Laurel Fork Gorge: Difference between revisions

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<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template. Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article.  
{{Trail
|Trail Marking=Blue/AT White
|Trail Use=Hiking
|Trail Features=Vistas
|Difficulty Rating=Medium
|Hike Time=4 Hours
|Trail Distance=2.57 mi
|Round Trip Distance=5.5 mi
|Trail Type=In-and-Out
|High Point=2,315 Ft
|Low Point=1,853 ft
|Elevation Gain=624 Ft
|Elevation Loss=164 Ft
|Parking location=36.2855558,-82.1521273
|Trailhead location=36.2855558,-82.1521273
}}
{{Trail Map}}


-->{{Infobox Trail
__TOC__
| Image Name = Laurel Fork Gorge Falls.JPG
| Trail Number = 501
| Park =
| Land Owner = Cherokee National Forest
| Wilderness Area = Pond Mountain
| City = Hampton
| State = Tennessee
| Marking = Blue/AT White
| Trail Use = {{Hike}} {{Waterfall}} {{Dogs}}
| Difficulty Rating = Medium
| Hike Time = 4 Hours
| Round Trip Distance = 5.5 Miles
| Trail Distance = 2.57 Miles
| Trail Type = In-and-Out
| Elevation Gain = 1,990 Ft
| Elevation Loss = -1,990 Ft
| High Point = 2,557 Ft
| Parking coords = 36.2855558,-82.1521273
| Trailhead coords = 36.2855558,-82.1521273
| Medical = Elizabethton, TN
}}<!--
 
End Infobox template table-->{{Trail page needs
| Hide needs =
| KML =
| Updated KML =
| Detail route description = Yes
| Photos = Yes
| Winter photos = Yes
| Remove prefix =
| Update infobox =
| Infobox data update =
| Trail pins =
| Other =
| Comment = Convert to hike plan and reference trail pages since it uses multiple trails?
| Date reviewed = 12/4/2016
}}<!--
 
Start of Main Page -->
== Trail Overview ==
== Trail Overview ==
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. -->
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. -->
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Forest Service [http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTSw8jAwgAykeaxcN4jhYG_h4eYX5hPgYwefy6w0H24dcPNgEHcDTQ9_PIz03VL8iNMMgycVQEAIzTHkw!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNUJIMjAwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110804&ttype=recarea&recid=35016&actid=50&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110160000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&cid=FSE_003714&pname=Cherokee+National+Forest+-+Laurel+Fork+Falls+Hike website] information.
Forest Service [http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTSw8jAwgAykeaxcN4jhYG_h4eYX5hPgYwefy6w0H24dcPNgEHcDTQ9_PIz03VL8iNMMgycVQEAIzTHkw!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNUJIMjAwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110804&ttype=recarea&recid=35016&actid=50&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110160000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&cid=FSE_003714&pname=Cherokee+National+Forest+-+Laurel+Fork+Falls+Hike website] information.
== Maps ==
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<display_map type="terrain" zoom="14" width="auto" height="750" gkml="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Hampton_Blueline_Trail_501.kml,
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/High_Water_Trail.kml">
36.27277,-82.135~Laurel Fork Falls~[[Image:Laurel Fork Gorge Falls.JPG|150px]]~MarkerC.png
36.264067, -82.1231~Trailhead - Dennis Cove~ ~MarkerA.png
36.28532,-82.15212~Trailhead - Hampton~[[Image:Laurel Fork Trailhead sign.JPG|150px]]~MarkerA.png
36.28211,-82.14852~Entering Pond Mtn Wilderness~[[Image:Laurel_Fork_Gorge_Pond_Mtn_Wilderness.JPG|150px]]~MarkerG.png
36.28151,-82.14323~Intersection with AT~[[Image:AT Laurel Fork Gorge sign.JPG|150px]]~MarkerG.png
36.28298,-82.14083~Trail Bridge #1~[[Image:Laurel Fork Gorge bridge1.JPG|150px]]~MarkerL.png
36.281083,-82.137539~Trail Bridge #2~[[Image:Laurel Fork Gorge bridge2.JPG|150px]]~MarkerL.png
36.270686,-82.130281~Koonford Bridge~ ~MarkerL.png
36.278642,-82.136229~[[Shelter:Laurel Fork|Laurel Fork Shelter]]~[[Image:Laurel Fork Shelter.JPG|150px]]~MarkerF.png
36.273014,-82.132099~Intersection AT/High Water Trail~[[Image:AT - High Water Trail intersection.JPG|150px]]~MarkerG.png
36.278756,-82.137253~Intersection AT/High Water Trail~[[Image:AT - High Water Trail intersection2.JPG|150px]]~MarkerG.png
</display_map>


