Smokey Mountains Hiking July 2008
A couple of hikes in the Smokey Mountains. We did this as a three day weekend which worked well, but it was tiring doing hikes back to back. We left Raleigh on Thursday after work and stayed the night in Asheville in a Hamption right off the interstate. This worked great as on Firday morning it was a short drive to the New Found Gap and the start of the Charlie's Bunion hike. After the hike we drove to Pigeon Forge to eat and stay the night. Saturday it was a drive back toward the New found Gap and a stop for a hike on the Chimney Tops Trail. Maybe it was not a good idea to hike back to back days as it was very tiring. After the hike we went back to Asheville to stay the night, and Sunday was a drive back to Raleigh.
Charlie's Bunion Hike
8.2 round trip
1,200' elevation gain
This hike is part of the Appalachian Trail and starts from the Newfound Gap parking lot on 441. It is a great hike through the woods and view from the outcrop at the end is exceptional, but there are not a lot of good views along the way given the heavy forest and tree cover.
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Chimney Tops Hike
4.0 mile round trip
1,400' elevation gain
One person's "The scramble is not particularly dangerous but many be difficult for small children" is anothers "no way I'm walking up that". The trail head is on 441 just north of the New Found Gap.
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