Hiking In The Smokies-Top Five Trails

What can you expect to find in the Great SmokyYou also should complete a first-aid course and
Mountains National Park? Let's start with a fewCPR training as this would be useful - just in case.
examples of what to see when you are hikingAlways wear suitable clothing; ankle-high hiking
along some of the trails in the Smokies.boots and use a walking stick or umbrella to help
A good place to start is the Appalachian Trail,you along the trail. Take light snacks and plenty of
twenty-one miles southeast of Gatlinburg,water but do remember to eat proper meals.
Tennessee, where you can hike for as long or asHiking in the Smokies would be incomplete if you
little as you want. Why not escape - from all thatdid not at least attempt another strenuous trail -
hustle and bustle? Whether alone or with anotherthe eight mile round trip Ramsay Cascades Trail,
avid hiker - this trail can be a great way to seepassing through a deciduous forest, leading to the
the Smokies. If you hike south toward Fontanaone hundred-foot waterfall, the park's highest at
Dam you will cross Clingman's Dome, the highestan elevation of 2,375 feet. The trail starts out
point in the Smokies, with an elevation of 6,643with a slight upgrade in the beginning, and then
feet. Northbound in the direction of Big Creek youbecomes more challenging as you near the
will see Mount Le Conte, and why not visit Hencascades and can take a little over four hours to
Wallow Falls, Albright Grove, or Laurel Falls whilecomplete.
you're there? Among the wildlife you frequentlyShorter Hikes In The Smokies
encounter are the American Black Bear and theLong, arduous and physically challenging hikes
White-Tailed Deer.certainly have their rewards but perhaps you're
Newfound Gap at the intersection of the AT andlooking for something a little easier. The
the Oconaluftee River, with an elevation of 5,046three-thousand-foot loop, level paved Sugarlands
feet, is one the highest peaks in the park foundedValley Nature Trail was built in 1993 to assist the
in 1934, and it is where you can trulydisabled, older visitors and children in strollers.
acknowledge the beauty of this region withFrom this trail you can see the Chimney Tops
almost nine hundred miles of hiking trails. The ATPinnacles or visit the Alum Cave Bluffs, or even
is the longest of the trails in the Smokies andElkmont, which began as a rough and tumble
bisects the centre of the park along thelogging town and gradually evolved into a haven
Tennessee - North Carolina state line for aboutfor the socially prominent and wealthy.
seventy miles. This trail is strenuous and canAnother easy hike is the Abrams Falls Trail, which
present a number of challenges. You need to beis a five mile round trip, relatively flat with an
well prepared before you set out for your hike.elevation of only 340 feet, leading to the
There are a few things to consider, though, if youtwenty-foot high falls which spill into a scenic pool.
want to reap the benefits of hiking through thisFrom this trail you can also visit Cades Cove.
region.It can be enjoyable to hike the Indian Creek Falls
First, determine what your limitations are. AlwaysTrail with an elevation of only a hundred feet. A
check local maps and select a trail appropriate totwo-mile round trip, flat trail where you can see a
your age and ability. Don't forget to check oncouple of beautiful waterfalls in the Deep Creek
expected climate conditions. You must look afterarea. Besides the falls at Indian Creek, you will
your health by bringing sunscreen, insect repellent,also see Tom Branch Falls, both twenty-five feet
and tick protection; stretch your leg muscleshigh, which cascade sixty feet over ledges into a
regularly, carry a first-aid kit and begin withwide pool. These are only a few of the
relatively flat terrain with altitudes no higher thanremarkable hiking trails in the Smokies but there
five thousand feet.are many more to choose from.