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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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The Backcountry
Of the 3,244 kilometers (2,015 miles) the
Appalachian Trail
spans between Maine and Georgia, perhaps no sustained portion is as virtually untouched by humanity as the 110 kilometers (70 miles) threading the crest of the Smokies. Park your car in the Newfound Gap Parking Area and walk the AT north or south for a pleasant walk or day-long hike along the Smokies crest. A popular destination to the north is Charlies Bunion. There, because of unrecovered fire openings on extremely steep mountain slopes, you achieve a real alpine sense and literal"peak" experience. You can also park below Clingmans Dome, a short spur drive south of Newfound Gap, to experience the AT.
About every 10-16 kilometers (8 to 10 miles) there are overnight shelters providing primitive bunks. These three-sided shelters are closed in on the fourth side with chainlink fence as bear-proofing. To stay in these shelters requires a backcountry use permit/reservation. Stays are limited to one night at a given shelter.
If you are hiking the Appalachian Trail from outside the park you can stop at the Twentymile Ranger Station (on the south) or the Big Creek Ranger Station (on the north) to get your permit and reserve shelter space. You can also write ahead for a permit and reservation up to 30 days in advance. Through-hikers (those hiking the entire AT between Maine and Georgia) can obtain a"through permit" in advance of their trip. Write to Backcountry Permits at the park address.
Because it follows the Smokies crest, the AT acts as backbone to a network of trails within the park. With such spur trails, many with their own pleasant waterfall, creek, or other natural feature as an attraction, you have access to the AT from numerous trailheads. Such AT sections are much less crowded than those near Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome, while offering the same sensation of walking the crest of eastern America.
For information about the complete Appalachian Trail write The Appalachian Trail Conference, P.O. Box 236, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425.
The Backcountry
Backcountry Basics
Once you leave a parking area or campground in the Smokies, you are in the wilderness. The National Park Service advises against solo camping or hiking in the backcountry. Even experienced hikers can get into trouble and, if alone, may not be able to obtain help.
Stream crossings can be dangerous if the streams are swollen after a rainstorm. Don't attempt to ford a swollen stream. Return to the trailhead and plan another trip. It's worth the extra effort and precaution.
Sudden weather changes are characteristic of the Great Smokies. Be prepared to get wet and either hotter or colder. Rain, wind, and cold can become a deadly combination before you recognize your own symptoms of hypothermia. Rainstorms are typical of warmer weather, so always carry rain gear in late spring and summer.
Stay on park trails. If you become lost, do not leave the trail. Particularly, do not follow a stream because dense undergrowth will rapidly tire you. Most trails intersect others within a few kilometers and signs at the junctions can put you back on course. If you find yourself lost late in the day, find a protected spot and spend the night. After-dark travel is dangerous. Try to stay warm and dry.
Do not climb on cliff faces and waterfalls. The fine spray mist off waterfalls makes surrounding rocks treacherous footing and increases safety hazards.
If you intend to try winter camping, write to the superintendent for information about the equipment you should have, a backcountry permit, and conditions you may encounter. At higher elevations winter conditions can differ radically from the popular image of winter in the mid-South.
Backcountry Use Permits
All overnight hiking in the park requires a backcountry use permit available free at visitor centers and at the Cades Cove campground kiosk. The permit system has as its purpose to protect the unspoiled character of the Smokies backcountry for the enjoyment of present and future users. Permits distribute use so that impact is not disproportionate in popular areas, and thus they provide backcountry users with an opportunity for increased solitude. You do not need a backcountry use permit for day hiking. You can reserve a specific backcountry campsite for one to three specific nights up to 30 days in advance under the permit system. You can do this in person, by telephone, or by mail. The permit itself must be picked up in person no earlier than 24 hours before the beginning of the trip. Note: Reservations for the entire trip are automatically canceled if your permit is not picked up by 12:00 noon on the first day of the scheduled trip. Permits are limited to groups of eight or fewer persons. Write or call the Backcountry Office between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Competition increases for use of trail shelters along popular trails during peak season. But you can pick and choose from among many uncrowded trails that offer trailside campsites. All water obtained in the backcountry should be boiled or chemically treated.
Go to:
General Information
Cades Cove
Cosby/Greenbrier
Cataloochee/Smokemont Area
Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication
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