Appalachian Trail - North Carolina

• Trail Stats: 311.8 Trail Miles (including 216.3 on NC/TN border), 14 Shelters (plus 30 shelters on NC/TN border)
• North Carolina is where northbound hikers hit the big mountains for the first time, and these mountains get big in a hurry. The mixed forest and high peaks make for some dramatic views and hard hiking. Though none of the mountains are above tree line at this latitude, many of the peaks are in fact higher than the upper sections of the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the western ranges of Maine.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States due to its proximity to many major eastern cities. Despite this, the rural setting is all encompassing once you’re in the park, with long views and beautiful ridgelines begging to be explored. The park boasts a healthy black bear population, but sadly air pollution and evergreen blight threaten or have already killed large swatches of conifers at higher elevations (particularly noticeable just south of Newfound Gap), reducing the bears’ natural habitat.
• The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is a multisport outdoor destination set in some of the nicest mountains in the south. Many hikers can’t pass up the chance to paddle through the whitewater—rafting, kayaking, and hiking are all abundant in this area, and all can be outfitted at the NOC. The hiking through this section is deceptively challenging, with 6,643-foot Cheoah Bald in particular offering great views.
• Recommended 3- to 4-Day Trip: Starting at Newfound Gap just up the mountain from Gatlinburg (think of Atlantic City in the mountains), this 42-mile hike starts out heading south through the big mountains of the mid Smokies. Less than ten miles in is Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the entire Appalachian Trail. The visitor tower at the summit affords views deep into Tennessee and North Carolina. Pressing on, you’ll pass over Silers Bald, Thunderhead, and eventually Shuckstack, before descending toward Fontana Dam, one of the few impressive manmade sights on the Appalachian Trail. Directions: U.S. 441 (Newfound Gap) near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, south to North Carolina 28 at Fontana Dam, North Carolina.

Guidebook: Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion (Appalachian Trail Conservancy)
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