Day Hikes, A-G

Key to the Hikes:


Easy Easy Spacer Moderate Moderate Spacer Strenuous Strenuous
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Rocky Caution! Rocky terrain Spacer Water Crossings Caution! Difficult water crossings Spacer Steep Grade Caution! Difficult grade
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Kid Friendly Kid friendly trail (with close adult supervision) Spacer Access Currently Closed Due to Construction Access currently closed due to construction Spacer Access Closed in Winter Access
closed in winter




Alum Cave Bluffs: 4.4 miles
Moderate Rocky Steep Grade

Trailhead: Spacer 8.6 miles north of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Hwy 441.
Highlights: Spacer Arch Rock, heath balds, Alum Cave Bluffs, great views.
Great Idea: Spacer This is a very busy trail. Hike early in the day for solitude.
Route: Spacer Begin at the trailhead, hike 2.2 miles to the bluffs, return via the same route.


Andrews Bald: About 3.5 miles
Easy Rocky Steep Grade Kid Friendly Access Closed in Winter

Trailhead: Spacer Forney Ridge trailhead, Clingmans Dome Parking Area. Vehicular access to trailhead restricted during winter months.
Highlights: Spacer Easy, high elevation hike. Fantastic view from the bald.
Great Idea: Spacer Watch the sun set or gaze at stars from the bald. Remember your flashlight!
Route: Spacer Beginning at the Clingmans Dome Parking Area, take the Forney Ridge Trail downhill, past its junction with the Forney Creek Trail. You'll find yourself on the bald within about 1.7 miles, or about half a mile beyond the junction with Forney Creek Trail. Return via the same route.


AT/Boulevard/Trillium Gap: 14.7 miles
Strenuous Rocky Steep Grade

Trailhead: Spacer Appalachian Trail beside the bathrooms at Newfound Gap on Hwy 441.
Take note: Spacer This hike requires a second vehicle at the Grotto Falls Parking Area.
Highlights: Spacer Great views, Myrtle Point, LeConte Lodge, Trillium Gap, Grotto Falls.
Great Idea: Spacer Plan to eat lunch or take a short nap at Myrtle Point.
Route: Spacer Head east on the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap. Take a left onto the Boulevard Trail. Take a right onto the Trillium Gap Trail at LeConte Lodge. Watch the signs on Trillium Gap to stay on the right trail, and you'll wind up at the Grotto Falls Parking area.


Baskins Creek Cemetery and Falls: 4.0 miles
Moderate Rocky Steep Grade

Trailhead: Spacer Baskins Creek Trail, 0.2 miles inside Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
Take note: Spacer Avoid driving the whole loop: park at the Roaring Fork entrance sign.
Highlights: Spacer Quiet trail, rock outcroppings, small cascades, cemetery, 40' waterfall.
Caution!!! Spacer Exercise caution on unmaintained sections of trail and around falls!
Route: Spacer Walk 0.2 miles into the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail loop and turn left onto the Baskins Creek Trail. You may encounter a small sign for the cemetery, but the obvious unmaintained trail can be seen on your left after ~ 1.2 miles. The cemetery is located about 0.2 miles up this steep and often wet trail, but worth the hike if you've never seen a secluded historic cemetery. Continuing down the main trail, you'll encounter a trail sign after 0.1 miles. While not officially marked, an obvious trail takes off on your left. This is not an official Park trail, but is so heavily traveled that it's impossible to miss. Take the trail 0.25 miles, the last section of which is rather steep (be careful) and you'll be rewarded with a forty foot waterfall. Return via the same route.


Boogerman Loop: 7.4 miles
Moderate Steep Grade

Trailhead: Spacer Caldwell Fork Trail, between Cataloochee campground and ranger station.
Highlights: Spacer Great winter hike, stream views, old homesites, majority is easy walking.
Great Idea: Spacer Brave? Step inside the hollow tree on the Boogerman loop for a neat photo op!
Route: Spacer Two different routes are possible, but the easiest (I think) is to hike 0.8 miles, then take a left onto the Boogerman Trail. Hike this trail until you come back out onto the Caldwell Fork Trail. Take a right and walk back to the trailhead.


Cataloochee Loop: 9.3 miles
Moderate Steep Grade

Trailhead: Spacer Rough Fork Trailhead at the end of the Cataloochee Road.
Highlights: Spacer Steve Woody home and springhouse, Big Poplars, cemetery.
Route: Spacer Hike the Rough Fork Trail ~ 3.0 miles. Take a left onto the Caldwell Fork Trail. About a mile down this trail, watch for huge tulip poplars (locally referred to as the "Big Poplars"). Two miles later, just before the junction with Big Fork Ridge Trail, watch for a couple of small spur trails on your right which lead to a historic cemetery (two graves: one belonging to a woman, the other to two Civil War Soldiers). Take a left on Big Fork Ridge and you'll eventually find yourself on the main road, just a few hundred feet from your vehicle.


Chimney Tops: 4.0 miles
Strenuous Rocky Steep Grade

Trailhead: Spacer Chimney Tops Trail, 6.7 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Hwy 441.
Highlights: Spacer Short but challenging hike. Great views for brave hikers.
Great Idea: Spacer This is a very busy trail. Hike early in the day for solitude.
Caution!!! Spacer Exercise extreme caution on rocky pinnacles! Not recommended in winter.
Route: Spacer Take the Chimney Tops Trail from the trailhead to the end of the trail, a length of 2.0 miles.


Double Spring Gap: 5.0 miles
Moderate Rocky Kid Friendly Access Closed in Winter

Trailhead: Spacer Appalachian Trail, just to the left of the Clingmans Dome tower. Vehicular access to trailhead restricted during winter months.
Highlights: Spacer Fairly easy ridge-top walking most of the way. Breathtaking vistas on clear days.
Route: Spacer Begin by heading west on the Appalachian Trail, proceeding about 2.5 miles to Double Spring Gap. Return via the same route.


Fern Branch Falls: 3.8 miles
Easy Kid Friendly

Trailhead: Spacer Porters Creek trailhead, 4.1 miles from Hwy 321 on the Greenbrier Road. Construction on the bridge above the Greenbrier Ranger Station excludes all vehicular traffic beyond that point. You may want to save this hike until after March, when the construction is projected to be complete.
Take note: Spacer This is busy trail during the wildflower season... hike early in the day.
Highlights: Spacer Ownby Cemetery, historic remnants, springtime wildflowers, Fern Branch Falls.
Great Idea: Spacer Go in the spring to view one of the best wildflower displays in the Park!
Route: Spacer Begin at the trailhead, and hike ~ 1.9 miles until you see the falls on your left. Return via the same route.


Forney Creek: 15.3 miles
Strenuous Rocky Water Crossings Steep Grade Access Closed in Winter

Trailhead: Spacer Forney Ridge trailhead, Clingmans Dome Parking Area. Vehicular access to trailhead restricted during winter months.
Take note: Spacer This hike requires a second vehicle at the end of Lakeshore Drive.
Highlights: Spacer Great views, historic remnants of logging and CCC camps, beautiful creek views.
Great Idea: Spacer Plan to take a swim in one of the deep swimming holes on Forney Creek!
Caution!!! Spacer There is a short section (less than 15 ft) of trail eroded away on a steep side-hill section that can be a little tricky, especially if you don't enjoy heights. Stream crossings may be tricky in high water.
Route: Spacer Begin on Forney Ridge Trail at the Clingmans Dome Parking Area. Turn right onto the Forney Creek Trail. Stay on Forney Creek, following the signs, until you come to the Whiteoak Branch Trail. Take the Whiteoak Branch Trail to the Lakeshore Trail, and take the Lakeshore Trail to its terminus at the end of Lakeshore Drive.


Goshen Prong: 12.0 miles
Moderate Rocky Water Crossings Steep Grade Access Closed in Winter

Trailhead: Spacer Appalachian Trail trailhead, just to the left of the Clingmans Dome tower. Vehicular access to trailhead restricted during winter months.
Take note: Spacer This hike requires a second vehicle at the Little River Trail in Elkmont.
Highlights: Spacer Beautiful views, a neat little cave, views of the stream, mostly downhill.
Route: Spacer Begin on the Appalachian Trail at the Clingmans Dome Tower and travel 2.0 miles west. Take a right onto the Goshen Prong Trail. Follow the signs to stay on the trail, eventually taking a left onto the Little River Trail. Follow the Little River Trail to its trailhead.


Grotto Falls (Winter Hike): 7.0 miles
Moderate

Trailhead: Spacer Trillium Gap trailhead, located in the Rainbow Falls Parking Area.
Highlights: Spacer Quiet winter hike... falls are prettier when framed in ice.
Caution!!! Spacer Exercise caution on ice, especially around the falls.
Route: Spacer Begin at the Trillium Gap trailhead and walk the 3.5 miles to Grotto Falls, following the signs. Return via the same route.


Grotto Falls (Summer Hike): 2.2 miles
Easy Rocky Kid Friendly Access Closed in Winter

Trailhead: Spacer Grotto Falls Parking Area. Vehicular access to trailhead restricted during winter months.
Highlights: Spacer Easy hike, ideal for children. Falls are beautiful and you can walk behind them.
Great Idea: Spacer This is a very busy trail. Hike early in the day for solitude.
Caution!!! Spacer Exercise caution around the falls.
Route: Spacer Take the Trillium Gap Trail. Walk the 1.1 miles to the falls and return via the same route.


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