North Carolina/Tennessee: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 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. Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the United States with over 11.3 million recreational visitors in 2016. The Appalachian Trail passes through the center of the park on its route from Maine to Georgia. The park was chartered by the United States Congress in 1934 and officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a major tourist attraction in the region. Over 11.3 million recreational visitors (tourists) and an additional 11 million non-recreational visitors traveled to, or through, the park in 2016. The recreational figure represents nearly twice as many tourists as the Grand Canyon, which received nearly 6 million visitors the same year. Surrounding towns, notably Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Townsend, Tennessee, and Cherokee, Sylva, Maggie Valley, and Bryson City, North Carolina receive a significant portion of their income from tourism associated with the park.
The two main visitors' centers inside the park are Sugarlands Visitors' Center near the Gatlinburg entrance to the park and Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, North Carolina at the eastern entrance to the park.
U.S. Highway 441 (known in the park as Newfound Gap Road) bisects the park, providing automobile access to many trailheads and overlooks, most notably that of Newfound Gap. At an elevation of 5,048 feet (1,539 m), it is the lowest gap in the mountains and is situated near the center of the park, on the Tennessee/North Carolina state line, halfway between the border towns of Gatlinburg and Cherokee. It was here that in 1940, from the Rockefeller Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the national park. On clear days Newfound Gap offers arguably the most spectacular scenes accessible via highway in the park.
The park has a number of historical attractions. The most well-preserved of these (and most popular) is Cades Cove, a valley with a number of preserved historic buildings including log cabins, barns, and churches. Cades Cove is the single most frequented destination in the national park. Self-guided automobile and bicycle tours offer the many sightseers a glimpse into the way of life of old-time southern Appalachia. Other historical areas within the park include Roaring Fork, Cataloochee, Elkmont, and the Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill at Oconaluftee.
The Laurel Falls Trail leads to a powerful 80-foot (24 m) waterfall, and the Clingman's Dome Trail takes visitors on an uphill climb to a fifty-foot observation deck, which on a clear day offers views for many miles over the Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia mountains.
Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap on the Appalachian Trail
4 day, 72 mile backpacking trip in June 2017 along the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mtns National Park
Fontana Lake and Fontana Dam in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Such a beautiful mountain lake, made possible by the construction of Fontana Dam. Built to provide needed electricity for plants building parts of the U.S. War effort during WWII the dam not only helped the war effort but it provided power to 7 Southern states and still does today. Plus it provides great fish, boating and camping opportunities.
Appalachian Trail - North Carolina (Winding Stair Gap to Fontana Dam)
Appalachian Trail Section Hike Winding Stair Gap to Fontana Dam Visitors Center with our rescued Australian Shepherd Angus 5 days and 56.3 miles
NC Appalachian Trail: Fontana Marina (NC 28) to Fontana Dam Shelter
Mile 164.4 to mile 165.6 / March 20, 2017 / John 1:3, Isaiah 55:12
Totally Looped by Audionautix
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Walking around the downtown area of Bryson City, North Carolina.
Walking around the downtown area of Bryson City, North Carolina on Saturday, February 2 2019.
2017 Appalachian Trail Day 15 Fontana Village, NC
2017 Appalachian Trail Thru hike
158.9 Cable Gap Shelter
164.4 NC 28
5.5 Miles
Just a short day into Fontana Village, NC Lodge
to relax do Laundry and visit the Lodge Restaurant.
Today we rest up because the Smokies ( Smoky Mountain National Park) will start tomorrow.
Fontana Dam, Great Smoky Mountains Nat Park
Fontana Dam,
Smokey Mts. Visitors center
Spring break 2015
2012 Fall trip Fontana dam Reservoir Great Smoky Mountains TENNESSEE
The Fontana Dam Visitor Center is located off N.C. Highway 28 near the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from May through October except major holidays. Newly refurbished and staffed by TVA retirees, the visitor center has updated maps, videos, and displays about TVA and the construction of the dam.
Clingmans Dome - Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
My second hike of the weekend on June 17, and my final hike to finish the Carolina Lookout Tower and South Beyond 6000 Challenges. I had some bad heel blisters, so I made this hike shorter than my original plan, but it still had to be 5+ miles to qualify. I began at the Fork Ridge Trailhead on Clingmans Dome Rd in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and connected with the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Appalachian Trail. Heading west the AT immediately climbs to the top of Mt. Collins (6,196 feet), the 39th SB6K peak. From there it is a long, pleasant stroll through Collins Gap, the low point of the hike. It is a long, gradual climb from Collins Gap to the top of Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet). As my final peak on both challenges, reaching the summit was anticlimactic considering the crowds and the cloud cover. You would think the highest peak in the Smokies and the 3rd highest in the East would be more exciting. I'll have to return in the winter when the road is closed.
