Candler, North Carolina

At the summit of Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the lodge sits at a elevation of 6400 feet. It is the only "accommodations" inside the park boundaries. It is the highest lodge in the eastern United States.   Accessible only by hiking one of the five trails to the summit,...

The Alum Cave trailhead is on Newfound Gap Road, 8 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Mt. LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smokies, and this is an extremely popular hike, so arrive early to get a parking spot and beat the crowds. Starting from the parking lot the trail gently wind...

This view never gets old and it is super easy to access. It's also only like half a mile down and then half a mile back up, so if you do watch the sunset, the walk back is easy. The trail is out by Glassy Mountain Church in Pickens, SC and it's accessible year round. The hike is very simple, and ...

This is an awesome waterfall that offers views from several different spots along the road as well as a quick hike down to the base! The small pull-off area is located towards the top of the falls. There isn't much space (3 maybe 4 cars at a time), but there are additional pull-off areas further ...

Martin's Creek Falls is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Erwin, Tennessee.

Appalachian Trail: Indian Grave Gap to Chestoa is a point-to-point trail that takes you by a river located near Unicoi, Tennessee.

Beauty Spot Gap is located on the Appalachian Trail on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. The bald offers a panoramic view of Cherokee National Forest and the city of Erwin. This is a popular destination for hikers of the AT to set up camp and watch the sunset. From the Tennessee side, t...

Bridal Veil Falls is located directly off of the road and is about a 100 feet tall in total. The falls makes for a great place to take pictures under the water falls. The falls itself is small and flows constant all year long getting to the bottom of the falls is not recommended because it is dan...

The Chimney Tops Trail is one of the most visited trails in the Smokies, which is why I recommend going up just before sunset to beat the crowd! During the summer and fall months, it's common to see a hundred people taking in the views on the same trail, but if you scramble on out after hours, y...

This is an intermediate hike along Trillium Gap Trail. There are four stream crossings on your way to the falls as you hike through an idyll, often wildflower-sprinkled landscape. Late spring is best for catching blooms. Once at the waterfall, you can walk behind the cascade of water. This is a ...

Dry Falls is located off of Hwy. 64, which has been designated as the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway, and the road does not disappoint. Hwy. 64 is a two lane road which hugs the northern side of Cullasaja Gorge, which has been carved by the Cullasaja River. Besides Dry Falls, Hwy. 64 leads you past...

When exploring all that Tennessee has to offer, it’s hard to ignore the fact it is home to more caves than any other state in America. So when picking one, of more than 10,000, to explore it is hard to go wrong. Forbidden Caverns happens to be one of the most popular spots and is only a few minut...

Appalachian Trail: Beauty Spot to Unaka Mountain is an out-and-back trail that provides a good opportunity to view wildlife located near Green Mountain, North Carolina.

This is an overnight loop hike that is built around one night in the back country. It can be done as an ambitious day hike. Be advised that permits are required by the NPS for all overnight stays in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The hike begins at the Clingman's Dome parking lot at the For...

The drive to Clingmans Dome is miles of scenic overlooks that provide endless views of ridges and valleys. Clingmans Dome Road comes to a parking lot from which you follow a .5 mile paved trail to the summit. There are also several trails that start on Clingmans Dome Road. Most notably The Appal...

The trail begins at the Clingmans Dome parking lot, just to the left of the paved walkway up to Clingmans Dome. You will start the hike at an elevation of 6130 feet which is only 334 feet less than Clingmans Dome which is the highest point in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and the second...