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Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 50 Must-Do Hikes for Everyone
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About Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 50
Product Description Hike, backpack, bring the kids―there’s a trail for you. With its secluded mountain waterways, awe-inspiring views from grassy balds, diverse plant and animal life, and impressive stands of old-growth forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers an overwhelming number of outdoor adventures. Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park describes both the park’s classic destinations and lesser-known jewels in 50 must-do hikes. The trails range from an easy family stroll to a 7-mile trek through spruce forest atop a peaceful ridge to a panoramic 22-mile overnighter. Each entry in the book includes clear and concise directions, a detailed route map and elevation profile, “don’t get lost” milestones, and expert trail commentary. Johnny Molloy, who has spent more than 800 nights backpacking in the Smokies, has updated this classic guide. The revised edition includes the new backcountry reservation system implemented in the park, as well as some excellent new hikes. Johnny―who considers the Smokies his home stomping ground―makes sure that all the necessary information to help you execute a hike (from directions to maps) is correct. So this guide helps you leave the roads to explore the heart of the park. Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll to stretch your legs, a full-day adventure, or a rewarding backpacking trip, you’ll find it here. About the Author Johnny Molloy is an outdoors writer who averages more than 100 nights in the wild per year, backpacking throughout the U.S. He has written more than 30 outdoors guidebooks and articles for magazines and websites. He lives in Johnson City, TN. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter 1: Abrams Creek and Cades Cove Area Trail 1: Pine Mountain Loop Trail Use: Day Hiking, Backpacking, Horses Length: 8.1 miles, 4-5½ hours Vertical Feet: ±1000 Difficulty: Level 2-3 Trail Type: Loop Features: Summit, Ridgeline, Stream, Autumn Colors, Wildflowers, Great Views, Backcountry Camping, Swimming Facilities (Seasonal): Campground, Restrooms, Water From the lowest trailhead in the park, follow lovely Abrams Creek on a watery hike past numerous shoals and huge pools, eventually fording the big stream. A low ridge offers views of Look Rock. Wander through oak woods to Scott Gap, and then reach a high point on the shoulder of Pine Mountain. Finally, descend to Abrams Creek, this time spanning it by bridge. Best Time This hike requires making what is the biggest ford in the park: across lower Abrams Creek. With that in mind, midsummer through late fall offers the lowest water for fording. Outside that, winter offers great solitude, and the low elevations make this hike doable when the high country is frigid. In May, the mountain laurel blooms in the Abrams Creek watershed can be spectacular. Finding the Trail From the intersection of US 411/TN 33 and US 129/ TN 115 in Maryville, Tennessee, take US 129/Alcoa Highway south for 7 miles. At the four-way intersection, bear right to continue south on US 129. In 3.6 miles, bear left at the T to keep south on US 129, and continue 7.1 miles to Chilhowee Lake. Just past the intersection with the Foothills Parkway, turn left (north) on Happy Valley Road, following it 5.9 miles to Abrams Creek Road. Turn right on Abrams Creek Road and drive 0.7 mile, passing the ranger station. The parking area is on the right just after the ranger station. The Cooper Road Trail starts at the rear of Abrams Creek Campground. Park your car in the designated area near the ranger station. Do not park in the campground, which is gated during the cold season. Trail Description This hike would be rated less difficult if it weren’t for the ford of Abrams Creek, widely regarded as the most troublesome in the park. But don’t let the ford discourage you from taking this scenic loop hike. A drive-up campground and three backcountry campsites along the route make trailside overnighting easy. First you’ll leave
