| The Smoky Mountains are home a multitude of | | | | you want to have a more personal experience, |
| different hiking trails that cover hundreds of miles | | | | you're better off to visit in the off season or at a |
| over the span of the mountain range and Smoky | | | | different time of day. |
| Mountain National Park. There is one trail that only | | | | The Chimney Top hiking trail in the Smoky |
| covers two small miles of the mountains, but is | | | | Mountains is very steep, rising 1,300 feet in total |
| one of the most intense climbs that a person will | | | | altitude in its two short miles. The highest point of |
| experience in the Smokies. | | | | the trail is almost 5,000 feet above sea level. The |
| The Chimney Tops hiking trail in the Smokies | | | | trail begins with a few bridges and some simple |
| requires a lot of stamina and caution for climbers | | | | land to traverse through, leading to Beech Flats |
| who dare to traverse it. The views on this trail | | | | Cove. This is estimated to be the halfway point |
| are unmatched, but it is not for those who are | | | | of the trail, and leads hikers to two different trails. |
| not familiar with hiking on a higher skill level. With | | | | If you are seeking the Chimney Tops, you should |
| many people feeling that the hike is well worth | | | | stay on the main trail which takes you into a |
| the invested effort and moderate amount of risk, | | | | creek valley. It is here that many injuries can |
| it has become one of the most popular trails in | | | | occur, because there are old tree roots |
| the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. | | | | everywhere that are known for tripping the |
| You will first need a park and trail map to find the | | | | unsuspecting hiker on their journey. |
| Chimney Tops hiking trail in the Smokies, as well | | | | After you get past this, there will be a few more |
| as a sense of direction about how to get into the | | | | troublesome areas, but the trail is no longer |
| park properly. From Gatlinburg, you take the | | | | graded like it was in the beginning. You will be |
| Newfound Gap Road into the park. This road is | | | | approaching the chimney tops, and should be able |
| popular, as it is the only road that travels through | | | | to see them within a few minutes of passing |
| the entire Smoky Mountain National Park and links | | | | through the old forest growth. Once you get |
| Gatlinburg with Cherokee, North Carolina. About 6 | | | | towards the end of the trail, it will become much |
| miles down the road, or 22 miles from the | | | | narrower and much steeper, which can create a |
| Cherokee direction, you'll find a parking lot, which | | | | challenging upward hike for those who aren't |
| is at the trailhead of the Chimney Tops. Once you | | | | prepared. In spite of the mild danger, this is a |
| arrive, you can assess the situation for yourself, | | | | popular climb for many hikers, and can be done as |
| as it is generally a crowded trail to climb. If you | | | | a day-trip or a backpacking adventure, as long as |
| see a lot of cars or buses in the parking lot, you | | | | you come prepared. |
| should expect the trail to be crowded. Thus, if | | | | |
