Newfound Gap Road

“Anyone heard the status on Newfound Gap Road in the Smokies. It was suppose to be open this Saturday and that is the day I am suppose to be heading up Alum Cave Trail to Mt. Leconte”

“You are going to have to call the park on that one to be sure.

They did have a road closure schedule online but all the nps sites are still down.”

“LeConte Approach Trails

As you know, there are five approach trails to LeConte. If you get up there, and the Sugarlands Visitor Center tells you that you can't drive up the Newfound Gap road, then pick one of the other four approaches.

:)”

“Yea I have been up Rainbow a couple of times, but Alum Cave has always eluded me. Every time I go to go up that trail something is wrong with the road.”

“well, maybe this will be your lucky day.. err hike. :)”

“We're going up from Elkmont area in two weeks and it is my understanding that the road is still closed, Call the rangers. Its a long walk if you can't cheat and drive up part of that big ole mtn.”

“When the road is closed it is closed to ALL traffic. Even hikers will be ticketed.

Be sure before you go.”

“So have you called GSMNP yet?

They can tell ya if the road is open.. I know when Trey and I did the AT - Smoky East (Newfound Gap to Cosby), I was calling even that morning to make sure I would be able to drive up to the gap. (We did that one in 18" of snow.)”

“TD, Harrah's Casino in Cherokee is now paying to have 441 plowed when it snows. Snow days were cutting into the gambling profits too much so they offered to pay for snow removal.”

“heh.. awesome.. :).. finally.. SOME good use for casino profits..”

“This site might give you some info on the roads

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/inside_the_park/”

“I her'dat TownDawg!!!”

“Good coming from Casino profits?

How about every single kid who is a member of the Cherokee Nation has 4 years of college completely paid for.”

“Hey man, didja find anything out about the road?”

“Where is Imahikerdotcom?..”

“He was supposed to go up Leconte this weekend.

I've seen a few posts here and there.

C'mon dude! Don't be bashful!”

“IMA?... where ya hiding.. ?? :)”

“hes got the runs!”

“I'm here......Can't wait anyone heard if the road is open I'm gonna call tomorrow if no one has heard”

“No idea here.
You'd better call them.
Don't want to funk up your hike.”

“Yea, I'm going either way just up a different trail depending on the answer. I've been up Rainbow Falls and the Bullhead. Has anyone ever been up Trillium Gap?”

“Whether or not the road is open is subject to change daily, and even hourly.. the responsibility to call is your own.

:)

That's why we pointed you to all the links and phone numbers. Don't cancel your hike if the road is closed. Just create a contingency plan.

:0”

“No sure haven't but that'll change eventually.”

“Let's see if we can run all five approach trails to LeConte in a day or two, HPM.”

“The Boulavard seems like it would be the hardest approach”

“say what?.. the boulevard is FLAT.”

“Alum Cave Trail
Start at the Alum Cave parking area on Newfound Gap Road, 8.5 miles south ofPark Headquarters and Visitor's Center. Distance to LeConte Lodge: 5.5 miles. Net climb: 2,560 feet. Although strenuous on the ascent, it is the easiest return from the summit. At the lower portion see Alum Cave Creek, Arch Rock, Alum Cave Bluff (an excellent overlook) at 2.3 miles and national park service interpretive signs. At the upper portion, below CliffTop, is a narrow cleft across a steep open slope with cables installed for handholds. In winter, this part of the trail may be choked with ice hummocks covering the cables, so use extra caution. Note the large red spruce and tulip trees along the way and flowering rhododendron in late June.

The Boulevard Trail
Start at the Newfound Gap parking lot. You will follow the Appalachian Trail for 2.7 miles to the junction where the Boulevard Trail branches left (North). Total distance to LeConte Lodge: 7.8 miles. Net Climb: 1080 feet. The Boulevard Trail is a rolling trail following a narrow ridge with steep forested slopes on both sides; the trail is steep at the final scent to LeConte Lodge. You may occasionally encounter ice and snow in early spring and late fall on this trail. An interesting side trail just past the junction with the Appalachian Trail leads right 0.4 miles to the top of cliffs at the Jumpoff, with striking views of Charlie's Bunion and upper Greenbrier Cove. Myrtle Point and CliffTop offer other excellent views. Note red spruce and balsam firs along the way.

Bullhead Trail
Start on the Rainbow Falls - Bullhead parking lot at 3.4 miles on Cherokee Orchard Road (a one-way road). Distance to LeConte Lodge: 7.1 miles. Net climb: 3820 feet. Rainbow Falls Trail, which originates at the same parking lot, rejoins Bullhead at mile 6.4. Fine lookoffs at the Bullhead and a health bald. Caution: No water along the trail, so carry a canteen. Note red spruce and balsam firs along the way and the Bullhead Heath for spring blooms. The Bullhead Trail offers magnificent autumn scenery.

