Great Smoky Mountain National Park - Kephart Shelter - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Great Smoky Mountain National Park - Kephart Shelter
Country:	United States
State:	North Carolina
Nearby Town:	Cherokee
Rating:
Directions:	From Atlanta and points south follow U.S. 441 and 23 North. U.S. 441 leads directly to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Follow signs to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and continue northbound on U.S. 441 (also known in the park as Newfound Gap Road) to Newfound Gap.
Total Hike Distance:	7.40 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Moderate to Difficult
Permit Required:	Yes
Hike Type:	One-Way, Shuttle Hike
Hike Starts:	Newfound Gap
Hike Ends:	US 441
Trails Used:	Appalachian, Sweat Heifer, Kephart Prong Trails
Backcountry Campsites:	Yes
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams
Management:	National Park Service
Contact Information:	Great Smoky Mountains National Park 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (865) 436-1200
Best Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	Great Smoky Mountain National Park encompasses 800 square miles of land and 95 percent of it is forested. The park is world renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources and for the beauty of its ancient mountains. This hike follows the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap down the Sweat Heifer Trail to Kephart Shelter. The Kephart Prong is a stream and the water source for the shelter, and the trail follows it to US 441 to complete this shuttle hike.