Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 522,427-acre national park that is located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. One can easily plan their hiking holiday at the park with Capital Timeshare. Capital Vacations is a growing timeshare brand that offers customized travel experiences. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is among the most visited national parks in the United States. It is known to showcase a truly incredible amount of biodiversity, forests, rivers, and a seemingly endless sea of ridgelines and mountains.
Capital Timeshare mentions some of the best hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains
Within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains, one can find almost 800 miles of hiking trails, along with 2100 miles of streams and rivers. The park encompasses a few of the highest mountains in the eastern United State, along with a few of the most bio-diverse temperate forests in the country. It is widely considered to be a hiker’s paradise.
Some of the best hiking trails at the Great Smoky Mountains Park are:
- Abrams Falls Trail: Abrams Falls is a widely popular waterfall hike that one can access through the Cades Cove driving loop. The path starts at a wooden bridge intersecting the Abrams Creek. One shall cross three narrow bridges throughout the hike, and reach Abrams Falls which are 20 feet high. These falls are wide enough to provide a great view.
- Grotto Falls Trail: At this fun waterfall hike, one would get the opportunity to walk under the falls. It would be prudent to arrive early to enjoy the spot in seclusion, as it is among the most popular spots at the national park for taking photographs. The hike starts off at the Trillium Gap Trail and begins with an upward climb almost immediately. Hikers would cross four mini creeks that are shallow enough that they can hop across rocks to get back on the trail. Subsequent to that, hikers would go through a range of switchbacks that head upward till they reach the falls.
- Mount Cammerer Trail: Having a 3,045 feet of elevation gain, this hike is ideal for expert hikers. Mount Cammerer does make people work for the view, but the results are truly worth it. The trail leads to a round stone tower that offers mountain views from almost every direction.
- Charlies Bunion Hiking Trail: This 8-mile hike allows for a steady climb up to the top. The hike starts at the Newfound Gap Road parking lot, which is a popular pull-off spot for people who want to take pictures of the mountain views. The trail begins to the left of the parking lot, as one starts a gradual climb up trail steps. As they round the corner, the hikers would find a rock scramble that flattens out eventually as they work their way up to the summit.
Andrews Bald Hiking Trail: Andrews Bald provides dramatic views of the surroundings. One can find colorful rhododendron and azalea here sometime during in late spring and early summer. “Bald” in the context of Andrews Bald simply refers to high-elevation meadow found in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Going for a hike at any of the trails mentioned above would truly be an exciting endeavor. Gearing up for a Great Smoky Mountains Park hiking trip with Capital Timeshare can be a good idea for families, friends and even solo travelers.