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Tennessee
Hiking Maps & Trails

Maps & Trails
Great Smoky Mountains Hiker's Guide
Smokin' Hikes with a Mountain View
Hiking the Waterfalls Revisited...
Great Smokies N.P. Choosing the Hike that's Right for You

Maps & Trails

Great Smoky Mountains NP. (Shaded Relief & Trails Map) (801K)

Great Smoky Mountains NP. Park Map, High Resolution, '96 (182K)

Great Smoky Mountains NP. Waterfalls Trails Map, '97 (81K)

Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP [Ga./Tn] (Regional Map) (267K)

Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP [Ga./Tn] (Location Map) (371K)

Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP [Ga./Tn] (Lookout Mountain Area Map) (326K)

Tennessee National Forests, Overview Map (18K)

Great Smoky Mountains
National Park Hiker's Guide

The 520,000 acres of the Smokies protect the world’s finest example of temperate deciduous forests. About 20 percent of the area is old growth forest, probably the largest tracts of virgin timber in the eastern United States. The name of the park is derived from the frequent fog and haze that creeps through the valley, envelops the hills, and wisps across the horizon. Fertile soil and favorable climate have blessed the area with an abundance of flora, including 131 species of native trees and more than 1,500 kinds of flowering plants. Spring and early summer are spectacular for viewing their beauty, and in fall, the trees create a riotous palette of yellow, orange, and red. The rich highlands also retain reminders of the area's human past-more than 70 historic structures (cabins, barns, churches) have been preserved. The mountains are among the oldest on earth, and time has worn away their edges and given them a gently rounded appearance. Still, the heights are impressive, and because of them a touch of the north woods thrives in the deep South; coniferous forests predominate from about 5,000 feet and above. On some ridges, the woods abruptly open up into areas of either grass or shrub known as 'bards.' Many are filled with rhododendron and laurel that color the hillsides in spring and early summer. Deer, bobcat, opossum, mink, fox, flying squirrel, and wild boar are common in the park, as is the potentially meddlesome black bear. With 22 different species, the Smokies have been called the "salamander capital of the country".

Getting Away:

click any image for a full sized virtual glimpse

Clingman's Dome Trail

Climbing...and ever more climbing!

This is the nation's most visited park, yet only about 10 percent of the visitors get into the backcountry. It is deceptively rugged; 16 peaks are more than 6,000 feet, and the forests of rhododendron and laurels aren't called "hells" for nothing The main road through the park between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, receives the most traffic. At the far ends of the park, in either the northeast or southwest sections, you're more likely to find yourself with just the bears and the ghosts of the Smokies' past. But with more than 800 miles of trails, numerous trip options are available. The terrain is steep; be prepared for long, winding grades. The Appalachian Trail follows the ridges of the park for 80 miles, passing near 6,643-foot Clingman's Dome, the second highest spot in the eastern United States. Experienced backpackers stay off this section of the trail, one of the most heavily traveled in the country.

Camping:

There are 18 backcountry shelters and 100 backcountry campsites. Permits are required. For some itineraries, permits can. be obtained by self-registration at the nearest ranger station. If, however, your trip plans call for the use of one of the 'rationed' backcountry camps (which includes all of the shelters and about 20 other sites), you will need special permission from the Backcountry Reservation Office. Reservations for the rationed sites can be made up to one month in advance by telephone. Some sites allow open fires, but plan to cook with your own stove. Water is generally available but must be boiled, filtered, or treated. Major hazards are black bear and an attempt to hike more miles than you can realistically cover. The season is year-round. Use is moderate to heavy in the summer and much less the rest of the year. Raingear is a must!

Worth Mentioning:

On moonless nights in late summer and autumn, three of the more than 2,000 species of mushrooms and fungi found in the park give off an eerie green light called fox-fire. In one species, the rootlike filaments in the rotting log or stump actually make it appear as if the wood itself is glowing. Native Americans used the foxfire to mark trails at night. The Smoky Mountains Institute sponsors education programs in the park that usually last about three days. Food and lodging are included, and it's a great experience before setting off on your own backpacking trip to be steeped in the folklore and natural history of the place.

Access:

The park is located in both North Carolina and Tennessee. Newfound Gap Road links Rt. 441 in Tennessee to North Carolina. The Sugarlands Visitor Center and park headquarters is just outside Gatlinburg. Services are limited inside the park. Groceries or backpacking supplies are not available.

