Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone

by Johnny Molloy

Overview

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 soothing stream, to a 7-mile trek through spruce forest atop a peaceful ridge, to a panoramic 22-mile overnighter. This guide will help 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.

Each Hike Includes:

Clear and concise directions to the trailhead

A detailed route map and elevation profile

"Don't get lost" milestones

Expert trail commentary

The award-winning Top Trails series includes innovative trail-feature charts with information on child-friendly trails, wildflowers, scenic vistas, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899976778
Publisher:	Wilderness Press
Publication date:	03/27/2012
Series:	Top Trails
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Johnny Molloy's outdoor passion started on a backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while attending the University of Tennessee. That first foray unleashed love of the outdoors that has led the Tennessee native to spending most of his time backpacking, canoe camping, and tent camping for the past 25 years. Friends enjoyed his outdoor adventure stories; one even suggested he write a book. He pursued his friend's idea and soon parlayed his love of the outdoors into an occupation. The results of his efforts are over 40 books. His writings include hiking guidebooks, camping guidebooks, paddling guidebooks, comprehensive guidebooks about a specific area, and true outdoor-adventure books.

Table of Contents

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Regional Map vi

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Trails viii

Using Top Trails xvi

Organization of Top Trails xvi

Choosing a Trail xix

Introduction to Great Smoky Mountains National Park 1

Geography and Topography 3

Flora 4

Fauna 4

When to Go 6

Weather and Seasons 6

Trail Selection 7

Key Features 8

Multiple Uses 8

On the Trail 9

Have a Plan 9

Carry the Essentials 10

Food 11

Useful but Less than Essential Items 11

Trail Etiquette 12

Chapter 1 Abrams Creek and Cades Cove Area 15

1 Pine Mountain Loop 27

2 Abrams Falls via Abrams Creek Ranger Station 33

3 Abrams Falls via Cades Cove 39

4 Gregory Bald via Gregory Ridge 43

5 John Oliver Cabin via Rich Mountain Loop Trail 49

6 Spence Field and Russell Field Loop 55

7 Rocky Top via Lead Cove 61

8 Finley Cane Loop 65

Chapter 2 Tremont and Elkmont Area 71

9 Lynn Camp Prong Cascades 81

10 Buckhom Gap via Meigs Creek 87

11 Walker Sisters Place via Little Greenbrier Trail 91

12 Cucumber Gap Loop 97

13 Little River Hike 103

14 The Chimney Tops 107

15 Silers Bald via Clingmans Dome 111

Chapter 3 Mount Le Conte, Greenbrier, and Cosby Area 115

16 Charlies Bunion 127

17 Alum Cave Bluff 131

18 Rainbow Falls 137

19 Brushy Mountain via Grotto Falls 141

20 Injun Creek from Greenbrier 147

21 Ramsey Cascades 153

22 Albright Grove 157

23 Maddron Bald Loop 163

24 Sutton Ridge Overlook 171

25 Mount Cammerer via Low Gap 175

Chapter 4 Twentymile and Fontana Lake Area 181

26 Twentymile Loop 191

27 Gregory Bald Loop 197

28 Shuckstack from Twentymile Ranger Station 205

29 Lost Cove Loop 211

30 Fontana Lake Hike 217

31 Ruins of Proctor 225

Chapter 5 Deep, Forney, and Noland Creeks Area 231

32 Goldmine Loop 241

33 Whiteoak Branch Loop 247

34 Indian Creek and Sunkota Ridge Loop 253

35 Falls Loop of Deep Creek 259

36 Newton Bald Loop 265

37 Fork Ridge Loop 273

38 Forney Creek Loop 281

39 Andrews Bald 287

Chapter 6 Smokemont, Cataloochee, and Big Creek Area 291

40 Smokemont Loop 303

41 Cabin Flats Loop 309

42 Hyatt Ridge Loop 315

43 Flat Creek Falls and Vista 321

44 Hemphill Bald Hike 327

45 Big Fork Ridge Loop 333

46 Pretty Hollow Gap Loop 339

47 Boogerman Loop 345

48 Little Cataloochee Church 351

49 Mount Sterling via Mount Sterling Gap 357

50 Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls 363

Appendix 1 Local Resources 367

Appendix 2 Useful Sources 369

Index 371

About the Author 378

Editorial Reviews

"Molloy offers expert guidance to getting the most of this 800 square miles park." -- WNC Magazine, June 2012

"Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park incorporates the most accurate and detailed route descriptions along with easy-to-read charts that summarize key features of each hike." -- Knoxville News Sentinel, May 2012

From the Publisher