Hiking Ideas for your Great Smoky Vacation
Hiking is one of the best activities to plan during your Great Smoky Vacation! Once you have selected your cabin, you can begin to plan activities that will be memorable and unique to the Great Smoky Mountains.
There are many hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When visiting the GSMNP website you will see that you can find information on all of the hikes and we sure recommend spending some time in their website and learn about all the activities that are free to do in the Smoky Mountains. You will need a Park It Forward parking pass which you can get at the Sugarlands Visitor’s Center or online at the GSMNP website.
Allow us to recommend some favorite hikes for your planning. All of our Smoky Mountain Cabins have full beautiful kitchens, we highly recommend packing some get energy foods and water and out you go to the Great Smokies.
Our Favorite Hikes:
Charlies Bunion: Charlies Bunion trailhead can be found on Newfound Gap road about 13.2 miles from the Sugarlands Welcome Center at the base of the entry to the park in Gatlinburg. See the Trailhead to the left. This is a 4 mile hike one way. Plan for elevation and rugged terrain.
Alum Cave Bluffs: Alum Cave Bluffs is accessible from Newfound Gap road about 8.6 miles from the Sugarlands Welcome Center in Gatlinburg at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains park entrance. This is a pretty 2.5 mile one way moderate hike.
Andrews Bald: Find Forney Ridge Trail at Clingmans Dome. The trail begins from the Clingmans Dome parking lot and drops elevation to get to Andrews Bald. After a large descent, it levels on a broad ridge, soon diverting to the right at mile 1.1. A final ascension through a forest will bring you to the grassy Andrews Bald, named for the cattle herder, Andres Thompson, who brought livestock up here in the 1840s
Rainbow Falls: Stoplight #8 in Gatlinburg, known as Airport Road and Historic Nature Trail Road leads into the National Park as you go on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Just as the road begins one way to the right you will see the Rainbow Falls trailhead. This is a popular 2.7 mile hike to the falls one way.
Chimney Tops For advanced hikers. Strenuous terrain. 6.7 miles from Sugarlands Welcome Center. You will discover a 3.5 mile round trip steep and strenuous hike full of intrigue and beauty.
These are just a few of the many hikes in our area. Whether you choose to stay closer to Pigeon Forge or the Wears Valley area there are an endless list of wonderful discoveries in the National Park. Be sure that you are smart and prepared. Weather will change as elevation changes. Bring first aid, water and energy food. Have a great time in the Smokies.