GSMNP or Savage Gulf?

“So I had a trip planed for this week and someone can't make it. Now it's just me and a newbie. He has very little experience w/ camping so we're just gonna car camp and day hike.

The original plan was for Savage Gulf because it was closer to the person who backed out but with him gone I'm rethinking.

What do you think? If you wanted to do some car camping and day hiking with a newbie, would you choose GSMNP or Savage Gulf?”

“go to GSMNP and stay at Cosby campground. It is on the far side of the park off I-40 like you are going to North Carolina. Price is 14.00 a night.

You can do a nice 13 mile day hike loop.
Take Low Gap to the AT, head north towards Mt Cammerer Tower and visit it (good spot for lunch) then come back to AT and keep going north till you get to Lower Mt Cammerer Trail. It leads you right back to Cosby campground. Here is the map of the campgrounds showing where the trails are
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/campground/cosby.pdf

I did that hike last May and the flowers were great. Pics from that trip http://community.webshots.com/album/342218465ZrlioD
last edited: 4/05/06 9:35:09 AM”

“GSMNP, it's more newbie-friendly.”

“Savage gulf doest really have any car camping. Its mainly just backcountry. I second Ewker's suggestion to go to Cosby. Its beautiful up there and very newbie friendly.”

“I would go to Stone Door, or the Savage side of the South Cumberland Park. Those campsites are less than a few hundred yards from the parking lot. So I would think that it would be alot less noise, and I also think that the Smokies is a very popular place to visit, which should be busy also. I heard lots of frogs and owls, and a coyote last weekend at the Stone Door area, and also a very nice thunder storm.”

“I was there last weekend too waterdog! I was at the Collins East site. GREAT THUNDERSTORM! Almost freaked me out! Here are some photos from my cellphone. Also I would pick Savage Gulf for the solitude and lack of crowds,

http://community.webshots.com/album/549180409zEEfxL”

“does anyone know if they still shut down the cades cove loop to cars on saturday morning?”

“I believe so from 8 to 10 AM. Found this on a website
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park has designated that May through September on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the loop is reserved for hikers and bicyclist from sunup to 10am only. Auto traffic on those days is permitted in Cades Cove after 10am.”

“not till may though huh?...and only 8-10?...if i remember right when i was there in may of last year, it was like 6-12, maybe i'm wrong...i'll be there this weekend...i guess i'll just ask em when i get there”

“Savage Gulf is nice but not designed for car camping. To many trails to do in the Smokies compared to Savage Gulf.
Also up the road from Cosby campgrounds is the Front Porch or is it the Back Porch. A good Mexican restaurant that has bluegrass on Sat nights. It is bring your own beer though
last edited: 4/06/06 9:55:53 AM”

“well if we went to savage we were planning on staying at the stone door site which is like 200 yards for the parking lot so it was car camping like, but we've decided on the smokys...i just called them and they don't start closing it until may but it's not real crowded yet...looks like we might have some interesting weather though”

“shhhh, don't talk about the weather.”