Publisher Description

Hike, backpack, bring the kids—there's a trail for you.
With its secluded mountain waterways, awe-inspiring views from grassy balds, diverse plant and animal life, and impressive stands of old-growth forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers an overwhelming number of outdoor adventures. Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park describes both the park's classic destinations and lesser-known jewels in 50 must-do hikes. The trails range from an easy family stroll to a 7-mile trek through spruce forest atop a peaceful ridge to a panoramic 22-mile overnighter. Each entry in the book includes clear and concise directions, a detailed route map and elevation profile, "don't get lost" milestones, and expert trail commentary.
Johnny Molloy, who has spent more than 800 nights backpacking in the Smokies, has updated this classic guide. The revised edition includes the new backcountry reservation system implemented in the park, as well as some excellent new hikes. Johnny—who considers the Smokies his home stomping ground—makes sure that all the necessary information to help you execute a hike (from directions to maps) is correct. So this guide helps you leave the roads to explore the heart of the park. Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll to stretch your legs, a full-day adventure, or a rewarding backpacking trip, you'll find it here.

Author Biography

Johnny Molloy is an outdoors writer who averages more than 100 nights in the wild per year, backpacking throughout the U.S. He has written more than 30 outdoors guidebooks and articles for magazines and websites. He lives in Johnson City, TN.

Table of Contents

The Top Trails Series
Overview Map
Trail Features Table
Map Legend
Using Top Trails
Organization of Top Trails
Choosing a Trail
Introduction to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
On the Trail

Chapter 1: Abrams Creek and Cades Cove Area
1. Pine Mountain Loop
2. Abrams Falls via Abrams Creek Ranger Station
3. Cane Creek Hike
4. Abrams Falls via Cades Cove
5. Gregory Bald via Gregory Ridge
6. John Oliver Cabin via Rich Mountain Loop Trail
7. Spence Field and Russell Field Loop
8. Rocky Top via Lead Cove

Chapter 2: Tremont and Elkmont Area
9. Lynn Camp Prong Cascades
10. Buckhorn Gap via Meigs Creek
11. Walker Sisters Place via Little Greenbrier Trail
12. Cucumber Gap Loop
13. Laurel Falls
14. The Chimney Tops
15. Silers Bald via Clingmans Dome

Chapter 3: Mount Le Conte, Greenbrier, and Cosby Area
16. Charlies Bunion
17. Alum Cave Bluffs
18. Rainbow Falls
19. Baskins Falls
20. Brushy Mountain via Grotto Falls
21. Injun Creek from Greenbrier
22. Ramsey Cascades
23. Albright Grove
24. Maddron Bald Loop
25. Mount Cammerer via Low Gap

Chapter 4: Twentymile and Fontana Lake Area
26. Twentymile Loop
27. Gregory Bald Loop
28. Shuckstack from Twentymile Ranger Station
29. Lost Cove Loop
30. Fontana Lake Hike
31. Ruins of Proctor

Chapter 5: Deep, Forney, and Noland Creeks Area
32. Goldmine Loop
33. Indian Creek and Sunkota Ridge Loop
34. Falls Loop of Deep Creek
35. Newton Bald Loop
36. Fork Ridge Loop
37. Forney Creek Loop
38. Andrews Bald

Chapter 6: Smokemont, Cataloochee, and Big Creek Area
39. Smokemont Loop
40. Cabin Flats Loop
41. Kephart Prong Shelter
42. Flat Creek Falls and Vista
43. Hemphill Bald Hike
44. Big Fork Ridge Loop
45. Pretty Hollow Gap Loop
46. Boogerman Loop
47. Little Cataloochee Church
48. Mount Sterling via Mount Sterling Gap
49. Low Gap Loop
50. Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls

Appendix 1: Local Resources
Appendix 2: Useful Sources
Index
About the Author
Series Creator

Long Description

Hike, backpack, bring the kids--there's a trail for you. With its secluded mountain waterways, awe-inspiring views from grassy balds, diverse plant and animal life, and impressive stands of old-growth forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers an overwhelming number of outdoor adventures. Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park describes both the park's classic destinations and lesser-known jewels in 50 must-do hikes. The trails range from an easy family stroll to a 7-mile trek through spruce forest atop a peaceful ridge to a panoramic 22-mile overnighter. Each entry in the book includes clear and concise directions, a detailed route map and elevation profile, "don't get lost" milestones, and expert trail commentary. Johnny Molloy, who has spent more than 800 nights backpacking in the Smokies, has updated this classic guide. The revised edition includes the new backcountry reservation system implemented in the park, as well as some excellent new hikes. Johnny--who considers the Smokies his home stomping ground--makes sure that all the necessary information to help you execute a hike (from directions to maps) is correct. So this guide helps you leave the roads to explore the heart of the park. Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll to stretch your legs, a full-day adventure, or a rewarding backpacking trip, you'll find it here.

Excerpt from Book

Chapter 1: Abrams Creek and Cades Cove Area Trail 1: Pine Mountain Loop Trail Use: Day Hiking, Backpacking, Horses Length: 8.1 miles, 4-5

Details