Smokies multiday trips?

I did this 4 day loop http://caltopo.com/map?id=3T5K in early November last year. It was pretty nice–make sure you go up the old fire tower!

Also, be prepared to get wet! There are a lot of river crossings.

Thanks Mary, that was just what I was looking for. How deep were the rivers?

Stephen,

You have lots of options on loops. You should also know there are several shuttle services in case you don't want to do a loop.

My favorite loop area is to start at Big Creek trailhead. From there you can go up Mt. Sterling and as far along that ridge as you like. You can keep going to Cataloochie Mountain for a log ridge walk. Then head down Gunter Creek and toward Walnut Bottom. From there you can go back up to the AT and come down past Mt Cammerer and back to Big Creek. Highlights of this trip include a steel fire tower you can climb at Mt Sterling with great views; nice ridge walk; Gunter Creek falls is pretty cool; an AT ridge walk; and the old stone Mt. Cammerer fire tower, also with great views.

I also recently did the AT across the Smokies from I-40 to Fontana. I really liked this walk. It involves more high ridge walks and fewer streams. It does require a shuttle, which is easy to hire. We did it in 3 nights. Its about 80 miles with side trips you want/need to do.

Have fun whatever you do.

If you do Mary's trip, make sure to do a side trip on the AT to Rockytop and Thunderhead. They are close and worth seeing. Also on that loop, make sure to visit the Shuckstack tower. Its a rickety steel tower similar to the one at Mt. Sterling and it has great views.

I did the reverse, starting up towards the AT from Big Creek, and cut over on the Balsam Mountain Trail to the Benton MacKeye. I was with a group going at a leisurely pace and it was 4 days / 3 nights. A longer alternate would be to use the Hughes Ridge trail to go between the AT and the BM.

We really liked the less crowded BM trail a lot more even though it didn't do any ridge running, and with Sterling to Big Creek being so steep we were happy to be going down that section rather than up. There were a bunch of AT thru-hiking people on the AT, the camping sites were very crowded, and more than one person gave me and my buddies grief for out pack weight and size (we carried in fresh veggies for huge meals, non-lightweight gear, etc). It was kind of obnoxious. The Mt. Cammerer tower was definitely cool. Anyway, the NPS map was a great planning tool (google GSMNP trail map)

I should add that coming from Pennsylvania, starting in the northeast section of the park cut down on the drive time considerably compared to Balsam Mountain or Smokemont (the southeastern entrances to the park).

A day in Asheville to recover and eat / drink well was fun & recommended if you have the time.