Rainbow Falls Trail
Start on the Rainbow Falls - Bullhead parking lot at 3.4 miles on Cherokee Orchard Road (a one-way road). Distance to LeConte Lodge: 6.7 miles. Net climb: 3,820 feet. Bullhead Trail, which originates at the same parking lot, rejoins Rainbow Falls Trail at mile 5.8. Note Rainbow Falls at mile 2.4. LeConte Creek forcibly erupts over the rocks and can freeze solid in the winter. See impressive overlooks at 5.0 miles. In late June, Rocky Spur is a good place to see flowering rhododendron.

Trillium Gap Trail
Start at the Grotto Falls parking lot at mile 1.7 on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (a one-way road, closed in winter). Distance to LeConte Lodge: 6.5 miles. Net climb: 3,300 feet. See Grotto Falls at mile 1.5. Note Roaring Fork Creek, one of the steepest streams in the park. Also note red spruce and at higher elevations, fraser fir. As you walk the trail between Grotto Falls and Trillium Gap, listen for underground streams roaring through the rocks.”

“Net Climb: 1080 feet.

(and most of that is on the AT coming up from Newfound Gap.)”

“I don't have my map handy but isn't the Boulavard a lot more milage”

“It is the longest mileage yes.. about 2 more miles.. but the key is that it is a flat approach.. you do all your elevation climbs by car.. driving up to Newfound Gap.

heh.. I always called it the LAZY way to LeConte.”

“You go in at Newfound Gap (Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will temporarily close again to through traffic beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3. The closure is for construction to proceed on the rehabilitation tunnel project on the Tennessee side of the park. The closure will remain in effect until Jan. 18. Although through traffic between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, N.C., will have to take alternate routes, motorists still will be able to travel Newfound Gap Road (weather permitting) from the park's Cherokee entrance to Newfound Gap, providing access to many of the park's popular overlooks and trailheads along the 15-mile section in North Carolina.), walk to IceWater Spring shelter (one of the Smokies 'party' shelters) .. then right before you get to Charlie's Bunion (one of my FAVORITE places in GSMNP), you turn left, and dash about five miles along a reasonably flat ridge.”

“Never been on it personally I did here that when you calculate the entire elavation gain for the trail counting after you descend it is more than the others because it goes up and down so much. But I defiently could be wrong. I got my little brown book at home I'll look it up later”

“Are you reading all this information I am giving you? Or am I posting you all this for nothing?
”

“Like I said I'm probably wrong I'm just saying what I heard. I believe you, I'm listening, I'm reading you loud and clear.”

“Alum Cave Trail -- Distance to LeConte Lodge: 5.5 miles. Net climb: 2,560 feet.

The Boulevard Trail -- Total distance to LeConte Lodge: 7.8 miles. Net Climb: 1080 feet.

Bullhead Trail -- Distance to LeConte Lodge: 7.1 miles. Net climb: 3820 feet.

Rainbow Falls Trail -- Distance to LeConte Lodge: 6.7 miles. Net climb: 3820 feet.

Trillium Gap Trail -- Distance to LeConte Lodge: 6.5 miles. Net climb: 3,300 feet.”

“The Boulevard kicked my butt last March but I was once again hiking while sick. Seems to have been my M.O. for 2001. HPM sucking wind on the trail.

It was beautiful though, great views. Definately give it a go sometime.”

“Packing or dayhiking?

Either way I'm game. Let's do it Dawg.”

“HPM: "beautiful though, great views"?

oh I agree.. I luv walking the ridges.. The only place that compares to me was that 6000' stretch along Mt Chapman.”

“HPM: Sometime when we can go, let's try to plan some sort of BP where we ultralight all five trails. Can we do all five in two days?”

“I Like the strech between Cosby Knob and Tricorner knob. Right where it opens up around deer lick creek gap. You know, the helipad area.

My other fav is Silers Bald to Clingman's Dome going north.

Clingman's to Newfound I don't care if I never do it again.”

“
HPM: And let's see if we can pick a day -- when we DON'T have to 'snowski' and 'icewalk'.”

“"the stretch between Cosby Knob and Tricorner Knob."

>>> That's the part I mentioned, dude.. "that 6000' stretch along Mt Chapman."

"Clingman's to Newfound I don't care if I never do it again."

>>> hehe.. that's a PIG WALLOW.”

“If we go light we could but overnighting wouldn't be feasable. The only place to camp would be the shelter. Plus we would have to arrange shuttles and that takes a while in the Smokies.

I'm thinking it would have to be a series of extended dayhikes.

It's doable and heck even if we can't it would still be a kick in the pants to try.”

“Chapman? I thought that was Guyot?”

“Naw... two cars.. and we could pull it off.”

“I can check my map, but the part I am talking about is Chapman. I remember Guyot also, but as I recall, those views sucked.”

“The section between Cligmans and Newfound Gap is probably the worst stretch of trail I have ever done!”

“Save Alum Cave trail for last. We park a car down at the Airport Road, and shuttle a car between Newfound Gap and Roaring Motor Fork. If it was warm enough, we could do a nonstop walk.

hehe..”

“Waitaminute.
Chapman is right before Tricorner, Guyot is after.

Yeah ya do have to get around Guyot before you get the views.

I gots a trailmap on my wall here at work.”