Part 2

Destination | Trail starts |Elevation ———————————————————————————+——————————————————————————————+———————— | | _Feet_ Laurel Falls |Fighting Creek Gap (see Road | 2,500 | Distances) | Clingmans Dome Summit |Forney Ridge Parking Area | 6,643 Andrews Bald |Forney Ridge Parking Area | 5,860 Alum Cave Bluffs |Alum Cave Parking Area (see | 4,900 | Road Distances) | Mount Le Conte: via Alum |Alum Cave Parking Area (see | 6,593 Cave Bluffs | Road Distances) | via Boulevard |Newfound Gap (see Road | 6,593 | Distances) | via Cherokee Orchard |Cherokee Orchard via Rainbow | 6,593 | Falls | |Cherokee Orchard via Bullhead | 6,593 |Cherokee Orchard via Trillium | 6,593 | Gap | via Roaring Fork |Gatlinburg and Trillium Gap | 6,593 The Jumpoff |Newfound Gap | 6,100 Charlies Bunion |Newfound Gap | 5,375 Gregory Bald |Cades Cove | 4,948 Chimney Tops |Chimneys Bridge (see Road | 4,755 | Distances) | Mount Cammerer |Davenport Gap | 5,025 Ramsey Cascades |Greenbrier | 4,750 Raven Fork Wilderness |Smokemont | 4,202 Mount Sterling Tower |Mount Sterling Gap | 5,835 Sharp Top on Noland Divide |Bryson City (at park line) | 3,430 Bryson Place |Bryson City | 2,411 ———————————————————————————+——————————————————————————————+————————

| Distance | | Map Destination |round trip| Remarks |Index —————————————————————+——————————+—————————————————————————————————+————— | _Miles_ | | Laurel Falls | 2.5 | One of the most popular hiking | E-2. | | trips | Clingmans Dome Summit| 1.0 | One-half mile paved trail leads | G-4. | | to one of the highest peaks | | | in East; highest in park. | Andrews Bald | 4.0 | One of the most popular hikes | G-4. | | in park. | Alum Cave Bluffs | 5.0 | Easy trail, fine views. Best | G-3. | | for rose-purple rhododendron | | | in mid-June. Alum Cave Bluffs.| Mount Le Conte: via | 10.4 | Shortest way to Mount Le Conte | G-3. | | and very spectacular. | Alum Cave Bluffs | | Foot trail only. | via Boulevard | 16.0 | Follows Appalachian Trail to | G-3. | | Mount Kephart and | | | thence along Boulevard Trail | | | to Le Conte. | via Cherokee | 13.4 | Trail passes Rainbow Falls and | G-3. Orchard | | around Rocky Spur. | | 14.4 | Trail passes around Bullhead. | G-3. | | | | 16.8 | Good horse trail. | G-3. via Roaring Fork | 22.4 | Longest trip to Mount Le Conte, | G-3. | | but interesting. | The Jumpoff | 6.5 | Jagged mountain peaks. | H-3. Charlies Bunion | 8.6 | Reminiscent of the rugged | H-3. | | Rockies. | Gregory Bald | 11.0 | Best display of wild azalea in | B-4. | | mid-June. | Chimney Tops | 3.0 | For the experienced hiker. | G-3. | | 3 hours, round trip. | Mount Cammerer | 12.0 | Fine view of valleys and | K-1. | | mountains. | Ramsey Cascades | 12.0 | Largest cascades; stands of | I-2. | | virgin hardwoods. | Raven Fork Wilderness| 16.0 | Largest stand of virgin red | J-3. | | spruce and balsam. | Mount Sterling Tower | 5.2 | Accessible fire tower. | K-2. Sharp Top on Noland | 4.0 | Interesting hike. | G-5. Divide | | | Bryson Place | 20.0 | Follows Deep Creek to Bryson | H-4. | | Place, and Nettle Creek into | | | a fine stand of virgin | | | hardwoods. | —————————————————————+——————————+—————————————————————————————————+—————

Roads and Trails

There are 66 miles of high standard roads in the park including the transmountain highway from Gatlinburg, Tenn., to Cherokee, N. C. Clingmans Dome Highway reaches an altitude of 6,311 feet. Seventy miles of secondary roads and 653 miles of horse and foot trails are available for hiking and riding.

The park highways offer exceptional opportunities to view the grandeur of the Great Smokies. Spur roads and trails lead to many points of interest.

There are trails of all types to suit your individual requirements. Some are 4 feet wide on easy gradients; some are improved footpaths; others merely tracks through the forest. Park forces try to keep trails drained and clear of brush and other obstacles; but the country is rough, and hikers should wear suitable outdoor clothing, including stout low-heeled shoes. If you are an inexperienced hiker, you should be especially careful and watch your footing on the trails.

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail crosses the park and follows the ridge of the Smokies for most of its 71 miles. The eastern portion, from Davenport Gap at the northeast corner to Newfound Gap on the transmountain highway, is 31 miles long and follows through an absolute wilderness. The western portion from Newfound Gap to Fontana Dam just outside the park, is 40 miles long. Most of the trail is over 5,000 feet in elevation.

There are 7 trailside shelters and 3 trailside campsites along the 71-mile section of the Appalachian Trail in this park from Davenport Gap to Newfound Gap (31 miles) and Newfound Gap to Fontana Dam (40 miles). These are nearly equally spaced for 1-day hiking trips. Shelters are closed on 3 sides and provide simple bunk accommodations for 6 persons. A fireplace is in front and water is available nearby. Use of the shelters is normally restricted to 1 night. Camping is permitted along the trail only at the above points and a camping permit for each trip is required. (See page 8.) Because of the scarcity of fuel at these sites, you are advised to carry primus-type stoves.