Appalachian Trail - Tennessee

• Trail Stats: 287.4 Trail Miles (including 216.3 on TN/NC border), 8 Shelters (plus 30 shelters on TN/NC border)
• Like North Carolina, the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Tennessee is rugged and rewarding. With many of the highest elevations east of the Mississippi River, the eastern part of the state has picturesque ranges that are as stunning as any in the country. Though none of them are above treeline at this latitude, sweeping evergreen stands give the large ridges an almost alpine feel.
• Not as well known as the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the upper section of AT along the North Carolina–Tennessee border has some of the most awe-inspiring hiking of the entire trail. From Erwin, Tennessee, north to Elk Park, North Carolina, the “Roan Highlands” have numerous 360-degree views atop almost comically narrow balds and summits. Big Bald, Beauty Spot, Max Patch, Hump, Roan, and Unaka mountains are all breathtaking.
• Recommended 5- to 7-Day Trip: This 67-mile route seems a little counterintuitive, hiking out of the Smoky Mountains instead of in, but the idea is to walk away from the crowds without sacrificing the views. Start out at Newfound Gap and, if you get a late start, stay at the Icewater Spring Shelter, as the sunrise from here is more than worth the stop. As you work through the northern Smokies along the North Carolina–Tennessee border, you’ll take in scenic ridge walks over mounts Sequoyah, Chapman, and Guyot—all are over 6,000 feet. Hiking north, you’ll notice the crowds continue to thin out until you exit the Smokies at Davenport Gap. Outside the park, the peaks are shorter but no less enjoyable, and when you reach Max Patch, one of the most beloved vistas on the whole AT, you get a dramatic panorama of the northern Smokies. The hike ends as the AT strolls into Hot Springs, North Carolina, where a well-deserved soak at the Hot Springs Spa is a must. Directions: U.S. 441 (Newfound Gap) near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, north to U.S. 25 and 70, North Carolina 209 at Hot Springs.

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