My Hike”, including my laptop, solar panel and 12 days of food.
I remember waiting for car service at my camper with my friend Gary.
He even said its very heavy, when I went to pick it up I thought the shoulder straps were going to rip off, the fabric would stretch and make loud noises. At Gainesville I grabbed a cab and was driven to Amiclola Falls State Park, where I reregistered for my hike. I told the ranger I’m out for three months and was shooting for 1,000 miles, ending my season
at Harpers Ferry West Virginia, about half of the entire Appalachian Trail and the location of the ATC headquarters. It was a great get off point, they have a train station to Washington DC, there it’s a quick jump home to NYC at Penn Station.
Because I was going to be out for three months I decided to get a ride up the forest service road to the start of the trail, avoiding the approach trail of almost 9 miles.
Thank goodness I never would of made it to the top of Springer mountain that day.
When we got to a parking turnout next to the Appalachian Trail, I paid the cabby
and got my pack ready. I read that when you take this rout you have to go south on the AT to begin at the starting point, the problem was there were no signs saying “This Way South”. Not a problem, I took a compass reading and was on my way, after about an hours time I wasn’t seeing any features; my map said I would see. As it turns out in my first moments on trail I was lost, well not completely lost, just going the wrong way.
It was hot and my pack was incredibly heavy, I tried to focus on my footsteps, a wrong step would end my hike before it started with a twisted ankle or a blow-out knee. It was early after noon when I arrived at the top of Springer Mountain, I was exhausted and I was just getting started. My cell phone worked and I took a few photos and sent them out in real time, I’m here at the top of the world mom…..My Journey Begins…..
The top of Springer Mountain was rocky and exposed, so I took my solar panel out and charged my cell phone while I wrote a bit on my laptop, snacking on trail-mix. After an hours time or more I hoisted the pack to my shoulders and was on my way Northbound for 1,000 miles. I was very pleased when I got past all my previous steps and was on new fresh ground. At 2.8 miles I came to Stover Creek Shelter, it was gorgeous and enormous, sleeps 16
according to my trail guide. There were two groups of people out for the weekend,
a mother son and a father son, they seemed to take up the whole picnic table to cook and eat so I set up my cooking off to the side. It didn’t feel like they were interested in sharing the space. Later in my hike I would be more aggressive with people but
at this place in time I wanted to be alone anyway and setup camp far away from the shelter. For the most part I met many wonderfully kind people on my trek but there are always people I wish not to be close to in the world no mater where you are.Such an adventure so far, this is when I started having the same dream over and over
for the next three months, that I would be bitten by a poisonous rattlesnake.
I would be in a storm right before I hit the Smokey’s so bad that it produced
three tornados and killed people, crossed the path of six rattlesnakes, attacked by two rattlesnakes at the same time
and... I was hit by lightning…….my pack is heavy and I don’t have this, Oxen
From Isak Dinesen..(Karen Blixen)
Out of Africa
“God is happy, Msabu. He plays with us.”
Appalachian Trail Through Hike-Virginia Apple Orchard Mountain and The Guillotine
Remember to subscribe-click here
Videos of the Appalachian Trail Virginia The Guillotine and Apple Orchard Mountain.
By Tyler Hagemo
APPALACHIAN TRAIL WATERFALL VIRGINIA
Appalachian Trail Virginia Waterfall
Appalachian Trail Damascus VA 2017 Trail Town USA
The Appalachian Trail follows Laurel Avenue right through the heart of Damascus. The town is often referred to as Trail Town, USA due to the beautiful hiking, biking, and heritage trails this community has to offer.
Damascus is also home to the largest annual gathering of Appalachian Trail hikers - Trail Days. This multi-day festival in May attracts about 20,000 hikers and other visitors to Damascus each year, and offers hiker workshops, hiker services, food, hiking gear vendors and entertainment.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy in conjunction with the city of Damascus sold bricks for the rebuilding of a sidewalk in the middle of town. I purchased two, one for my kids and one for Angela (Lucky) and I. It was a nice to travel to Damascus to visit and find our bricks installed in the sidewalk.
We visited on Presidents' Day 2017
camperjohn.com
soundtrack credit: Scott Holmes
Note: Some info shared from The Appalachian Trail Conservancy website.
Shenandoah National Park Hogback Mountain Appalachian Trail
Hogback Mountain is the highest peak in the northern portion of Shenandoah National Park as well as the highest point in Warren County in northern Virginia, United States. A part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is located along the border of Warren and Rappahannock counties. It is easily accessible via Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail.
The Hogback Mountain hike, with its spectacular views west towards the Massanutten ranges, is located in an area of the SNP that has several beautiful hikes including Piney Branch and Little Devil Stairs. With just over 1,200ft of vertical gain and 7.5 miles, this is a pleasant moderate day hike.
