The Best Backpacking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Appalachian Trail: Charlie's Bunion and Kephart Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Cherokee, North Carolina.

The Alum Cave trailhead is on Newfound Gap Road, 8 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Mt. LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smokies, and this is an extremely popular hike, so arrive early to get a parking spot and beat the crowds. Starting from the parking lot the trail gently wind...

Appalachian Trail: Clingman Dome to Cades Cove is a point-to-point trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

This hike can be started at the Alum Cave trailhead or the Boulevard Trailhead. For this particular adventure, the starting point is Alum Cave. If you're lucky enough to stay the night at the backcountry shelter on top of Mt. LeConte, (add 0.2 miles if coming from the Lodge), head east on the Bou...

Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Davenport Gap is a point-to-point trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Fontana Lake is a point-to-point trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Newfound Gap Loop via Goshen Prong to Sugarland Mountain is a loop trail where you may see local wildlife located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer Creek Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

This route to Clingmans Dome is available throughout the year. But during the winter months from December 1 through March 31, the 7-mile Clingman’s Dome Road that branches off Highway 441 at Newfound Gap, stays closed. This means the usual drive to the parking area located just a half mile below ...

Begin your adventure by arriving at the Newfound Gap parking lot - before first light. Why? Because you won't want to miss the incredible sunrise from the parking lot - even before you step foot on the trail! It is said that a hiker will never get overly warm hiking the Boulevard to Leconte due ...

Newfound Gap Overlook to Campsite via Appalachian Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a river located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Newfound Gap to Grassy Patch is a point-to-point trail where you may see local wildlife located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Icewater Spring via Appalachian Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Silers Bald and Forney Creek Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Cherokee, North Carolina.

The first day of the hike is either 12.3 miles or 10.5 miles (depending on the campsite) almost all downhill, and the second half of the loop is 13.3 miles or 11.5 miles, again depending on the campsite, almost exclusively uphill. Just as a reference the first day took us about 6 and a half hours...

Forney Ridge and Noland Divide Loop Trail is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Bryson City, North Carolina.