== Photos ==
== Photos ==
<gallery>
{{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}}
<!-- Place any pictures from this trail below. Ideally we would have a picture of the trailhead to help people know when they found it -->
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Waterfall|Marker Title=Laurel Fork Falls|Marker Description=[[Image:Laurel Fork Gorge Falls.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.27277,-82.135}}
<!-- Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension  -->
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Parking|Marker Title=Trailhead - Dennis Cove|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.264067, -82.1231}}
Image:PotatoTop.jpg|View of Laurel Fork Gorge from Potato Top
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Parking|Marker Title=Trailhead - Hampton|Marker Description=[[Image:Laurel Fork Trailhead sign.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.28532,-82.15212}}
Image:White_Rhododendron_Bloom.JPG|White Rhododendron bloom
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Entering Pond Mtn Wilderness|Marker Description=[[Image:Laurel_Fork_Gorge_Pond_Mtn_Wilderness.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.28211,-82.14852}}
Image:Laurelforkfalls2.jpg|Laurel Fork Falls
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Intersection with AT|Marker Description=[[Image:AT Laurel Fork Gorge sign.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.28151,-82.14323}}
Image:Laurel Fork Gorge steps.JPG|Steps heading up!
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=Trail Bridge #1|Marker Description=[[Image:Laurel Fork Gorge bridge1.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.28298,-82.14083}}
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.-->
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=Trail Bridge #2|Marker Description=[[Image:Laurel Fork Gorge bridge2.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.281083,-82.137539}}
</gallery>
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=Koonford Bridge|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.270686,-82.130281}}
 
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Shelter|Marker Title=[[Shelter:Laurel Fork|Laurel Fork Shelter]]|Marker Description=[[Image:Laurel Fork Shelter.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.278642,-82.136229}}
<!-- Categories - Keep in mind the titles are case sensitive. Check here ClubWIKI:Categorization_Plan for our list of categories that we are using -->
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Intersection AT/High Water Trail|Marker Description=[[Image:AT - High Water Trail intersection.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.273014,-82.132099}}
[[Category:Tennessee]] [[Category:Hiking]] [[Category:Dog Friendly]] [[Category:Waterfalls]] [[Category:Medium]] [[Category:Appalachian Trail]]
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Intersection AT/High Water Trail|Marker Description=[[Image:AT - High Water Trail intersection2.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.278756,-82.137253}}

Revision as of 09:14, 29 December 2018

Laurel Fork Gorge

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Located
Trail Marking Blue/AT White
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail

Hiking

FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail

Vistas

Difficulty Rating Medium
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail. 4 Hours0.25 Days <br />240 Min <br /> round trip
Distance: 2.57 mi4.136 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 5.5 mi8.851 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type In-and-Out
Low / High Point 1,853 ft617.667 Yards <br />564.794 Meters <br /> / 2,315 Ft771.667 Yards <br />705.612 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent. 624 Ft190.195 Meters <br /> / (164 Ft49.987 Meters <br />) – {{{Elevation Change Direction}}}
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days 4 logged hikes (0 recent)
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list 5 trails / 40.6 mi of trail
Parking 36° 17' 8.00" N, 82° 9' 7.66" W Map
Trailhead 36° 17' 8.00" N, 82° 9' 7.66" W Map
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Trail Overview

The Appalachian Trail travels through Laurel Fork Gorge, rarely straying far from the creek. Probably the most popular hiking destination for TEHCC is Laurel Fork Falls, a 50' cascading waterfall. There are AT access points at both the NW end of the gorge (Hampton) and SE (Dennis Cove).

Swimming is not allowed at the falls because of dangerous undertow in the pool. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE DIED HERE INCLUDING THOSE COMING TO HELP. They were not being seemingly careless, not drinking, not jumping from the top, simply swimming near the falls. There is an underwater rock shelf in the deep pool below the falls. The strong current will take swimmers underwater and keep them trapped below the shelf. Therefore, wading downstream of the falls is suggested for enjoyment.

How to get there

Hampton

  1. From Elizabethton, go southeast on US 321 through Hampton for 1.3 miles.
  2. Look for parking area on the right.

Follow blue blazed trail to AT.

Dennis Cove

  1. From Elizabethton, go southeast on US 321 through Hampton for 0.8 miles.
  2. Turn right (south) on FR 50 (Dennis Cove Road) and travel 3.9 curvy miles.
  3. Look for AT access parking area on your left.

Route Description

The listed mileage and elevation change are for complete end-to-end and return hike. More typically the day hikes are an out-and-back from either access point. From Hampton, it's a 5.5 mile round trip. From Dennis Cove, it's about 2.6 miles round trip.

Typical Conditions

Well maintained Appalachian Trail, including blue blazed side trail from Hampton. Sometimes during spring, the upper trail may be required due to flooding.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Group size is limited to 10 people in the Pond Mountain Wilderness Area. Also dogs must be on leashes.

Overnight parking is not recommended at Hampton trailhead due to occasional vandalism to break into vehicles to steal items.

After the Hike

Misc. Information

A bit of history...
The Koonford Bridge was destroyed by flooding in 1998. Its center span was replaced few weeks later in one day by many volunteers. story link Two further wilderness trail bridges destroyed in the same flood were replaced before the thru-hikers arrived that year. And the rock steps by the falls were also created in 1998 through concerted effort. story link2


Forest Service website information.

Photos






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