More explorations of Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
In my last two posts, I shared my explorations of Cataloochee and the Northeastern part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is really hard to come up with good ways to divide up my visit. These next places I will cover are between Gatlinburg and Cades Cove, so about the middle of the park. Close enough.
After the super rainy afternoon and evening the night before, I was glad to get going in the morning without rain. It was super muggy, but thankfully the rain held off until the afternoon. My first stops were a couple waterfalls right on the Little River Gorge Road, a main road in the park.
I headed that way after I watched the sunrise near Sugarlands. I actually went to that overlook for cell service, but I was pleasantly surprised by the pretty a few minutes later.
The Sinks, created by diverting the river for a lumber railroad that used to run where the modern road is today.
A distant view of Meigs Falls.
After Meigs Falls, I headed down Upper Tremont Road. I tried to hike to Spruce Flats Falls but the trail was rerouted and all confusing, so I gave up and drove down the road instead.
The Middle Prong of the Little River.
Spruce Flat Falls through the trees. I did get to see it at least.
A very picturesque river.
A very rapidity river.
A very pretty view of the Middle Prong at the start of the Middle Prong Trail.
It’s a very pretty area.
A tiny little waterfall.
It’s only a short hike to the Lynn Camp Prong Cascades.
Looking downstream at some more cascades.
Looking upriver at this pretty sight.
This trail has a ton of rapids and little waterfalls along it.
I was very easily distracted on this trail.
Just perfect.
So much perfect.
I turned around shortly after that last shot. I would have kept going if I had packed at lunch. The Middle Prong Trail is easily my favorite trail in the Smokies. The clouds had lifted a bit, so I gave the drive to Clingman’s Dome a try.
Along US 441, which divides the park, I stopped at a few overlooks. The Carlos Campbell Overlook has a great view of Mt. Leconte.
The Chimney Tops Overlook has another pretty view. The dead trees are from a large wildfire in 2016.
Just wonderful.
A fantastic view from the Ben Morton Overlook.
I did stop at Newfound Gap, one of the most visited overlooks in the park, but there wasn’t much visibility. I headed to Clingmans Dome knowing it would be fogged in.
The super 60s viewing platform on Clingmans Dome.
It was like being in a cloud. I hadn’t had that feeling since I left the Grand Canyon.
Super foggy and awesome.
Another overlook on the way back to Sugarlands.
It had started to rain a bit on my way down Clingmans Dome, so I decided to to an easy hike at Sugarlands to end the day. Two trails leave from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. I started with the Fighting Creek Nature Trail and then took the Gatlinburg Trail to Cascades Falls.
The Fighting Creek Nature Trail isn’t the most exciting except for labeled vegetation which is nice. It did have this cool cabin that once belonged to John Ownby, though.
A little detour on the Gatlinburg Trail takes you to Cascades Falls.
The next day I decided to finish up the area with a visit to the Walker Sisters’ Cabin. The Metcalf Bottoms Trail starts at the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area (which has some perfect sinks for hair washing in the far right bathroom). You can take a shortcut and drive to the Little Greenbrier School, cutting the hike in half.
The Little Greenbrier School, built in 1882, served the community for more than 50 years and later became an education center in the national park.
There’s a small cemetery right next to the school. Only slightly creepy.
The old road to the Walker Sisters farm, now the Little Brier Gap Trail.
The Walker Sisters homestead. The five Walker Sisters inherited the home from their father and spent the rest of their lives in the home. They stayed here even after the park was formed. They would bake pies and other goodies and sell them to park visitors who drove by.
That is one giant tarp.
I got this wonderful view crossing back over the mountains. Of course, Clingmans Dome was still socked in.
The middle of the park from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove, down to Clingmans Dome, has most of the park’s most popular trails. I could see a ton of cars lined up for some along the road. I decided to do some of the less visited ones, and I don’t regret it, especially since I was there over a weekend. I had a good time on the northern portion of the park, now to head to the south.
Check out my next update where I will be visited the southern edge of the Smokies!
or
Start at the beginning of my adventure through the Appalachian Mountains!
