Editing ClubWIKI:TopsList

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)==

*[[Twin Pinnacles|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) ==
*[[Carver's Gap to US19E|Carver's Gap]] to [[Grassy Ridge]] - spur trail off the AT to 360 degree overlook
*Hughes Gap to [[AT_-_Little_Rock_Knob|Little Rock Knob]] - for a great overlook
*[[Laurel Fork Gorge]] - large cascading water

== Family/Beginner hike ==
*[[Doe River Gorge]] - follow an old railroad bed through two tunnels along Doe River
*[[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
*[[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
See also the [[:Category:Easy|Easy Category]] page for more suggestions.

== One night backpacking ==

*[[Carver's Gap to US19E]] - 13.4 miles with outstanding vistas and favored [[Shelter:Overmountain|Overmountain Shelter]]
*Massie Gap loop

== Multiple nights backpacking ==

*Appalachian Trail - the TEHCC section boasts many two or more night trips of varying difficulties
*[[Iron Mountain Trail - South|Iron Mountain Trail]] in TN and the [[Wilbur Dam Rd to TN91|AT]] between Damascus and TN91 creates 45 mile/three night loop hike

== Waterfall ==
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
*[[GSMNP Ramsey Cascades|Ramsey Cascades]], Great Smoky Mtn NP - highest waterfall accessible by trail in the Smokies

== View/Scenic Overlook ==

*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
*Beartown Mountain (4689 ft) was suggested at the 2011 Spring Dinner Meeting
*[[Blackstack Cliffs (AT)|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 ==
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
**[[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
**[[WPSP Sinking Waters|Sinking Waters]] - Late June and July
**[[WPSP Fall Creek Loop Trail|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