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Hiking
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Families
can enjoy hiking on the more than 800 miles of trails guiding them to
cascading waterfalls, beautiful vistas, and quiet meadows. Miles and
miles of trails wind through deep forests, on high ridge tops, and along
rushing streams. Quiet walkways serve as the perfect avenue for families
to get out of the car and take an easy stroll into the wilderness.
All of the National Park trails listed below are ranked according
to their difficulty: S - strenuous; M - medium difficulty; E - easy
(also see our National Park page). Park officials advise hiking during
daylight hours only and caution hikers to always stay on designated
trails. During summer months, be sure to take along plenty of water,
and in any season, a sturdy pair of hiking shoes is helpful.
All of the mileages and hiking times listed below are round-trip figures.
Self-guiding
nature
trails are
ideal places to explore the Smokies' forests and learn about the area's
rich natural and cultural heritage. Numbered stakes found along the
trail are keyed to leaflets available at trailheads which describe points
of interest along the way.
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Waterfalls are popular destinations
for day hikes, especially on hot summer days. The trails range from easy
to strenuous, but no matter what the effort required, the reward justifies
the endeavor.
|
Trail |
Mileage
Rating |
Time |
Location |
Features |
|
Abrams
Falls |
5 M |
4 hrs. |
Cades Cove Loop |
Powerful 25' Falls |
| Grotto Falls |
3 E
|
3 hrs. |
Roaring Fork |
Walk behind falls |
| Hen Wallow Falls |
4 M |
3.5 hrs. |
Cosby Campground |
95' Cascade Over
Rock |
| Indian Creek Falls |
2 E
|
1.5 hrs.
|
Deep Creek Campground |
60' waterfall |
| Juneywhank
Falls |
1.5
M |
2
hrs. |
Deep
Creek Road |
125'
Cascade |
| Laurel Falls |
2.5 E
|
2.5 hrs. |
Little River Road |
Double drop falls |
| Rainbow
Falls |
5.5
M |
5-6
hrs. |
Cherokee
Orchard Road |
80'
Sheer Drop |
| Ramsay Cascades |
8 S
|
6 hrs. |
Greenbrier Park |
Greenbrier Park's
Highest Falls |
Back Country Trails are for
the more experienced, adventurous hiker. They offer an in-depth, backwoods
experience.
|
Trail |
Mileage
Rating |
Time |
Location |
Features |
| Boogerman Trail |
7.5 M |
5-6 hrs. |
Cataloochee Campground |
Ancient trees |
| Charlie's Bunion |
8.8 M |
4-5 hrs. |
Newfound Gap |
Spectacular views |
| Chimney Tops |
4 S |
3-4 hrs. |
Newfound Gap Road |
Rock climbing |
| Mt. Sterling |
12 S
|
5-6 hrs. |
Cataloochee Schoolhouse |
High Country Forests |
| Shuckstack |
10
S |
7
hrs. |
Twentymile |
Panoramic
views |
| Smokemont Loop |
6 M |
4-5 hrs. |
Smokemont Campground |
Historic homes |
Balds are mysterious
treeless areas high in the mountains. Some speculate that they were caused
by ice storms, insects, woolly mammoths, dry wind or fire.
|
Trail |
Mileage Rating
|
Time |
Location |
Features |
| Andrews Bald |
4 M |
3 hrs. |
Clingmans Dome Road
|
Park's highest bald |
| Gregory Bald |
9 M |
4-5 hrs |
Parson Branch Road |
Azaleas in June |
| Silers Bald |
10 M |
5-6 hrs.
|
Clingmans Dome Road |
Excellent views
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| Spence Field |
11 M
|
6-7 hrs. |
Cades Cove Picnic
Area |
Follows Old Road |
| Thunderhead
|
13
S |
8
hrs. |
Cades
Cove Picnic Area |
Along
Appalachian Trail |
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