Tennessee Pictures (5 pictures)
Abrams Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Directions:
In The Smokys, take the Laurel Creek Road to the Cades Cove
Loop. Turn right at the sign post for Abrams Falls, just
past stop #10 - the parking area is just ahead on the gravel
road. [Note: do pick up the $1 guide for the Cades Cove
area for information about the various buildings along the
loop drive.]
No facilities [flush toilets at the nearby Visitor Center].
Free.
Trails:
The wide, packed-dirt trail soon crosses a bridge and heads
along the creek all the way to the falls - sometimes right
next to the creek and sometimes on a small hill above the
creek. There are 2 short climbs along the trail (the trail
is fairly mild besides those 2 climbs). Right after the
2nd climb, the trail drops steeply down and the falls are
to the left (the trail does a half-loop on the way down).
The 20' foot falls feeds into a large pool before returning
to creek form. If you have water shoes with you, you can
wade across to the rocks on the other side and find a nice
peaceful spot where you won't be bothered by all the people
coming and going at this popular place.
Trail Length:
2.5 miles one-way
Area:
Creek, small hills, small waterfall, woods
Picture
When I did the hike:
Monday, September 17, 2007
Recommendation:
Though pretty, the falls aren't that impressive. But it is
a nice, mild hike in the woods along a creek.
Gregory Bald - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Directions:
In The Smokys, take the Laurel Creek Road to the Cades Cove
Loop. Go all the way to the Visitors Center. At the
junction next to the center, take a right onto Forge Creek
Road (a gravel road (no high clearance needed)). Continue
on the road about 5 miles to the unsigned turnoff on the
left - Forge Creek Road is one-way past that turnoff. Take
a left and park in the parking spots around the turnaround
loop.
No facilities.
Free.
Trails:
The trail is wider to start and is mild for a while along
a small creek. The packed-dirt trail soon narrows to
one-person width and stays in the trees all the way to the
bald. There are some small ups as the trail is sometimes
above the creek instead of next to it. 2 miles in is the
backcountry campground. The trail heads up from there
(not a huff-and-puffer). The trail goes through a recent
burn area (but still trees - a control burn) and the trail
makes a sharp turn and you are on the ridge. But there is
still lots more up to come as the trail continues heading
up. It's a long ways to the trail junction - I started
mis-guessing about 30 minutes before I reached it (you are
getting close when the mountain slope is to your right).
At the junction, take a right and it is .6 miles to the
bald. After the junction, the trail heads a harder up to
start, then is mild for a bit, and then another up before
reaching the bald. The bald is a large open area along
the mountain top covered with shrubs and long grass. If
you continue through the bald, towards the other end are
some large ground rocks and a clump of trees which is a
nice resting spot - the geological marker (4949 feet) is
in that area. You do get some distance views, but
nothing stunning. It took me 3 hours to reach the bald.
Trail Length + Elevation:
5.5 miles, 3000 feet one-way
Area:
Small mountain, woods, small creek, bald
When I did the hike:
Monday, September 17, 2007
Recommendation:
Na. It's a long hike and the bald is nothing exciting
nor are the views very good.
Clingmans Dome - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Directions:
In the Smokys, take Newfound Gap Road to the midway
point and turn west on Clingmans Dome Road. Take
that road to the parking area at the end. [Also a
good spot to watch sunrises and sunsets.]
Flush toilets.
Free.
Trails:
It's a blah up (and it is an up) along a paved road
to the view tower at the top of Clingmans Dome. And
it's a looping cement ramp up to the tower. But you
get 360 degree views of all the Smoky Mountains. Go
in the morning (great sunrises) where you'll likely
see the wisps of fog in the valleys, from which the
Smokys gets their name. (You'll also see lots of
dead trees as the Fraser firs have been devastated
over the past 30 years by an imported insect.]
Trail Length + Elevation:
.5 miles, 330 feet one-way
Area:
Wooded mountains.
Picture
When I did the hike:
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Recommendation:
One of the best places for distance views of the
Smokys.
Alum Cave Bluff - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Directions:
In the Smokys, take Newfound Gap Road to pulloff parking
area on the east side of the road for the Alum Cave Bluff
trail. Note that the small parking area does fill.
No facilities.
Free.
Trails:
The wide (1.5 to 2 person width) dirt and rock trail is
mild as it goes along the stream for 1.5 miles to Arch
Rock. The area in front of Arch Rock is a pretty spot.
There is a small bridge over the stream and the trail
goes steeply up through the narrow arch on rock steps -
there is a rope to help with balance. The arch is a
natural arch [but looks like a collapsed rock against the
wall instead of the sandstone arches of the Southwest].
After the arch, the trail goes along a narrow ledge. The
trail crosses the creek again and heads a steeper up for a
bit. At the rock slate area as the trail rounds a bend is
a good resting spot and good distance views. The trail is
milder for a short bit and then heads a harder up. You
are almost at the bluff when you reach the wooden steps.
It is not a true cave, but more of an overhang. There is
a funny smell, though, as they used to mine for smelt in
the area. The trail continues on (from the top of the
bluff) for 3 more miles and 1500 feet up to the top of Mt.
LeConte.
Trail Length + Elevation:
2.3 miles, 2600 feet one-way
Area:
Mountains, woods, small creek, arch, overhang bluff
When I did the hike:
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Recommendation:
Na, there are prettier hikes in the park and the "cave"
isn't interesting.
Chimney Tops - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Directions:
In the Smokys, take Newfound Gap Road to pulloff
parking area on the west side of the road for the
Chimney Tops trail.
No facilities.
Free.