For More Information:

Great Smoky Mountains Park, Gatlinburg, TN 37423; (615) 436-1200. Same address for Backcountry Reservation Office; (615) 436-1231 (seven days a week, 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.). Guidebooks, maps, and brochures of educational programs from the Smoky Mountain Institute are available from Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association, Rt. 2, Box 572-B, Gatlinburg, TN 37423; (615) 436-7318. The Smoky Mountain Field School is a cooperative effort between the park and the University of Tennessee and offers intensive courses in outdoor exploration of the area; (800) 284-8885.

Great Smokies N.P.

Choosing the Hike that's Right for You

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Everyone has something different in mind when it comes to choosing a hike. What follows are some of the features hikers frequently request when picking a route. The points of interest coincide with the Park's Waterfalls & Trails Map. Click the map below to see the corresponding locations,

Click for full sized map

Waterfalls Galore, pt1

In Tennessee:

Baskins Creek Falls (7):
A three mile round-trip hike. The trail begins inconspicuously near the start (mile 0. 1) of Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail near Gatlinburg, TN.

Hen Wallow Falls (3):
A four and one-half mile round-trip hike. Take the Gabes Mountain Trail which begins from the parking area at the entrance to Cosby Campground.

Rainbow Falls (8):
A five and one-half mile round-trip hike. The trail starts from the Cherokee Orchard Road near Gatlinburg, TN.

Ramsay Cascades (9):
An eight mile round-trip hike. Take Highway 321 east of Gatlinburg, TN to the Greenbrier entrance to the park. Follow the signs to the Ramsay Cascades trailhead.

Fern Falls (C):
A four mile round-trip hike. Take Highway 321 east of Gatlinburg, TN to the Greenbrier entrance to the park. Follow the signs to the Porters Creek trailhead. The waterfall is to the left at 1.9 miles as you cross a small stream.

In North Carolina:

Chasteen Creek Falls (E):
A four mile round-trip hike. From Smokemont Campground, take the Bradley Fork Trail. Turn onto the Chasteen Creek Trail after 1.1 miles.

Flat Creek Falls (11):
A two mile round-trip hike. Take the Flat Creek Trail which begins from the Heintooga Ridge Road on the way to Balsam Mountain Campground.

Indian Creek Falls (4):
A two mile round-trip hike. Take the Deep Creek Trail which starts just past Deep Creek Campground.

Juney Whank Falls (5):
A one-half mile round-trip hike. The trail starts from the end of Deep Creek Road near Deep Creek Campground.

Mouse Creek Falls (7):
A four mile round-trip hike. Follow the Big Creek Trail which begins near Big Creek Campground. (Take exit #451 off 1-40 near the TN-NC state line.)

 

Virgin Forests:

Maddron Bald Trail (9):
(Albright Grove)-Starts on a side road (Laurel Springs Road) near Yogi's Jellystone Campground on highway 321, 15 miles east of Gatiinburg. It's seven miles round-trip to go to, and around, Albright Grove Loop.

Ramsay Cascades (9):
An eight mile round-trip hike. Take Highway 321 east of Gatlinburg, TN to the Greenbrier entrance to the park. Follow the signs to the Ramsay Cascades trailhead.

Baxter Creek Trail (7):
Runs between the Big Creek area and Mt. Sterling in the northeast corner of the park. Take Exit 451 off Interstate 40 near the Tennessee/North Carolina border. The big trees start about 2.5 miles above the Big Creek trailhead. (it's 12.4 miles round-trip if you go to the top of Mt.Sterling and take in the view from the fire tower.)

Laurel Falls Trail (6):
Starts from the Little River Road four miles west of Gatlinburg. It's two miles to the big trees; eight miles round-trip if you go to the top of Cove Mountain.

Gregory Ridge Trail (1):
Starts from the Forge Creek Road which begins just past the Cable Mill area in Cades Cove. It's 11 miles round-trip to Gregory Bald

Fork Ridge Trail (A):
Starts from the Clingmans Dome Road. The first three miles descend through impressive spruce-fir and northern hardwood forests.

 

Hiking the Waterfalls Revisited...

Another look at the beautiful flowing treasures of the Great Smokies National Park.

Click image for full sized map

1. ABRAMS FALLS
A five mile roundtrip hike on the Abrams Falls Trail. The trailhead is midway around the Cades Cove Loop Road, past sign post #10. Look for the gravel sideroad on the right.

2. MINGO FALLS:
A 0.5 mile roundtrip hike. From Oconaluftee Visitor Center, drive south on US 441 and take the second left onto Big Cove Road. At first stop sign, turn left and drive 4.5 miles to Mingo Falls Campground. -

3. HEN WALLOW FALLS :
A four and one-half mile roundtrip hike. Take the Gabes Mountain Trail which begins from the parking area at the entrance to Cosby Campground. Following Gabes Mountain trail beyond the falls will take you to old-growth forest.

