Smoky Mountains Trip

It's slow at work today so I will give a few suggestions.
Park and start your hike at Big Creek Ranger Station. This is not a very frequented entry point but it is actually the easiest to get to as it is right off of I40 (exit 451 I think)

Day 1: take Baxter creek trail up to the top of mount sterling and stay at campsite 38. This is a steep uphill but is rewarding at the top with the mt sterling fire tower. Total daily mileage is 6.1.

Day 2: from campsite 38 take the mt sterling ridge trail to the junction with the balsam mountain trail which will take you over to the Appalachian trail and Tricorner Knob shelter. (The shelter is just to the left (southbound) of the AT trail junction – about .1 miles). This day will be flat easy ridge walks along trails often overlooked in the park. Total daily miles is 11.1

Day 3: from Tricorner knob shelter head southbound on the AT over mt guyot, inadu knob, and stop at Cosby knob shelter. Total daily miles 8.

Day 4: from Cosby knob shelter start hiking southbound on the AT past low gap and stop at the spur trail going to the must see stone mt cammerer fire lookout for the best view in the park. Once you return to the AT continue southbound until you reach the chestnut branch trail which will take you back to your car at big creek ranger station. Total daily miles 8.1

A couple of things I guess I should ask is

What time of year are you going?

Do you want to avoid shelters?

Would you rather see the best sights or have solitude?

What interests you more; mountain views, big trees, historical sights, or mountain streams? If there is one you prefer I can make sure to hit the best that has to offer.

Have you hiked in the smokies before? You know about the reservation system and campsites/shelters correct?

Bradford just gave you what I would recommend too. The only reason I would consider other options is the fact that you are coming from Alabama and its the opposite end of the park. Big Creek is right off I-40 though, so its not as far as it looks.

It is going to be a little hot, assuming you are going soon, unless you stay up high. Bradford's route is nice and high. There are lots of other options, but I think he's hit it perfectly too.

I don't think we would want to stay in shelters, but that might be changed depending if we can find a decently cheap tent that's functional (on a college budget :/). But, if the sight is worth it, then we would consider a shelter.

I am aware of the situation with permits there, we are hiking the July 28th-31st. I have hiked in the Smokies a few times during two field trips to Tremont there. But I couldn't tell you the trails we went on to save my life.

I would like to see landscape views (mountain views, huge trees, open fields, streams), but historical sites are pretty cool too.

If I were going that time of year I would want to stay at the higher elevations where it is cooler but it may not matter as much to you. The problem is that most of the upper elevations (like the AT) have required shelter use in the park.

The best views in the park are (I am sure I am leaving some off):

Mt cammerer fire lookout
Charlie's bunion
Shuckstack fire tower
Gregory bald
Clingmans dome
Mt leconte
Mt sterling fire tower
The jump off
High rocks
Spence field
Andrews bald

Big trees:

Big poplars
Boogerman trail
Albright grove
Gregory ridge trail

Historical sites:

Little cataloochie trail
Boogerman trail
Lakeshore trail
Grape yard ridge trail

Thanks so much! I am going the first week of October with folks for 3 nights as well. One in the group has a bad back and might not be able to hike much, but was (is) an avid backpacker/hiker. Going with him, my wife and three kids 9,8,6 y/o. My kids are good, albeit low mileage hikers.

So, this is our goal, and I would love some suggestions. We were thinking of hiking in 6 or so miles and setting up a base camp somewhere gorgeous. Maybe by a waterfall? Then the next two days we would day hike from there and return each night. Maybe hike up to a good view for lunch and back, that kind of thing. Dinner and shenanigans back at the camp for the next two nights. Hike out day 4. This way if our friend is not up for as much distance on the next 2 days he can return to camp earlier without fragmenting the group. I don't want to be on a big loop and have surprises this time. We figured if we left camp behind, we won't have weight on us, improving the kids fun and my friends ability to join us for the day 2,3 hiking. Hope that makes sense.

Any ideas of a super prime, not shelter, campsite that we can day hike from there? We don't mind if we hike down the same trail a while and one day go left and one day go right, that kind of thing. We love the streams and waterfalls around there, and are ideally hoping for a bit of seclusion, though I know that is not that realistic for when we are going.

Thanks again…

Chris

Perhaps walnut bottoms (campsite 37) on Big Creek? It's pretty easy to get to and you could day hike to mt cammerer and mt sterling fire towers.