The large clouds mostly obscured the NE views of Kephart and LeConte and west views of Thunderhead Mt. Everything else was hazy. On the bright side, it was nice and cool at the summit. I dropped down to the parking area, where I was severely disappointed in the offerings at the visitors center. All they sold was warm bottled water and a snack cup. I had high hopes for a soda or Gatorade, and thus only carried 1 liter of water. With all of the tired, sweaty tourists you think cold drinks would be a moneymaker. From there I took the Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail, and re-summited Clingmans Dome with more cloud cover. On my way back, as I approached Mt. Collins, I got caught in an unnerving thunderstorm with lightning crashing overhead. I crouched for a few minutes during the worst part, then scuffled through the muddy mess of a trail during a torrential downpour that lasted nearly an hour. At this point I think every hike in the last 2 months has ended with heavy rain.
Hike was 9 miles with 2,393 feet elevation gain in 4 hours and 40 minutes.
Hike location
Hike report
Waterfalls in the North Carolina Smoky Mountains at Bryson City
A walk or drive beside any mountain stream will lead you by hundreds of tumbling cascades as the waters rush down from the peaks of the Smokies. But the high falls are the most spectacular, and Swain County offers some of the best in the Smokies, including Deep Creek’s trio of waterfalls – Juney Whank, Tom Branch and Indian Creek Falls.
Revised Lakeshore Trail - aka the longshore trail Fontana to Lakeview Drive
This is an awesome trail, it does rank up there with it being one of my favorites. There were spots along the trail that was grown up with weeds but the path wasn't ever lost.
This trail does need better signage and mileage posts. that would be my only suggestion to the NPS.
There were a few trails that could have easily been mistaken for the trail. a quick glance at the map and it was easy to tell which way to go.
So starting at Fontana the road over the dam was closed so we began from the visitor center parking lot.
Lakeshore from Fontanta to Eagle Creek wasn't bad, a few climbs the path was easy to follow. Campsite 90 is a very large campsite and it looks like a CS that i'd like to visit. stay on the lake side of this campsite and follow the trail on around to a split log foot bridge to continue on. Once at Eagle Creek you'll cross over the tall bridge. a little further up you'll see a trail sign that reads 4.4 miles to Hazel Creek.
This is a brutal climb up and over Jenkins Ridge it's only 4.4 but about 3.5 of it is a climb (well it felt like it anyway). it's really about 1.5 to 2 mile climb. but you'll walk back down into Hazel Creek the old town of Proctor. You'll see some old homesites along the way and eventually end up at the Calhoun House built in 1925.
We stopped here for lunch and to refill our water. We even ran into my ole friend Steve Claxton so if you ever need a boat shuttle give him a call or reach out to him on facebook.
From Hazel Creek we crossed the bridge and followed Lakeshore Trail up again this time over Welch Ridge. This is a good climb as well. Oh and don't forget to hike Ollie Cove while you're there it's just .3 down to the lake.
This section lasted forever on this hot day which later became a storm. We didn't quiet make it to our intended campsite so we made camp at Campsite 77. We knew that the following day would be another long day because the storm hindered our travel day 1. We saw a bear just before camp which was easily scared off. Once at camp we heard a coyote very close to our camp. We setup shelter and cooked dinner then it was lights out.
Sunday we woke up early packed up ate breakfast and started hiking toward Lakeview drive. Just a short distance from camp we came upon a road with lake access not sure why or where that road went. the trail crossed the creek and on we went. Almost 5 miles past CS 77 we came to CS 76 our intended campsite. We stopped here for water and snacks.
There are a few Lake Only access campsites so don't be looking to hike past those or see signs for those.
From here the trail does take slight up and down the rest of the trail but no much elevation change. You'll stay pretty close to the lake for a majority of this section.
Campsite 98 looks nice and looks like another place i'd like to stay overnight. there is an unofficial fire ring near the lake but the official CS is on up the creek a little ways.
From CS 98 to CS 74 there was a lot of blowdown across the trail some were fresh fallen trees. Yes it stormed again day 2.
Once at Campsite 74 it's a short 3 mile hike out to the tunnel and the Road to Nowhere - Lakeview Drive.
I think this could be a day hike if slackpacking with UL gear.
Thanks Lisa for the company and the encouragement along the way. Oh the laughs we had poor ole Anet :-)
Welcome to the Approach Trail Loop
The Get Out More Tour spent the past few days tackling another of America's Best Hike's.
The Southeast Region is represented in Backpacker Magazine's 2011 Reader's Choice Issue by the Approach Trail Loop.
The Approach Trail Loop is actually an out and back with a loop in the middle. The first (and last) mile includes 604 steps on a staircase leading from the bottom to the top (or the top to the bottom) of Amicalola Falls, which cascades 729 feet making it the Southeast's highest waterfall.
The Approach Trail Loop combines the Appalachian Trail Approach Trail, the Hike Inn Trail and the Appalachian Trail through Amicalola Falls State Park and Chattahoochee National Forest.
