Hiking Tennessee

“I'll be heading to Atlanta, Georgia the last week of September for business and will have 3-4 days available for backpacking somewhere nearby. I'd like to head up to Southeastern Tennessee - either long day hikes or a backcountry trip of 35-40 miles. Any suggestions? I've never been to Tennessee so have to begin my research.

Thanks,
robertr”

“The most popular in that part of TN would be South Cumberland Recreation Area near Mont Eagle. SCRA includes Stone Door, Savage Gulf and Fiery Gizzard. All good places to do a one nighter or long day hike.”

“You could drive about 3 hrs north to the Smokies. My first suggestions is actually in NC for the most part. The section along the AT straddles the state line. Go to Fontana dam and then tie into Eagle Creek Trail until you hit the AT and then loop back. I do recommend the side trip to campsite 13 at Gregory Bald. A park map is downloadable from the nps website. I'll try to find a link.


http://www.nps.gov/applications/parks/grsm/ppMaps/GRSM_Trail%20Map%202005.pdf
last edited: 5/23/06 6:45:08 AM”

“Another suggestion is to do the area that matt mentioned and also raft the Ocoee near Cleveland, TN. The upper section is where the kayaking for the 96 Olympics was held.”

“The Cherokee NF along the TN/NC border south of GSMNP has plenty to offer.

If it were me, and I wanted to avoid crowds and see a nice area, I think I would go to Joyce Kilmer.”

“i've done a couple 4 day, 3 night trips starting at clingman's dome in GSMNP going down one side to fontana lake and then back up the other side...depending on which trails you take once you get down south, it's right about the mileage you're looking for

this route takes you through various areas...you see the higher level pines and balds...then you go through the lower wetter levels too
last edited: 5/23/06 10:36:29 AM”

“i just looked up my route for that trip...i started at clingman's dome and took the forney creek trail south and stayed at CS 68 or 69...continued to the lake on day 2 and stayed at either CS 66, 67, or 74...day 3 either head north on noland creek trail and stay at CS 62,63, or 64, or backtrack a little and take forney ridge trail back to clingmans but there are no camp sites on this trail and it can make for a tough last day

http://www.nps.gov/applications/parks/grsm/ppMaps/GRSM_Trail%20Map%202005.pdf”

“Cohutta Wilderness (GA).

It's the Crown Jewel of the Southern Appalacians, IMO. It's the largest NFS wilderness E o' the Mississippi. Combined with the 7000 acre Big Frog Wilderness of TN, the wilderni offer 30,000 acres of crisscrossing trails, fabulous views, and beautiful rivers.

The Conasauga River rises exclusively within the boundry, and is considered one of the most pristene in America. The Jacks River features spectacular falls that, in spite of their popularity with dayhikers, are singlehandly worth the "price of admission". Fishing in the Cohutta is unsurpassed anywhere in these parts. The Jacks and Conausaga trails cross their respective rivers about 40 times each.

Big Frog and Cohutta mountains rise well above 4000 feet. The trails that traverse them offer great views in all directions.

Trail ratings rate from easy (ie, Beech Bottom) to very strenuous (ie, Tearbritches and Panther Creek Falls).

The southern trailheads are easily reached from north ATL - 1-1/2 hours.

Passing this destination enroute to Tennessee or North Carolina would be folly. Sheer folly, I tell ya...
(:”

“Ther. I gess my daddy done got to menny beers in his belly! BOL!”

“Screw the Smokies! Big South Fork is tha Bomb! Go there!”

“I agree with gojo, thats the best advice for someone coming in from Alanta. Lots of area, and not to many folks to contend with.”

“piedmont park is nice...if your not straight

it's about 3.5 hours to the smokies by way of cherokee from ATL, and about 2 hours to blood mtn
2.5-3 hours to anything east of chattanooga along the border of GA/TN”

“Thanks for the travel time estimates OPIE. I'm coming through ATL by way of the aquarium and onto Cherokee in just a couple of weeks.”

“Well I gess I am the etspert about That Lanta and the nother plases aroun heer like Ten'n See and Abalama and Flowerda and wher never els.

My daddy sayed the trooth. I ben to The Hutta verry menny times - prolly seffrel. I ben to Shiney Roks and Joys Kild Her and Lots Cobe and The Kalla and Cumby Eyland The Hotey Trale and Cabbage Gulf and Bleedy Mowtin and Cheehova Bald and Kode Mowtin and Cumby Gaps and Munk Bell and prolly nother plases that I will prolly member layter.

But I will promiss that The Hutta is the BETS PLASE THER NEVER WAS! The ribbers are verry good to stay kewd off but the watter is only about *this* deep so you will still have a stinky butt when you make a tent and eet suppers and make a fire.
(o:3”