Mile 0.2 – Cross over the A.T. and continue down the Piney Branch Trail as it continues its descent. The Piney Branch Trail will cross the upper portion of Piney River then reach the intersection of the Pole Bridge Link Trail.
Mile 1.7 – Turn left on the blue blazed Pole Bridge Link Trail for 0.4 miles and arrive at the intersection of the Sugarloaf Trail.
Mile 2.2 – Continue straight on the Pole Bridge Link Trail continuing around the mountain where the trail ends at the intersection of the Keyser Fire Road and Little Devil Stairs Trail.
Mile 3.0 – Turn left uphill on the yellow blazed Keyser Fire Road as it gradually ascends to Skyline Drive where the road ends at the Keyser Fire Road parking area.
Mile 4.0 – Cross Skyline Drive and follow the connector Trail for 60 yards to the intersection of the white blazed Appalachian Trail (A.T.).
Mile 4.1 – Turn left on the A.T. climbing Little Hogback Mountain. As the A.T. levels off look for the vista point directly ahead with beautiful views to the north and west. The knob to the south is Hogback Mountain.
Mile 4.4 – Continue on the AT descending towards the Skyline Drive Overlook. Just before the overlook parking area turn right remaining on the A.T. and passing through a clear cut. At this point the A.T. makes its steepest climb of the hike gaining over 300ft with several switchbacks on the way to the ridge. After reaching the ridge, the A.T. levels off and passes a small connector trail that leads to a Spring. Pass a nice view, then in 40 yards reach the main vista on Hogback Mountain.
Mile 5.4 – From the main Hogback Mountain vista continue on the Appalachian Trail as it winds around the back of the mountain, through a stand of Mountain Laurel, then crosses Skyline Drive and passes the intersection of the Sugarloaf Trail.
Mile 5.7 – From the Sugarloaf Trail intersection the A.T. will climb for a short time where the last good view point of the hike overlooks the Hogback Mountain Skyline Drive overlook area. Now continue downhill and shortly the A.T will again cross Skyline Drive and pass a parking area.
Mile 6.0 – After passing the parking area the A.T. will cross over a small rise, pass to the left of another trail intersection, then cross Skyline Drive for the last time. Continue downhill on the A.T. and in 0.2 miles from crossing Skyline Drive arrive back at the intersection of the Piney Branch Trail.
Mile 7.2 – Turn right uphill on the Piney Branch Trail for 0.2 miles back to the trailhead and kiosk.
Mile 7.5 - Arrive back at the Piney Branch Trail parking area.
Where Will Your Next Virginia Hike Take You?
Virginia is home to some of the best hiking in the United States with more than 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail (more miles of the AT than any other state) and thousands of miles of other blazed hiking trails.
Appalachian Trail Class of 2019 Musical Hiker Introduction
Appalachian Thru Hike Class of 2019 Musical Introduction
Subscribe to follow my journey and struggles as I attempt my NOBO AT thru hike in April here on Youtube.
Learning, Loving, and Living all while straddled on the poverty line.
My name is William Wallace. A few close friends call me Waldo. I love the outdoors, good food, and my dogs.
-------------------------------------------------------
More Information about appalachian trail:
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
appalachiantrail.org/
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy's mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural ...
Explore By State · Thru-Hiking · Explore · The Appalachian Trail ...
Explore - Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Discover the Appalachian Trail using our interactive map to explore the many locations along the trail including shelters, A.T. Communities, Trail Clubs, and ...
Explore By State · Thru-Hiking · Trail Updates · About
Appalachian Trail - Wikipedia
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the Eastern United States ...
Lowest point: Bear Mountain State Park, 124 ft ... Use: Hiking
Location: Appalachian Mountains Designation: National Scenic Trail
Appalachian Trail by state · International Appalachian Trail · Continental Divide Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)
Apr 6, 2016 - The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of ...
Hiking the Appalachian Trail | AT Thru-Hiking Tips - Backpacker
The Appalachian National Sceni
Appalachian Trail - Wikipedia
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the Eastern United States ...
Highest point: Clingmans Dome, 6,643 ft (2,025 ... Length: About 2,200 miles (3,500 km)
Lowest point: Bear Mountain State Park, 124 ft ... Location: Appalachian Mountains
Category:Appalachian Trail - Wikipedia
Pages in category Appalachian Trail. The following 49 pages are in this category, out of 49 total. This list may not reflect recent changes (learn more).
Long-distance trails in the United States - Wikipedia
The following is a list of long-distance trails in the United States: Name, Length, Region ... Allegheny Trail, 330, 530, West Virginia, Appalachian Trail, Mason–Dixon line, mostly in West Virginia through the Appalachians and Allegheny ...