Appalachian Trail Loner #9 FONTANA DAM 2012 Thru Hike
Please click “Show More” to read an excerpt from my new book ‘Painted Blazes’ Hiking the Appalachian trail with Loner. Available on Amazon…
I hope it entertains, educates, and encourages people to hike! Please enjoy, like, sub, share, and spread the word!
Begin excerpt: I hiked together that day with Yosemite, named after the famous national park from his home state of California. He was an easygoing, hippy-looking dude who wore a red Willie Nelson bandana. White blazes led us directly across the top of Fontana Dam, 480 feet, the tallest dam in eastern North America and 6th largest in the whole US. Built by the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) in the 1940’s to produce electricity at the height of WWII, the massive hydroelectric dam is on the Little Tennessee River. Its construction completely inundated 4 towns and over a thousand homesteads. Cemeteries full of graves and miles of roads had to be relocated.
A blue VW camper bus sat in the parking lot that I would see in many trail towns on the southern end of the Appalachians. Peeking inside, a huge map of the AT was glued to the interior roof.
Hiking is free in the GSMNP. Camping is not. Thru-hiker permits cost $20 (non-refundable) and are required to camp over-night in the backcountry here. It’s a huge pain, as you must fill out, beforehand, exactly which shelters you will be staying at each night. Keep a paper copy on you at all times, or risk a $125.00 ticket. Rangers do check.
Their website defines a thru-hiker as “someone who begins and ends his/her hike at least 50 miles outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park and only travels on the AT within the park.” Additionally, thru-hikers are expected to complete all 70 sum-odd miles and be out the other side of The Smokies within 8 days (not counting town stops).
The general store was all out of forms and the visitor center was closed, so several hikers had to back-track and print their forms at the lodge. I had already gotten mine from the marina kiosk and dropped them into a deposit box at the shelter. To be on the safe side, you can have the application sent to your email to print out within 30 days of your anticipated arrival; just make sure to read the directions and fine print:
smokiespermits.nps.gov/index.cfm?BCPermitTypeID=2/.
Yosemite and I were very excited to begin hiking the Great Smoky Mountains, but found the road to the trailhead blocked by the dozen cop cars we had seen earlier, and policemen were standing guard at the welcome sign. We were certainly not expecting to be greeted by uniformed men wearing bulletproof vests and carrying machine guns. Let the man-hunt begin! End excerpt.
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Keep checking back to the Loner channel for new videos featuring extra bonus Lost Footage from my thru-hike series - never seen before!
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Adventures Unlimited Cabin Rental Walkthrough
Adventures Unlimited offers overnight facilities. Enjoy Ocoee whitewater rafting for families and groups of any size. Bungalows, RV park, campground.
AT (Appalacian Trail) Fontana Dam Loop Backpacking Trip
This is a 3 day 2 night backpacking trip that was 32 miles long. Trip started Day one from Fontana Dam Visitors center and entered the Great Smoky Mountains National park on the AT. Took trail to Shuckstack fire tower and then on to Mollies Ridge Shelter where we spent the night. Day two started at Mollies Shelter on the AT to Spence Field where we exited the AT and got on the Eagle Creek Trail that we followed to Camp site 97. Day three was from Camp site 97 down Eagle Creek Trail and 16 water crossings before getting to camp site 90 and catching the Lake shore trail that takes you back to Fontana Dam.
A Drive up Clingman's Dome Road (6600 ft elevation)
Video of a quick trip up Clingman's Dome road that straddles NC and TN.
I increased the speed of the video as the drive takes about 15 minutes from 441 to the CD parking lot. It's an easy drive during the summer from Cherokee NC or Gatlinburg NC. The view is incredible even if you don't go to the observation deck. There's a welcome center/store that sells quality merchandise.
The temperature is about 15 degrees cooler on the mountain so some people may need to bring a sweater (in the summer)
One additional note, it's very busy on the weekend so I recommend going during the week.
Big John Hiking & Waterfalls in the NC Smokies!
Big John Hiking & Waterfalls in the NC Smokies!
visitncsmokies.com
Hiking, Biking, Fishing.....and the list goes on! There's plenty to do in Beautiful Haywood County, just a stones throw from the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway!
Deep Creek waterfalls loop - Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC
The first of 6 hikes I did during the 3-day MLK weekend. Since I had a long drive out to the mountains, I chose this short hike to 3 waterfalls near the Deep Creek Campground on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Following the Deep Creek Trail along the namesake creek I first passed by Tom Branch Falls falling directly into Deep Creek. Then I continued on the trail along Deep Creek before looping back around over Sunkota Ridge to see Indian Creek Falls. Just before returning to the campground there is a short but steep loop to Juney Whank Falls. This is a nice creek and waterfall outing that doesn't require too much effort.
Hike was 5.2 miles with 740 feet elevation gain in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Hike location
Hike report