Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Smokemont Campground to Appalachian Trail and Back - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Smokemont Campground to Appalachian Trail and Back |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | North Carolina |
| Nearby Town: | Cherokee |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | From Gatlinburg, Tennessee, take the Foothills Parkway South for approximately 1.6 miles, and then turn left on US 441 once inside the park. Travel another 20.8 miles to the south end of the park and turn left into the Smokemont Campground. Continue on to the parking area located near the back end of the campground. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 27.20 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Difficult |
| Permit Required: | Yes |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Smokemont Campground |
| Trails Used: | Bradley Fork, Chasteen Creek, Hughes Ridge, Appalachian, and Dry Sluice Gap Trails |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams, Springs |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Great Smoky Mountains National Park 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Phone: (865) 436-1200 www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm |
| Best Season: | Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Horses |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | This hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park starts at the Smokemont Campground, and after approximately one mile of fairly level terrain along the Bradley Fork Trail, begins a gradual northward climb to the Pecks Corner Shelter via the Chasteen Creek and Hughes Ridge Trails. The first leg covers approximately 10 miles of uphill trail with close to 3,080 feet of net elevation gain. From the Pecks Corner Shelter, the hike continues for another 0.2 miles on the Hughes Ridge Trail, and then continues westward for 7.7 miles to the Icewater Spring Shelter via the Appalachian Trail. The overall net elevation gain is only 640 feet. Nonetheless, the day is filled with a few ups and downs, and the views from the ridgeline, including those from Charlies Bunion, are impressive. The final leg consists of approximately 9.3 miles, beginning with a 1.7 mile backtrack on the Appalachian Trail. For us, the backtrack segment served as a highlight since we got an early start, and spent the morning having breakfast and coffee in solitude at Charlies Bunion. After a short but strenuous climb up to Dry Sluice Gap via the Dry Sluice Gap Trail, the hike embarks on it's final decent back down to the Smokemont Campground via the Dry Sluice Gap and Bradley Fork Trails. The downhill portion is arduous, but rewarding, and the scenery along the free flowing Bradley Fork could easily serve as a poster for the ideal mountain stream. The final leg results in approximately 3,740 feet of net elevation loss. |
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