------------------------------------------
Don't forget to check out our YouTube Channel:
#ThingstodoinNCmountains
#View15+more
#BlueRidgeMountains
#GreatSmokyMountains
#GreatSmokyMountain...
#PisgahNationalForest
#ClingmansDome
##SpringerMountain
#ChattahoocheeRiver
#BloodMountain
#appalachiantrailgeorgia
#appalachiantrailconservancy
--------------------------------------------
National Geographic - Appalachian Mountains - New Documentary HD 2018
National Geographic - Appalachian Mountains - New Documentary HD 2018
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They once reached elevations similar to those of the Alps and the Rocky Mountains before naturally occurring erosion. The Appalachian chain is a barrier to east-west travel, as it forms a series of alternating ridgelines and valleys oriented in opposition to most roads running east or west.
Definitions vary on the precise boundaries of the Appalachians. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines the Appalachian Highlands physiographic division as consisting of thirteen provinces: the Atlantic Coast Uplands, Eastern Newfoundland Atlantic, Maritime Acadian Highlands, Maritime Plain, Notre Dame and Mégantic Mountains, Western Newfoundland Mountains, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Valley and Ridge, Saint Lawrence Valley, Appalachian Plateaus, New England province, and the Adirondack provinces. A common variant definition does not include the Adirondack Mountains, which geologically belong to the Grenville Orogeny and have a different geological history from the rest of the Appalachians
Why I Will Never Hike The Appalachian Trail Original Horror Story
Or go deep into the woods...
#scarystory
#Horrorstory
#GhostStory
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Creepy Ghost Stories
Source: Written Exclusively for this Channel by Me
Video: Loops are created by me using a Samsung galaxy 8+
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huge thank you to My Patreon Supporters:
▶Lilli Michaelis
▶Dustin Fleming
▶Taps fan
▶Dylan Landry
▶Julie Blain
▶Silent Succubus
▶Jules Frazier
▶SilentTorture
▶Uncle Ulric
▶Pam Gray
▶Elisamuel Rodrigues Jr
▶Ellie Saint
▶Kira McZesty
▶Matt Towey
▶Rebecca Spooky Duran
▶RIYFINA
▶Valiant Warrior
▶Monette Panthion
Without the Support of Patreons this channel would not be possible.
Buy a Shirt!
* For the best experience wear headphones.
All Video loops are created by me and are filmed using a Samsung galaxy 8+ or of stock images. All audio narrations are provided by me (Creepy Ghost Stories) unless otherwise credited. All stories are exclusively written for this channel by me or my team of writers unless an author's name is given in which I have permission to narrate and monetize their work.
▶ SOCIAL MEDIA
►Instagram ~
►Twitter ~
►Facebook ~
▶Contact Information
pigbenishateraid@gmail.com
Snail Mail
Creepy Ghost Stories
1207 The Hideout
Lake Ariel pa 18436
All music and background soundscapes/music/audio are royalty free and provided by Youtube's Audio library:
▶Music by Myuuji
▶Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
The Cascades, Barneys Wall, Butt Mountain, Jefferson National Forest, VA
This beautiful hike in Jefferson National Forest near Pearisburg, Virginia travels deep into Little Stony Creek Gorge to The Cascades, one of the best waterfalls I've seen in the Southeast. I took the Lower Trail which sticks beside the creek for 2 miles, passing by multiple large cascades and a small slot gorge. Beyond The Cascades I hiked further to the little known Upper Cascades, then took the steep Conservancy Trail up to Barneys Wall. Although the views aren't all-encompassing, Barneys Wall is a vertical cliff nearly 400-ft tall that overlooks the gorge.
From there I continued on the trail and a forest road where hardly a hiker ventures to the old fire tower on Butt Mountain. On the southwest side of the mountain is a cliff overlooking Pearisburg and the New River Valley. I made a fateful decision to find Lookoff Rock on the south side of Butt Mountain, which turned out to be a bushwhack through waist-high thorns with plenty of bear scat and spiders along the way. At the peak according to my GPS there were no views, so I turned around and headed back to the fire tower. Overall it was a great hike excluding the bushwhack excursion, I hope you enjoy the video!
Hike link
Camp 33 on the Appalachian Trail
Subscribe to get Billie's Videos directly in your YouTube Feed!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North Carolina runs northeast to southwest through the centerline of the park. It is the most visited national park in the United States.[3] On its route from Maine to Georgia, the Appalachian Trail also passes through the center of the park. The park was chartered by the United States Congress in 1934 and officially dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940.[4] It encompasses 522,419 acres (816.28 sq mi; 2,114.15 km2),[1] making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States. The main park entrances are located along U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) at the towns of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina (My favorite Honey Hole). It was the first national park whose land and other costs were paid for in part with federal funds; previous parks were funded wholly with state money or private funds.