Trails:
After crossing the river over the wooden bridge, the
trail heads up an old gravel road (Road Prong Trail)
next to a creek. And make no mistake - it's up the
whole way (except for two short milder spots). After
.9 miles is a bridge crossing the creek - you can get
creekside next to the bridge for a nice peaceful
resting and feet soaking spot (good for on the way
back). Just after crossing the bridge is the junction
for the Chimney Tops - hook a right and start heading
a huff-and-puff steep up for a ways. The trail is
dirt and rock the rest of the way. After the trail
turns left and then up and finishes a half-circle, the
trail is mild for a short bit before heading up again
(a milder up). After the bend, the trail actually
dips down a little (just to annoy you) before the last
climb to the Chimney Tops. Make your way over the
rocks to the right as far as you are comfortable with
(there is a metal post indicating don't go farther).
There are nice distance views at the top, but there
isn't much room at the top. [When I went, there
were a number of older couples doing the hike. Two
guys were heading up and one stopped to catch his
breath. When his friend looked back at him, the guy
said, 'I'm waiting for another old person to pass
me to motivate me forward a few feet.']
Trail Length + Elevation:
2 miles, 1300 feet one-way
Area:
Mountains, woods, river, creek
Picture
When I did the hike:
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Recommendation:
If you are up for a tail-kicker, the views at the
top are pretty.
Rainbow Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Directions:
Heading south on the main road (Hwy 441) in Gatlinburg,
take a left at traffic light #8 and follow the Historic
Nature Trail on to Cherokee Orchard Road. At the top
of the road (after the loop branch back) as the road
turns left, look for the signed Rainbow Falls parking
area on the right. Note that the small parking lot
fills, so go early or be patient waiting for a spot to
open up.
Port-a-potties at parking lot.
Free.
Trails:
The wide, packed dirt and loose rocks trail heads up
from the start along a creek in the woods. There is a
bridge that crosses the creek later on and after more
up another bridge crosses the creek again - but the
falls are still about 15 minutes away (not just around
the bend). The 40-foot falls were unimpressive when I
was there as it was little more than a stream. I
encountered a number of tourists on this hike who were
not expecting it to be such a hard hike (some who
didn't even have water with them) - no concept of
actually how long 2.8 miles was and 1500 feet gained.
The trail continues for 4 miles (up) to the summit of
Mt. LeConte.
Trail Length + Elevation:
2.8 miles, 1500 feet one-way
Area:
Mountains, woods, small creek, thin waterfall
When I did the hike:
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Recommendation:
Na. A harder hike and the falls were only a trickle
when I was there - only do if you have time to do
Grotto Falls and Ramsey Cascades as well.
Grotto Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Directions:
Heading south on the main road (Hwy 441) in Gatlinburg,
take a left at traffic light #8 and follow the Historic
Nature Trail on to Cherokee Orchard Road. Continue on
the road as it heads east and turns into the one-way
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Right before the road
turns north, look for the small parking lot on the
right for Grotto Falls. Note that the small parking
lot fills, so go early or be patient waiting for a spot
to open up.
No facilities.
Free.
Trails:
The wide, packed dirt trail heads up to start. Note
that there might be llama droppings along the trail as
it is a multi-use trail. After the trail levels out,
it is mild for a bit as you round the mountainside and
then head a mild up for a short ways in the valley for
the falls. When you hear the creek noise, you are
almost there. The falls are only 25-feet tall, but
there is a gap between the water coming down and the
back wall and the trail goes behind the falls for a
neat experience. There is a very small pool in front
of the falls and lots of large rocks that you can sit
on and rest for a while and enjoy the falls.
Trail Length + Elevation:
1.2 miles one-way
Area:
Mountains, woods, creek, pretty waterfall
Picture
When I did the hike:
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Recommendation:
Absolutely. A beautiful place and not a hard hike.
On of only two hikes (Ramsey Cascades) that I did that
I felt were worthy of repeat visits.
Ramsey Cascades - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Directions:
Head east from Gatlinburg on Hwy 321/Rt 73 for about
6 miles to the turnoff on the right for the Greenbrier
area of the Smokys (not well marked, so keep an eye
out for it) - the turnoff is right before the road
goes over the bridge and the Rt 416 junction. Drive
the Greenbrier road for about 4 miles (turns gravel
2 miles in) and turn left at the signed junction for
Ramsey Cascades. The parking area is less than a
mile ahead.
No facilities (but chemical toilets at a picnic area
on the drive in).
Free.
Trails:
The first 1.5 miles is a blah walk along an old gravel
road (with a bridge early on crossing the creek). It
is not pure level as there are a couple of short ups
and downs. The gravel road ends at a small loop (you
can go either direction of the loop - the true trail
starts at the top of the loop). The trail is packed
dirt early, but gets rockier and rootier later. And
the trail heads up (most of the elevation gained is
after the road). Eventually the trail will cross the
creek and then cross back over it and then head away
from that creek. When the trail finally returns to
the main creek area, the falls are not much further
ahead. But it is a hard up the rest of the way
including clammering over big rocks and some steep rock
steps (a hiking stick is very helpful on this hike) -
those rock steps will drain any energy you had left.
Find a little bit more energy and make your way all the
way up to the falls where you are on the rocks
surrounding the small pool. The 100-foot falls are the
tallest in the park. The water does not simply drop
straight down, but cascades down over the rocks - very
pretty. It took me a little over 2 hours to reach the
falls.
Trail Length + Elevation:
4 miles, 2000 feet one-way
Area:
Mountains, woods, creeks, pretty cascading waterfall
Picture
When I did the hike:
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Recommendation:
Absolutely beautiful. My favorite hike in the park.