4. INDIAN CREEK FALLS :
A two mile roundtrip hike. Take the Deep Creek Trail which starts just past Deep Creek Campground.

5. JUNEY WHANK FALLS :
A 0.6 mile roundtrip hike. The trail starts from the end of Deep Creek Road near Deep Creek Campground.

6. LAUREL FALLS:
A very popular 2 ½ mile roundtrip hike on a paved trail. The trail starts 4 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center on the Little River Road (towards Cades Cove). You will encounter some impressive old-growth forest if you continue on the trail one mile above the falls. On busy weekends parking may not be available here.

7. MOUSE CREEK FALLS:
A four mile roundtrip hike on the Big Creek Trail. To get there, exit I-40 at exit #451. Turn left after crossing the river and continue about 2.5 miles past the ranger station to the Big Creek Picnic Area. The waterfall is created where a tributary of Big Creek plunges into the larger stream at mile 2.1.

8. RAINBOW FALLS:
A five and one-half mile roundtrip hike. The trail starts from the Rainbow Falls parking area on Cherokee Orchard Road near Gatlinburg, TN. From the main parkway in Gatlinburg, turn at stoplight #8 and follow Airport Road to the Cherokee Orchard entrance to the park.

9. RAMSAY CASCADES:
An eight mile roundtrip hike. Take Highway 321 east of Gatlinburg, TN to the Greenbrier entrance to the park. Follow the signs to the Ramsay Cascades trailhead.

10. ROAD PRONG FALLS:
Park at Chimney Tops Trailhead on the Newfound Gap Road and hike 0.9 mile to the junction with the Road Prong Trail. Follow Road Prong steeply uphill for 1.5 miles to see several impressive cascades and a waterfall.

 

 

Smokin' Hikes with a Mountain View

Here's an altitude slant on things. To reach some of the highest points in this portion of the park, check out some of these trails! The views tend to be quite spectacular, whenever you can peer through the lush canopy.

Feel free to download the handy map for planning purposes.

Click on map for locations

A. CLINGMANS DOME ROAD:
Park either at the start of the Clingmans Dome Road (0.1 mile south of Newfound Gap) or at the Newfound Gap parking area, The Clingmans Dome Road is closed to vehicles December 1 -March 31, but is ideal for walking or skiing. If you walk to Indian Gap and back, your total travel mileage will be approximately 4 miles. Indian Gap is marked with an Appalachian Trail sign and a sign on park history.

B. THE JUMPOFF:
Park at the Newfound Gap parking area and follow the Appalachian Trail 2.7 miles towards Charlies Bunion to the junction with The Boulevard Trail. Take The Boulevard for 0.2 mile to a signed side trail to The Jumpoff. This 0.5 mile side trail is steep, but it leads to a spectacular view of Charlies Bunion and the Greenbrier area at its end. Roundtrip hiking distance is 6.8 miles. This route may be very icy in cold weather.

C. RICH MOUNTAIN LOOP HIKE:
Park at the big parking area and orientation shelter at the start of the Cades Cove Loop Road. Cross the road and look for the start of the Rich Mountain Loop Trail near the road barricade. Follow Rich Mountain Loop Trail to the junction with Indian Grave Gap Trail which you follow to the junction with Crooked Arm Ridge Trail. Hike Crooked Arm Ridge Trail steeply down to Rich Mountain Loop Trail which you follow back to your vehicle. Roundtrip hiking distance is 8 miles.

D. SUGARLAND MTN. TRAIL:
A moderate climb through a pleasant hardwood forest. After 2.3 miles you reach a spectacular vista of the Sugarlands Valley, Mt. Le Conte, and Bull Head. Park at the crowded Laurel Falls trailhead 4 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center on the Little River Road. The trail starts on the opposite side of the road from the Laurel Falls Trail.

E. SUTTON RIDGE OVERLOOK:
Park in the designated hiker parking area at the Cosby Picnic Area just before the entrance to the campground. Follow the Cosby Self-guiding Nature Trail past the amphitheater to the beginning of the Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail to Sutton Ridge. It's 1.4 miles to the 200 yard spur trail to the overlook. On a clear day the view is spectacular.

F. THOMAS DIVIDE TRAIL:
Park at the large parking area 3 miles south of Newfound Gap on the Newfound Gap Road. The first 1.8 miles of this trail, to the junction with Kanati Fork Trail, offer good winter views.

 

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