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Maggie Valley, North Carolina

Looking for the best hiking in Maggie Valley? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Maggie Valley. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Maggie Valley

  • 35.629385,-83.450994

    Camp out at Mt. LeConte Lodge via Alum Cave

    5.0
    9.96 mi
    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,...
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  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Hike to Mt. LeConte via Alum Cave Bluff

    5.0
    10.68 mi / 3982 ft gain
    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...
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  • Cullowhee, North Carolina

    Hike to High Falls

    3.5
    1.5 mi / 600 ft gain
    This is an awesome hike if you're up for a challenge! The hike in isn't bad at all and the trail itself isn't super long but the climb back out will be a little more difficult due to the rock steps and lengthy uphill. This hike starts from a parking lot, just across the road from Lake Glenville a...
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  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Hike the Chimney Tops

    4.9
    4.03 mi / 1487 ft gain
    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...
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  • 35.556724,-83.495827

    Forney Creek Loop

    4.5
    19.04 mi / 3500 ft gain
    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...
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  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Clingmans Dome

    4.4
    1.23 mi
    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...
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  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Andrews Bald

    5.0
    3.55 mi / 1200 ft gain
    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...
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  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Clingmans Dome Loop

    25.75 mi / 4000 ft gain
    The first day of the hike is either 12.3 miles or 10.5 miles (depending on the campsite) almost all downhill, and the second half of the loop is 13.3 miles or 11.5 miles, again depending on the campsite, almost exclusively uphill. Just as a reference the first day took us about 6 and a half hours...
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  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Explore Old 288 and the Lands Creek Bridge

    2.5
    1 mi
    NC 288 was constructed in the 1920's, but did not last long with the construction of the Fontana Dam as the resulting lake covered the highway. The U.S. government entered an agreement in which they would provide a replacement road, but to this day it has not been completed and is know by locals ...
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  • Del Rio, Tennessee

    Max Patch to Hot Springs, N.C. via Appalachian Trail

    3.0
    14.06 mi / 2966 ft gain
    Make a weekend trip from Max Patch to Hot Springs N.C., and be sure to soak in the natural hot springs at the old inn after your hike! This is an incredible, relatively easy hike with the reward at the end being hot springs on the French Broad River. You can break this up however you like, this i...
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  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Grotto Falls Trail

    5.0
    1.83 mi / 585 ft gain
    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 ...
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  • Brevard, North Carolina

    Moore Cove Falls

    4.3
    1.28 mi / 223 ft gain
    The hike relatively quick and has minimal elevation gain, making it a great hike for the family or a quick stop off if you're planning to do another hike in the same day. This part of the Pisgah National Forest is filled with scenic hikes. Once you've parked your car, cross over the stream via a...
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  • Brevard, North Carolina

    Hike to John Rock

    5.0
    5 mi / 1000 ft gain
    This 5 mile loop begins at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and State Fish Hatchery near Brevard, NC. Ample parking is available adjacent to the trailhead with bathrooms and water accessible. Grab a map from inside as well. To start the hike, look at the education center, to the left is t...
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  • Brevard, North Carolina

    Looking Glass Rock

    4.6
    5.43 mi / 1572 ft gain
    This is a really nice, moderately difficult hike along a cascading creek, up switchbacks, and through wildflower fields. A couple miles in, you'll reach a helipad that is used for rescuing injured rock climbers - Looking Glass Rock is a popular destination for world class climbing. There is a sma...
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  • Newport, Tennessee

    Explore Halls Top Fire Tower

    4.0
    1 mi / 200 ft gain
    Halls Top Fire Tower is a special untouched spot in the Cherokee National Forest. The road that leads you into the CNF is known as Halls Top Road  just a few miles off of Interstate I-40. This road will take you 4.4 miles to the next turn onto Stone Mountain Road this road is 2.1 miles to the gat...
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  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Mount LeConte-Cliff Tops via Rainbow Falls Trail

    4.5
    13.37 mi / 3993 ft gain
    Begin at the Rainbow Falls trail parking lot. This is very popular area especially in the summer. If the parking area at the trail head is full there is additional parking located just past the main lot. From here the Rainbow Falls trail is just under 14 miles to the summit of Mount Leconte. Elev...
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