GSMNP Grotto Falls: 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. -->
<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template.  Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article. -->
{{Infobox Trail
{{Infobox Trail
                     | Image Name = Doe-River-2.jpg
                     | Image Name = placeholder.jpg
                     | City = Gatlinburg
                     | City = Gatlinburg
                     | State = Tennessee
                     | State = Tennessee
                     | Trail Use = {{Hike}}
                     | Trail Use = {{Hike}}
                     | Difficulty Rating = Medium
                     | Difficulty Rating = Medium
                     | Hike Time = 2-3
                     | Hike Time = 2
                     | Distance = 4-5
                     | Distance = 3
                     | Elevation Gain = *
                     | Elevation Gain = *
                     | High Point = *
                     | High Point = *
                     | Latitude = N36°16.026
                     | Latitude = N35°40.818
                     | Longitude = W82°10.410
                     | Longitude = W83°27.747
                     | Medical = Elizabethton, TN
                     | Medical = Sevierville
<!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG -->
<!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG -->
                     | googlemap =  
                     | googlemap =  
<googlemap lat="36.2671" lon="-82.1735"  zoom="9" width="270" type="map" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
<googlemap lat="35.68030" lon="-83.46245"  zoom="9" width="270" type="map" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
36.2671,-82.1735
35.68030,-83.46245
Doe River Ministry Offices
Trailhead for Trillum Gap Trail from Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
</googlemap>
</googlemap>
}}
}}
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== 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. -->
Easy 4-5 mile hike following an old railroad through two tunnels. Views of towering cliffs, stream, and forest.
Moderate hike up through classic GSMNP forest to a waterfall you can walk behind.


== How to get there ==
== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From Kingsport, TN:
From Gatlinburg, TN:
#Head south on I-26 to Exit 24 (Elizabethton).
#At traffic light #8 on the Parkway, turn onto the Historic Nature Trail.
#Proceed on US321 for eight miles into town.
#Proceed into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
#Turn right at traffic light to stay on US321 heading south.
#Turn right onto Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
#After six miles, enter driveway for Doe River Ministries.
#Continue to Stop #5 and park.
Trailhead is behind the sleeping cabooses.
Trailhead is marked and heads uphill.


== Route Description==
== Route Description==
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
The Trillum Gap Trail heads up the side of Mount LeConte to the Grotto waterfall and beyond.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!Mileage
!Description
|-
|0.0
|Trailhead at Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Stop #5.
|-
|0.2
|Intersection of access path from parking lot with Trillum Gap Trail.
|-
|0.23
|First creek crossing.
|-
|0.65
|Second creek crossing.
|-
|0.9
|Third creek crossing.
|-
|1.1
|Fourth and last creek crossing heading up.
|-
|1.3
|Grotto Falls
|}




== Typical Conditions ==
== Typical Conditions ==
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
Wide and settled gravel railroad bed with small changes in grade, thus easy path.  The one side is a steep drop down to Doe River, thus small childrn will need to be watched.
National Park Service does trail maintenance primarily between May thru Nov, thus some blowdowns possible during the off-season.  The well-worn dirt trail also included tree roots and large stone.  Can be very muddy have significant rain.  


== Fees, Permits, etc. ==
== Fees, Permits, etc. ==
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
Permission to hike the trail must be obtained prior to the trip from [http://www.doerivergorge.com/index.html Doe River Gorge Ministries]  Tel: (423) 725-4010
No fee, but Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail does not allow RVs or trailers and is only open March 11 - Nov 30 during 2011.
<br>Each person (or family) will need to fill out and sign a visitor release form, which is then dropped off in the train mail box at the front of the offices.


== After the Hike ==
== After the Hike ==
<!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... -->
<!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... -->
 
Explore the other older cabins at the other stops along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on the way out.


