5 or 6 day loop in the Smokies

“I'm looking for a good 5 or 6 day loop hike in the Smokies? Good mileage, and elevation gain appreciated! :-)”

“Leave out of TreMont, go up to Spence, cut across the AT past Double Springs, back down and across to TreMont for the loop. You should be able to do that in 5 days.”

“http://www.cs.utk.edu/~dunigan/gsmnp/mrsid.php

Map it from this.”

“West Prong to Bote to AT, NB to Goshen Prong to Little River to Cucumber Gap to Meigs Mtn to Lumber Ridge...walk out where you left your vehicle.

I haven't calculated it, but it looks like a 40 miler.

I was on the AT a couple weeks ago and the springs were running slow. We had rain since then so maybe there is more water now. You will find it, but everything is slow flowing right now.”

“I enjoy locating my own loops in the Smokies and would not want to take that fun away from you.

BTW, "Smokies" includes a lot more than "GSMNP."”

“Start out at the end of the Road to Nowhere and follow the north shore up to Hazel Creek, turn north and catch the AT back to Newfound Gap.

I wanted to do that a few years back but never got to.”

“Roam Around - That sure sounds like an "Open Loop," somewhat like a horseshoe! LOL.”

“well, i just didn't put the part about the Forney Creek trail back down from NF Gap. my bad.”

“I know, but it is fun to pull your leg.

Noland Creek might make a good exit, too.
last edited: 6/20/07 10:02:32 AM”

“Chili and Roam,

Thanks, for the info. I'll check them out on my maps at home.

nowslimmer,

Come on you can share. I won't tell anyone! lol

Any others?”

“Sorry, you'll have to wait for my book.

Besides, only you know what you can do. The Park's Trail Map includes elevations of each site and the distances between each trail junction. All you have to do pick a route. What could be easier? Jeez!”

“Hey nowslimmer.... leggomyleg! LOL

HiknMachine - get the little brown book (Hiking Trails of GSMNP (may not be the exact title))too - not only good info on the hike itself, but also a bit of history. They sell it at the Smokemont visitor center, online and prolly other places too.”

“I agree.. part of the fun is to research your trip, and know WHY you have chosen your particular route.

If you want to throw out your possibility, one of us has hiked it.. and would gladly chime in on what to expect.”

“Start Big Creek, AT to Pecks down toward Smokemont, to Round Bottom, up to Laurel Gap to Sterling and back to Big Creek.”

“Good Mileage and elevation?
Ok, try this one.

1. Start at the tunnel on lakeview and hike the lakeshore trail to CS 90.

2. Up Eagle creek to the AT and back downbote mtn to CS 18.

3. down to Treemont up middle prong to panther creek to jakes creek to cucumber gap to little river to CS 24

4. up rough creek to sugarland mtn to the AT over to Pecks corner.

5. AT to Balasm Mtn to Beech Gap to Hyatt Ridge to Enloe Creek to chasteen creek to bradley fork to CS 50

6. Newton Bald to Sunkota Ridge to martins gap to Deep Creek to Pole Rd Creek and down Noland Creek to lakeshore road an a small road walk back to your car.


Done laughing?

But seriously, get a map and string together a loop and just hike it. I don't think you can go wrong.
last edited: 6/20/07 1:15:27 PM”

“Roam Around,
We did that trip/loop in reverse about 4 years ago.

This was my itinerary

DAY ONE: Park at “Road-to-Nowhere” tunnel. Hike 4 miles to #71.

DAY TWO: #71 to Silers Bald Shelter. 8 long, hard, butt kicking, uphill miles.

DAY THREE: Silers Bald to Spencer Field Shelter. 12.5 up and down hill, moderate trail with a few hard spikes. Good day to work out all the sore muscles from the climb to Silers Bald the day before.

DAY FOUR: Spence Field to #85. 10.5 miles via Jenkins Trail Ridge. #85 is a horse camping site. May want to consider #84.

DAY FIVE: #85 to #76. 13 miles running the contour of the lake.

DAY SIX: #76 to #74 or out. about 13 out.

61.6 miles total

You could cut it short by not going all the way to the AT and dropping off Welchs Ridge down the Hazel Creek Trail.
last edited: 6/20/07 1:45:10 PM”

“Here are two loops I was thinking about.

1) Start at Big Creek, Big Creek Trail, Gunter Fork, Balsalm Mtn, AT, Chestnut Branch back to Big Creek.

2) Start at Big Creek, Baxter Creek Trail, Mount Sterling, Balsalm Mtn, Gunter Fork, Big Creek Trail back to Big Creek.”

“Both are good choices.

1) I've heard that Gunter fork has some stream crossings that are pretty hairy if you get rain. Do the Mt. Cammerer Fire tower side trail.

2) I'd rather go down Baxter Creek trail than up it.
last edited: 6/20/07 2:17:57 PM”

“2) I'd rather go down Baxter Creek trail than up it.
last edited: 6/20/07 1:17:57 PM”
humanpackmule
1:17:09 PM
6/20/07

lol,, seems like half the time i planned a route in the Smokies I wound up thinking to myself "gawd-dang! i did this the wrong way!"”

“Thanks, for all of your help. Looking forward to a hike there sometime this Fall.

Salem”

“Me too Roam.
When I was hiking the AT down to Fontana Dam I was thinking how happy I was that I wasn't going the other way. lol”

“Last year I met two chicks who left Fontana and hiked to Spence. Left Spence and hiked to Icewater springs.

I was left with the overwhelming feeling they were both built for endurance.”

“something like that I'm sure
lol”