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== Day hike (AT) == | == Day hike (AT) == | ||
*[[Carver's Gap to US19E|Carver's Gap]] to [[Grassy Ridge]] - spur trail off the AT to 360 degree overlook | |||
*[[Carver' | *Hughes Gap to [[AT_-_Little_Rock_Knob|Little Rock Knob]] - for a great overlook | ||
*[[Laurel Fork Gorge]] - large cascading water | |||
== Family/Beginner hike == | == Family/Beginner hike == | ||
*[[Doe River Gorge]] - follow an old railroad bed through two tunnels along Doe River | *[[Doe River Gorge]] - follow an old railroad bed through two tunnels along Doe River | ||
*[[BMP Lakeside Trail|Lakeside Trail]] - hike around [[Bays Mountain Park]] | *[[BMP Lakeside Trail|Lakeside Trail]] - hike around [[Bays Mountain Park]] reservoir and into animal habitat area | ||
*[[South Holston Dam]] Spillway Trail - easy road down to lake shore - great place for skipping rocks | *[[South Holston Dam]] Spillway Trail - easy road down to lake shore - great place for skipping rocks | ||
*[[Twin Pinnacles]] or [[Rhododendron Trail]] at [[Grayson Highlands State Park]] in Aug-Sept for huckleberries (and ponies!) | *[[Twin Pinnacles]] or [[Rhododendron Trail]] at [[Grayson Highlands State Park]] in Aug-Sept for huckleberries (and ponies!) | ||
*[[Warriors Path State Park]] - All of their trails with the exception of [[WPSP Devil's Backbone|Devil's Backbone]] are good for quick family hikes | *[[Warriors Path State Park]] - All of their trails with the exception of [[WPSP Devil's Backbone|Devil's Backbone]] are good for quick family hikes | ||
See also the [[:Category:Easy|Easy Category]] page for more suggestions. | |||
== One night backpacking == | == One night backpacking == | ||
*[[Carver's Gap to US19E]] | *[[Carver's Gap to US19E]] - 13.4 miles with outstanding vistas and favored [[Shelter:Overmountain|Overmountain Shelter]] | ||
*Massie Gap loop | *Massie Gap loop | ||
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*[[Laurel Fork Gorge]] - large cascade water is probably most commonly led club hike over the years | *[[Laurel Fork Gorge]] - large cascade water is probably most commonly led club hike over the years | ||
*Virgin Falls, Crossville TN - Comes out of a cave, down 140' before disappearing into another cave at bottom | *Virgin Falls, Crossville TN - Comes out of a cave, down 140' before disappearing into another cave at bottom | ||
*[[Little Stony Creek Falls]] - plunge and cascade waterfalls seen on hike up creek gorge - currently has some | *[[Little Stony Creek Falls]] - plunge and cascade waterfalls seen on hike up creek gorge - currently has some trail errosion to navigate | ||
*[[Margarette Falls]] - 60' cascading waterfall | *[[Margarette Falls]] - 60' cascading waterfall | ||
*[[Gentry Creek Falls]] - two tiered waterfall reached by couple mile hike up along creek | *[[Gentry Creek Falls]] - two tiered waterfall reached by couple mile hike up along creek | ||
*Ramsey Cascades, Great Smoky Mtn NP - highest waterfall accessible by trail in the Smokies | *[[GSMNP Ramsey Cascades|Ramsey Cascades]], Great Smoky Mtn NP - highest waterfall accessible by trail in the Smokies | ||
== View/Scenic Overlook == | == View/Scenic Overlook == | ||
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*Big Bald (5516 ft) on the AT is the highest point in Unicoi County | *Big Bald (5516 ft) on the AT is the highest point in Unicoi County | ||
*Wilburn Ridge or [[Twin Pinnacles]] (5089 and 5068 feet) in [[Grayson Highlands State Park]] | *Wilburn Ridge or [[Twin Pinnacles]] (5089 and 5068 feet) in [[Grayson Highlands State Park]] | ||
*Little Rock Knob (4918 ft) on the AT in the [[Iron Mountain Gap to Carver's Gap]] section | *[[AT - Little Rock Knob]] (4918 ft) on the AT in the [[Iron Mountain Gap to Carver's Gap]] section | ||
*[[Blackstack Cliffs (AT)|Blackstack Cliffs]] (4452 ft) up on Camp Creek Bald | *[[Blackstack Cliffs (AT)|Blackstack Cliffs]] (4452 ft) up on Camp Creek Bald | ||
*[[Grassy Ridge]] (6160 ft) in Roan Highlands | *[[Grassy Ridge]] (6160 ft) in Roan Highlands | ||
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Unique things to see (or eat!) that depend on the time of year | Unique things to see (or eat!) that depend on the time of year | ||
*Spring Wildflowers (Late April-Early May) | |||
**[[AT – US19E to Hump Mountain|AT: US 19E to Doll Flats]] - 3 miles each way to see many diverse species due to the elevation gain. | |||
**[[AT - Little Rock Knob]] - pink lady slippers & painted trilliums in lower elevations to a carpet of trout lilies & large-flowered trilliums at top. | |||
**[[Margarette Falls]] - Good/easy/short hike to pretty falls in addition to the flowers. | |||
**[[Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area]] - Open field and woods along Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. | |||
**[[Laurel River Trail]] - Rails-to-Trail conversion near Hot Springs, NC with good variety of spring wildflowers. | |||
*Catawba Rhododendron | *Catawba Rhododendron | ||
**[[Grassy Ridge]] - mid-June peak into August | **[[Grassy Ridge]] - mid-June peak into August | ||
**[[ | **[[Rhododendron Gardens]] - June - Festival is typically third Saturday | ||
*Ramps | *Ramps | ||
**On the way to Overmountain Barn Shelter in April | **On the way to Overmountain Barn Shelter in April | ||
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**[[WPSP Fall Creek Loop Trail|Fall Creek Loop Trail]] - Late June and July | **[[WPSP Fall Creek Loop Trail|Fall Creek Loop Trail]] - Late June and July | ||
*Fall Color (peak is mid-October) | *Fall Color (peak is mid-October) | ||
**[[Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower]] - 360 degree views from | **[[Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower]] - 360 degree views from renovated fire tower | ||
Latest revision as of 16:06, 19 March 2023
A common question we hear is "What are your favorite hikes in the region?" so below are our top recommendations within different hiking objectives.