== Misc. Information ==
== Misc. Information ==
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Any seasonal features, factoids, etc...? -->
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Any seasonal features, factoids, etc...? -->
Per their visitation policy:
Per NPS policy, pets are not allowed on park trails.
<br>NO SMOKING
<br>NO PETS
<br>NO MINORS ALONE
<br>HIKING ON RAILROAD BED ONLY
<br>NO THROWING ROCKS AT ANY TIME - which may be a challenge given the river runs right along the gravel railroad bed


== Maps ==
== Maps ==
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<!-- Ready for the KML to be uploaded -->
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.500667" lon="-82.47797" type="terrain" zoom="15" width="715" height="350" scale="yes" controls="large" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png">
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/WPSP_Devils_Backbone_Trail.kml
(E) 36.50065,-82.47918
Overlook at Tee #5
(E) 36.50013,-82.47760
Lone Cedar Overlook
(C) 36.49958,-82.47186
Fall Creek Falls
[[Image:WPSP Fall Creek Falls.jpg|150px|Fall Creek Falls]]
(A) 36.502632,-82.482759
Parking along Fall Creek Road
(G) 36.502891,-82.468700
Intersection to/from [[WPSP_Fall_Creek_Loop_Trail|Fall Creek Loop]]
[[Image:To D Backbone Trail.jpg|150px|Trail head sign]]
(J) 36.502507,-82.482345
[[Image:Devil's_Backbone_trailhead_.jpg|150px|Trail head bridge]]
(J) 36.50051,-82.47105
Trail bridge
</googlemap>
[[File:WPSP Devil's Backbone Trail profile.JPG]]





Revision as of 20:34, 31 March 2011


File:Placeholder.jpg
Trail Name GSMNP Grotto Falls
Nearest City Gatlinburg
State Tennessee
Trail Marking {{{Marking}}}
Trail Use/Features Dnr hiking.png
Difficulty Rating Medium
Hiking Time 22 Hours <br />0.125 Days <br />120 Min <br />
Distance, round-trip 33 mi <br />4.828 km <br />
Climb/Descent Elevation *"*" is not a number. / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.
High Point *"*" is not a number.
Nearest Medical Sevierville
Trip Reports Click Here
Loading map...
Show Large Map


Trail Overview

Moderate hike up through classic GSMNP forest to a waterfall you can walk behind.

How to get there

From Gatlinburg, TN:

  1. At traffic light #8 on the Parkway, turn onto the Historic Nature Trail.
  2. Proceed into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  3. Turn right onto Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
  4. Continue to Stop #5 and park.

Trailhead is marked and heads uphill.

Route Description

The Trillum Gap Trail heads up the side of Mount LeConte to the Grotto waterfall and beyond.

Mileage Description
0.0 Trailhead at Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Stop #5.
0.2 Intersection of access path from parking lot with Trillum Gap Trail.
0.23 First creek crossing.
0.65 Second creek crossing.
0.9 Third creek crossing.
1.1 Fourth and last creek crossing heading up.
1.3 Grotto Falls


Typical Conditions

National Park Service does trail maintenance primarily between May thru Nov, thus some blowdowns possible during the off-season. The well-worn dirt trail also included tree roots and large stone. Can be very muddy have significant rain.

Fees, Permits, etc.

No fee, but Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail does not allow RVs or trailers and is only open March 11 - Nov 30 during 2011.

After the Hike

Explore the other older cabins at the other stops along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on the way out.

Misc. Information

Per NPS policy, pets are not allowed on park trails.

Maps

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.500667" lon="-82.47797" type="terrain" zoom="15" width="715" height="350" scale="yes" controls="large" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/WPSP_Devils_Backbone_Trail.kml (E) 36.50065,-82.47918 Overlook at Tee #5 (E) 36.50013,-82.47760 Lone Cedar Overlook (C) 36.49958,-82.47186 Fall Creek Falls Fall Creek Falls (A) 36.502632,-82.482759 Parking along Fall Creek Road (G) 36.502891,-82.468700 Intersection to/from Fall Creek Loop Trail head sign (J) 36.502507,-82.482345 Trail head bridge (J) 36.50051,-82.47105 Trail bridge </googlemap>

WPSP Devil's Backbone Trail profile.JPG


Photos