Kephart Prong Trail, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Bryson City, North Carolina

5.0/5

based on 2 reviews

Save

View all 14 photos

All 14 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

3.92 miles

Elevation Gain

850 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Joshua Contois

Cross multiple rivers on five different foot bridges along this scenic 4-mile hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Kephart Prong is a pretty easy hike in close proximity to the Visitor Center on the North Carolina Side of GSMNP. 2 miles up the trail, you'll arrive at Kephart Shelter, where you can rest and enjoy vies of the Kephart Prong. Once you've had your fill, head back down the way you came.

During the rainy months, you'll see small streams form near the trail that flow into the Kephart Prong. You may even get a chance to see a few small waterfalls.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Download GPX File

Features

Photography

Hiking

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Food Nearby

Forest

River

Scenic

Reviews

Alison Sigmon

Kephart Prong Trail, Great Smoky Mountains NP

07/06/19

After reading Kephart’s book, Our Southern Highlanders, I had to hike this trail, which is a steady uphill walk to the Kephart shelter. If you’re hiking midsummer as we did, take bug spray, a cap, and a handkerchief as it is quite humid. Lovely walk in the woods with multiple trail access and four footbridge stream crossings.

5.0

Cole Burris

Kephart Prong Trail, Great Smoky Mountains NP

06/25/17

Stayed overnight in the shelter, would and will do it again! Beautiful, yet simple hike to take on.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Charlies Bunion via Kephart Loop

Charlies Bunion via Kephart Loop is a loop trail located near Cherokee, North Carolina. This is a longer version of the Charlies Bunion hike starting from the Newfound Gap parking lot. The added benefit of this longer loop is the opportunity to see more of the Great Smokey Mountains! You'll pass between the Lower and Upper Grassy Branch and criss cross between North Carolina and Tennessee.

Hike to Clingman’s Dome via Newfound Gap

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 the tower is inaccessible, and the journey now requires a 15-mile round-trip hike on the AT, startin...

Hike to the Jump-Off

This trail starts at the Newfound Gap parking lot. Newfound Gap is situated on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. The views from Newfound Gap overlook North Carolina and are worth the trip in their own right. The restroom facilities are clean and have flushing toilets. Follow the crowds over to the Rockefeller Memorial where President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the park -...

Mount LeConte Lodge via the Boulevard Trail

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 to the fact that you will never drop below 5,500ft above sea level. However, in the cooler months - ...

Catch a Sunrise at Newfound Gap

Newfound Gap is a mountain pass in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Newfound Gap is accessible via U.S. Route 441 from Gatlinburg, TN or Cherokee, NC. You can watch the sunrise from the parking lot at Newfound Gap or the viewing platform adjacent to the parking lot.At sunrise, layers of pink and purple glowing mountains stretch out as far as the eye can see, and the forest gives the scene a...

Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail

From the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, drive approximately 13 miles south on Newfound Gap Road to reach the Newfound Gap Parking Area (it'll be on your left). The parking area is free and there are bathrooms. Follow the Appalachian Trail towards Katahdin, Maine (1972 miles away, woah!) At this point, there will not be a sign for Charlies Bunion, don't worry, it's up there! The tr...

Kephart Prong Trail, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Charlies Bunion via Kephart Loop

Hike to Clingman’s Dome via Newfound Gap

Hike to the Jump-Off

Mount LeConte Lodge via the Boulevard Trail

Catch a Sunrise at Newfound Gap

Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps