Day Hikes, H-L

Key to the Hikes:

Easy	Moderate	Strenuous

Caution! Rocky terrain	Caution! Difficult water crossings	Caution! Difficult grade

Kid friendly trail (with close adult supervision)	Access currently closed due to construction	Access closed in winter

Hall Homestead and Cemetery:
14.0 miles

Trailhead:		Begin approximately 0.5 miles below backcountry campsite #86.
Take note:		Trailhead access by boat. Shuttles are available from the Fontana Village Marina.
Highlights:		Mostly level walking, lots of history, beautiful creek views.
Caution!!!		Stream crossings may be extremely deep and wide during high water.
Route:		Begin approximately 0.5 miles below backcountry campsite #86. Continue up the Lakeshore trail. When you cross the bridge and see the Calhoun House, turn right and continue up the Lakeshore Trail. When you reach backcountry campsite #84, you might want to continue up the Lakeshore Trail about a quarter of a mile to take the steep side trail on your left to visit the Higdon cemetery. If not, go straight (this will be the Hazel Creek Trail). Continue about another mile to the junction with the Bone Valley Trail. An unmarked path on your left just before the trail junction leads to the Bone Valley Cemetery. The Bone Valley Trail is approximately 1.8 miles long and ends at the Hall cabin (most remote maintained structure in the Park) and the remnants of the Kress hunting lodge. The unmarked trail to the left of the Hall cabin leads to the Hall cemetery. Return to your boat via the same route.

Hen Wallow Falls:
4.6 miles

Trailhead:		Gabes Mountain trailhead, near Cosby Campground.
Highlights:		Lone grave of Sally Sutton, Hen Wallow Falls.
Caution!!!		Exercise caution around the falls!
Route:		Hike the Gabes Mountain Trail 2.1 miles. You'll see the steep spur trail that leads to the falls. To find Sally Sutton's grave, watch for an obvious spur trail, most easily seen on the return trip... grave lies within thirty feet of the main trail. Return via the same route.

Jonas Creek:
14.9 miles

Trailhead:		Appalachian Trail, just to the left of the Clingmans Dome tower. Vehicular access to trailhead restricted during winter months.
Take note:		Strenuous planning: requires two cars and a boat, but worth it.
Highlights:		Rarely used trail, mostly downhill, beautiful stream views, lots of history.
Great Idea:		Pace yourself, and leave time to swim in the big holes on Forney Creek! At that point in the hike, your body and feet could use the cool water.
Route:		Begin on the Appalachian Trail, traveling west from Clingmans Dome. Take a left onto the Welch Ridge Trail. About a half mile past the junction with the Hazel Creek Trail, you'll see the Jonas Creek Trail. Take it to its junction with Forney Creek Trail. Take a right. Continue on Forney Creek, following the trail signs, until you reach Fontana Lake. Commute back to Clingmans Dome.

Jonas Creek:
17.1 miles (but it's practically all downhill!)

Trailhead:		Appalachian Trail, just to the left of the Clingmans Dome tower. Vehicular access to trailhead restricted during winter months.
Take note:		This hike requires a second vehicle at the end of Lakeshore Drive.
Highlights:		Rarely used trail, mostly downhill, beautiful stream views, lots of history.
Great Idea:		Try this hike during summer months when you'll have the greatest amount of available daylight. Leave early in the morning (I like to be on the trail at dawn for hikes of this length) to allow yourself maximum time.
Caution!!!		Lengthy day hike... recommended for seasoned hikers only.
Route:		Begin on the Appalachian Trail, traveling west from Clingmans Dome. Take a left onto the Welch Ridge Trail. About a half mile past the junction with the Hazel Creek Trail, you'll see the Jonas Creek Trail. Take it to its junction with Forney Creek Trail. Take a right. Continue on Forney Creek, following the trail signs, until you reach the Whiteoak Branch Trail. Take it to its junction with the Lakeshore Trail. Turn left onto the Lakeshore Trail and follow it to its terminus at the end of Lakeshore Drive.

Laurel Falls:
2.6 miles

Trailhead:		Laurel Falls Trail, between Elkmont and Sugarlands on Little River Road.
Highlights:		Beautiful water fall, nice winter hike.
Great Idea:		This is the busiest trail in the Park. Hike early in the day for solitude.
Caution!!!		Exercise caution around falls! Trail may be slick in winter months.
Route:		Begin at the trailhead and walk approximately 1.3 miles to the falls. Return via the same route. While the paved trail may not be the wildest experience in the backcountry, it's an ideal hike for older individuals and the very young (even for infants in strollers!)... I remember getting dragged to the falls at the tender age of four!

Little Cataloochee (One car):
4.5 miles

Trailhead:		Little Cataloochee Trail, located on NC Hwy 284.
Highlights:		Quiet trail, Hannah cabin, church and cemetery, Cook apple house foundation.
Great Idea:		A 0.5 mile trip up the Long Bunk Trail will take you to the Hannah Cemetery. Worth the walk!
Route:		Begin at the trailhead and walk the 2.0 miles to the church. The remnants of the Dan Cook apple house are about half a mile past the church (one of my favorite places in the Park... worth the walk). Return via the same route.

Little Cataloochee (Two cars):
6.0 miles

Trailhead:		Little Cataloochee Trail, located on NC Hwy 284.
Take note:		A second vehicle is required at the Cataloochee horse camp.
Highlights:		Quiet trail, Hannah cabin, church and cemetery, Cook apple house foundation, Davidson Gap, old homesites.
Great Idea:		A 0.5 mile trip up the Long Bunk Trail will take you to the Hannah Cemetery. Worth the walk!
Route:		In addition to the highlights already mentioned (see previous hike), you'll pass the remnants of an old log cabin, the bottom logs of which still stand... note the yucca plants and rock work that line the front yard of what was probably once the main house. The hike through Davidson Gap is a beautiful experience, especially when you remember that this was once the route residents took on foot or on horseback from Little to Big Cataloochee (would you walk this far just for a date?? People used to!).

Lost Cove/Shuckstack Loop:
13.0 miles

Trailhead:		Lakeshore Trail at Fontana Dam. Construction on Fontana Dam currently restricts vehicle access, adding about a mile to the hike.
Take note:		The fire tower is not recommended for those who fear heights.
Highlights:		1930's era cars, views of Fontana Lake, Lost Cove Creek, Shuckstack fire tower.
Great Idea:		Take a camera... 360� view of the surrounding area from the tower!
Caution!!!		Tricky stream crossings on Lost Cove Trail.
Route:		You can travel this loop in either direction, but I would recommend beginning on the Lakeshore Trail at Fontana Dam. When you reach the Lost Cove Trail, turn left. Take a left onto the Appalachian Trail at Sassafras Gap. Take the trail to the Shuckstack fire tower. When you've enjoyed the view, return to the Appalachian Trail and continue south. You'll arrive back at your starting point in about 3.5 miles.

Lower Eagle Creek:
8.6 miles

Trailhead:		Backcountry Campsite #90.
Take note:		Trailhead access by boat. Shuttles are available from the Fontana Village Marina.
Highlights:		Easy flat walking, beautiful river views, great fishing, generally quiet trail.
Caution!!!		Crossings can be chest-deep in high water. Exercise extreme caution.
Route:		Travel northeast from backcountry campsite #90, watching the signs for Eagle Creek. You'll make several stream crossings, some deep (16 fords in all), but that's half the fun of being in the backcountry. The trail gets steep after backcountry campsite #97... turn around and return via the same route.

Lower Hazel Creek:
3.0 miles

Trailhead:		Begin approximately 0.5 miles below backcountry campsite #86.
Take note:		Trailhead access by boat. Shuttles are available from the Fontana Village Marina.
Highlights:		Calhoun House, cemeteries, lots of history, views of Hazel Creek, easy walking.
Great Idea:		Pack a picnic lunch and eat at the picnic tables in front of the Calhoun House.
Route:		Begin about a half mile below backcountry campsite #86. Continue up the Lakeshore Trail. When you reach the bridge to the Calhoun House, be sure to look at the photo of Hazel Creek on the interpretive display... hundreds of people once lived here, part of a thriving community complete with a movie theatre, churches and school. Take a left and look for the old road leading away from the left yard... two cemeteries lie on this road, both on your right. The first is Proctor, and will be visible from the trail with a wooden hand rail to help you up the bank. The second cemetery is Bradshaw, and can be found by those willing to climb the short, but extremely steep trail on the right just before the end of the road. Once you've visited the area's former residents, return to the Calhoun House. Walk on up the Lakeshore trail... you'll pass a variety of old buildings and logging remnants (lots of old dynamite storage buildings and a huge dry kiln). Ultimately, you'll see the old water gauging station. This is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours... the creek also offers great swimming and trout fishing. Return via the same route to your boat.

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