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Area Descriptions
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 500,000 acres, and
includes a mountain chain that runs more than 50 miles in an east-west line,
and average 15-20 miles wide. Much of the border between North Carolina and
Tennessee is divided along the high ridge of the park. Elevation
ranges vary from 875 to 6,643 feet. Deciding where to hike in this
vast acreage of land seems overwhelming. Perhaps the scenery will
dictate what hike you would like to travel. The landscapes vary across
different regions of the park. Some of these regions include: Cades
Cove, Fontana Lake, Elkmont, Cosby/Greenbrier, and Cataloochee/Smokemont.
Listed below are descriptions of some of these areas as well as hikes in
those regions. More detailed hiking information is located at the
bottom of this page.
Please download this
Map (260kb, please be patient) and view it while reading the info below.
It will help orient yourself with the park and your stay at
Next Step Heaven.
Cades Cove (Western park)
Located in a valley surrounded by rugged mountain sides, Cades Cove is a
beautiful place to visit, with many historic structures, from homesteads to
churches, that are worth checking out. Most of the area is accessible
via an 11-mile loop road in which auto tourists and bicyclists alike share
the rustic scenery. Many trails emanate from the cove, leading to
varied destinations, such as Abrams Falls, a wide waterfall with a large
swimming hole that is a nice place to cool off, or Gregory Bald, a high
country meadow with inspiring views. Abrams Creek campground which is
on the western edge of the park; it is surrounded by pine-oak woods that contrast with
the moister hemlock, fraser magnolia, and river birch woods of the creeks.
Take note: Cades Cove can become very crowded with cars on weekends and
anywhere near the roads can be crowded. Going early before the traffic
builds is a good idea. (See Hikes in this area.)
Elkmont (Northern Park)
The Elkmont area drains the high country lands from Spence Field east to
Newfound Gap on the Tennessee side of the park. The land drops steeply from
the crest of the mountains, where the Appalachian Trail travels, down to the
various prongs of the Little River. Filled with tall
deciduous forests in deep coves, this land is abound with wildlife. Good panoramic
views are seen from high places, such as
Rocky Top and Silers Bald. Other popular hiking destinations include the
Chimney Top and Laurel Falls. Elkmont is popular year-round and is
close to Next Step Heaven, where you will enjoy resting after a long days
hike!
Also in this section of the park is Albright Grove, the wildflowers of Porters Creek Valley, and the
distinctive Mount LeConte, a mountain with unique flora and fauna and the
only lodge in the park. This rustic lodge is accessible only by a minimum
five-mile uphill walk. If watery scenes is your delight, go to places such as
Ramsay Cascades, Grotto Falls, Henwallow Falls, and Rainbow Falls.
Cataloochee/Smokemont (Eastern
Park)
The Cataloochee/Smokemont Area ranges in North Carolina from Smokemont in
the west to Big Creek in the east. The Indian culture theme town of Cherokee
is located in this area and draws large crowds. Other places that
hikers seek out are the viewing tower at Mount Sterling, and the wild
mountain streams of Big Creek, Bradley Fork and Caldwell Fork.
Fontana Lake (Southern &
Central Park)
The southern portion of the Park is bounded on the south side by Fontana
Lake where various mountain streams flow into the lake. Slightly to
the north is the Appalachian Trail which stretches from Spence Field in the west to the spruce-fir cloaked
highlands of Clingmans Dome in the east. The highest point in the park
is Clingmans Dome, and a short trail leads to an observation tower
that gives hikers a great 360 degree view of the park . Deep
Creek is this area's primary camground, near Bryson City. Other waterways include Noland Creek, Forney Creek, Hazel
Creek and Eagle Creek. They all feature rainbow and brown trout, with native
brook trout in their headwaters.
Popular Hiking Trail Information
Cades Cove (Western Park)
- 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.
-
Elkmont (Northern Park)
- 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
-
- 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
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
(Northern Park)
- 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
Big Creek (Northeastern Park)
- 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.
-
Cosby (Northeastern Park)
- 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
Cataloochee (Eastern Park)
- 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
Balsam Mountain (Southeastern Park)
- 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
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
Clingman's Dome Road (Central Park)
- 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
Newfound Gap (Central Park)
- 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.
Deep Creek (Southern Park)
- 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
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Fontana Dam (Southwestern Park)
- Shuckstack
- Location: Fontana Dam; follow the Appalachian Trail north
- Miles (roundtrip length): 7
- Rating: strenuous
- Climb (feet): 2200
- Trail Features: Fine views; considerable climbing
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- * = access road closed in winter
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