Day hike (non-AT)[edit]
- Grayson Highlands Twin Pinnacles - bags two high peaks - with huckleberries in Aug-Sept
- Laurel Fork Gorge - large cascade water is probably most commonly led club hike over the years
- Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower - newly constructed trail to renovated fire tower
Day hike (AT)[edit]
- Carver's Gap to Grassy Ridge - spur trail off the AT to 360 degree overlook
- Hughes Gap to Little Rock Knob - for a great overlook
- Laurel Fork Gorge - large cascading water
Family/Beginner hike[edit]
- Doe River Gorge - follow an old railroad bed through two tunnels along Doe River
- Lakeside Trail - hike around Bays Mountain Park reservoir and into animal habitat area
- South Holston Dam Spillway Trail - easy road down to lake shore - great place for skipping rocks
- Twin Pinnacles or Rhododendron Trail at Grayson Highlands State Park in Aug-Sept for huckleberries (and ponies!)
- Warriors Path State Park - All of their trails with the exception of Devil's Backbone are good for quick family hikes
See also the Easy Category page for more suggestions.
One night backpacking[edit]
- Carver's Gap to US19E - 13.4 miles with outstanding vistas and favored Overmountain Shelter
- Massie Gap loop
Multiple nights backpacking[edit]
- Appalachian Trail - the TEHCC section boasts many two or more night trips of varying difficulties
- Iron Mountain Trail in TN and the AT between Damascus and TN91 creates 45 mile/three night loop hike
Waterfall[edit]
These are hikes leading to or passing by waterfalls - not drive up views.
- Laurel Fork Gorge - large cascade water is probably most commonly led club hike over the years
- Virgin Falls, Crossville TN - Comes out of a cave, down 140' before disappearing into another cave at bottom
- Little Stony Creek Falls - plunge and cascade waterfalls seen on hike up creek gorge - currently has some trail errosion to navigate
- Margarette Falls - 60' cascading waterfall
- Gentry Creek Falls - two tiered waterfall reached by couple mile hike up along creek
- Ramsey Cascades, Great Smoky Mtn NP - highest waterfall accessible by trail in the Smokies
View/Scenic Overlook[edit]
- Big Bald (5516 ft) on the AT is the highest point in Unicoi County
- Wilburn Ridge or Twin Pinnacles (5089 and 5068 feet) in Grayson Highlands State Park
- AT - Little Rock Knob (4918 ft) on the AT in the Iron Mountain Gap to Carver's Gap section
- Blackstack Cliffs (4452 ft) up on Camp Creek Bald
- Grassy Ridge (6160 ft) in Roan Highlands
- Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower - 360 degree view of several surrounding mountains
Seasonal[edit]
Unique things to see (or eat!) that depend on the time of year
- Spring Wildflowers (Late April-Early May)
- AT: US 19E to Doll Flats - 3 miles each way to see many diverse species due to the elevation gain.
- AT - Little Rock Knob - pink lady slippers & painted trilliums in lower elevations to a carpet of trout lilies & large-flowered trilliums at top.
- Margarette Falls - Good/easy/short hike to pretty falls in addition to the flowers.
- Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area - Open field and woods along Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
- Laurel River Trail - Rails-to-Trail conversion near Hot Springs, NC with good variety of spring wildflowers.
- Catawba Rhododendron
- Grassy Ridge - mid-June peak into August
- Rhododendron Gardens - June - Festival is typically third Saturday
- Ramps
- On the way to Overmountain Barn Shelter in April
- Huckleberry/Blueberry
- Grayson Highlands State Park - August to mid September
- On Roan balds on way to Grassy Ridge - Late August to mid September
- Blackberry/raspberry
- Sinking Waters - Late June and July
- Fall Creek Loop Trail - Late June and July
- Fall Color (peak is mid-October)
- Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower - 360 degree views from renovated fire tower