Lakeshore Trail GSMNP –where to sleep

All the sites you have listed are nice. Of the two options you have listed, I would go with 98, 81 and 90. If you really want to stay at 86, you could option that in place of 90. The trail is not that hard to be able to go from 86 to the dam.

I've parked on both ends and never had a problem.

i have been looking at that trail, but i don't seem to readily understand the trail distance for that section. probably user error.

on the trail i see 8.7, 12.3 and 4.4 where are those junctions so you can guess on mileage to campsites?

Had same problem. the Trekking the Southern Appalacians book i have put 98 at a little over 10 miles from tunnel, 81 at ~20 miles, and 90 at around 30 miles. Anyone else have any info? much appreciated.

I can look it up in the little brown book at home, but you should know that 86 (Proctor) is now a reservation only site. I stayed at 76 and 76 when I did the trail, but I'd probably just do it in two days and stay somewhere in the middle nowdays.

I did not think to look it up in the brown book. Thanks.

thanks in advance.