jlktbk
Athens
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Was wondering what trails everyone thinks are the best in the Smoky Mountains Will be in Townsend next week and plan on doing a lot of Hiking!!!
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Texlawdawg718
Longview, Texas
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Joined: 08/14/2007
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Do a search on here... I have been researching this information for many months. Cades Cove is a must, folks say its way purty! There are plenty more as well. I think when we get there we might go to the main office or ranger station and pick up a map. We are there in a couple of weeks too. Have a safe trip. Take some pepper for the bears.
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lizzie
Murphy, NC
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If you want to avoid crowded hikes I recommend getting information on trails in the Cherokee National Forest. The area around the Cherohalla Skyway, Tellico River, and Citico Creek, just south of Townsend, has some wonderful trails with waterfalls, creeks, etc. and nobody there. There is a book, Wilderness Trails of Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest, written by the Harvey Broome Group of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club that is excellent.
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lizzie
Murphy, NC
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Me again. We are having lots of bear activity this fall. Despite the drought, the berries and grapes are the most plentiful and lush that I have ever seen. Do watch carefully!
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Kamphiker
South Florida (this 'aint paridise anymore)
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Depends on if you want a attraction at the destination (waterfall etc.) solitude or company.
Some of the hikes I have done and enjoy are
1) Alum Cave Bluff (lots of other hikers)
2) Chimney Tops (lots of hikers)
3) Charlies Bunion (Appalachian trail from New Found Gap Parking lot)
4) Andrews bald (spruce forest and heath bald)
5) Laurel Falls (crowded, suggest early AM around sun up good for small childern)
6) Little river trail to Cucumber gap trail to jakes creek trail
(nice loop trail from Elkmont campground)
7) Grotto Falls trail
8) Rainbow falls trail
9) Blanket mountain (long no other hikers and strenuous at the end)
10) Ramsey Cascade (long no other hikers, large trees)
11) Abrams falls
Trails I want to do but have not found hiking partners ready to tackle them:
1) Mt. Crammer (look out tower)
2) Spence field & Thunderhead
3) Mount LeConte (w/ overnite stay at cabins)
I really like hike in the upper elevations through spruce forest and being cooler (Since we only get a chance to get there in the summer time)
If I was doing over nite hikes, I would like to try some from the lake FOntana area.
Enjoy!
-> suggest you pickup this book: "Hiking trails of the smokies" by the Great Smoky Mountain Natural History Association (small 6" x 4" book 570 pages long with a nice map) available in the Visitor centers. The ISBN # 0-937207-15-2
The other book I have is the "Hiker's Guide to the Smokies" (Sierra Club) similar to the one above but out of print better trail explination, but some of trails in this book no longer appear on newer maps/books and some of the trails are now longer due to start points being gated or moved.
* This post was
edited 10/05/08 05:51pm by Kamphiker *
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rv2go
Somewhere between Knoxville, TN and the coast.
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My favorite is Abrams Falls. It 5 miles round trip and is easy. The only problem this time of year is the traffic on the Cades Cove loop. I would suggest you start early. This will increase the chance of seeing wildlife and maybe get in front of a lot of the traffic.
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jlktbk
Athens
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Texlawdawg718 wrote:Do a search on here... I have been researching this information for many months. Cades Cove is a must, folks say its way purty! There are plenty more as well. I think when we get there we might go to the main office or ranger station and pick up a map. We are there in a couple of weeks too. Have a safe trip. Take some pepper for the bears. Texlawdawg718 Are you staying in Townsend to.
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kydale
Louisville, KY
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Kamphiker listed most of the trails we have hiked also. His comments were right on. My favorite was Chimney Tops. We hiked it one Feb. Saw two other hikers. Pay attention to the bear warnings at Sugarlands vistor centor and Cades Cove ranger station. There was another attack this year. An 8 year old boy was attacked on Rainbow Falls trail. Father and other son were able to stop the attack long enough for them to escape. They think what triggered the attack was the KFC smell on the boys tee shift. The boy lost his shift and the father ran out of his shoes getting away from the bear. No one was seriously injured. When park ranges arrived the bear was still in the area and show agression toward them and was destroyed. When they opened the bear they found the boys Tee shirt and one of the fathers shoes. The park service mailed the shift back to the boy.
Bears are fun to see at a distance. We saw an elk heard on 441, NC side, close to the the farmstead visitors center. It was late evening. We were there late August.
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GACampnGirl
Georgia
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The Grotto Falls hike is very good if you have children. We did it about 5 yrs ago. Not sure of recent status.
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HTT to be?
Southern Wisconsin
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What type of hikes do you enjoy-waterfalls, mountain views, solitude, etc..
What distance/elevation gain do you prefer?
Adults or kids, tell us what you like and we can give better answers as there are miles of trails!
Smokies are awesome, you will love it there!
Dave
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