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  • Great Smoky Mountains
  • Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

    Top Spots in and near Great Smoky Mountains

    • Knoxville, Tennessee

      Bike or Run the Halls Greenway

      2 mi
      This place is located right in the middle of Halls Crossroads. There are multiple access points along the Greenway. There is the Halls Community Center which is where the GPS of this adventure will lead you or there is a small parking area next to the Halls Food City. There are other entrances fr...
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    • Haywood County, North Carolina

      Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail

      5.0
      1.56 mi / 305 ft gain
      The parking area for Black Balsam Knob is at mile marker 420.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's free to hike here. Take the Art Loeb Trail a half mile until you reach the knob. Along the way you will be walking almost entirely on the bald which is a very pleasant experience. You feel like you're ...
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    • Highlands, North Carolina

      Hike the Whiteside Mountain Loop

      5.0
      2 mi / 595 ft gain
      Whiteside Mountain is simply breathtaking, there is no way around it.  Views of the mountain from the South expose its sheer granite face, which runs almost its entire length East-to-West.  However, the views of the mountain are just the beginning, as this hike climbs to higher heights than just ...
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    • Rutledge, Tennessee

      Buffalo Creek Falls

      4.7
      Buffalo Creek is located near Rutledge, Tennessee and Cherokee lake. It is a wilderness area with a fish hatchery run by TWRA and a few acres of game land. You can drive straight up to the falls then hike around a little bit through the river to see the rest of the river and fishing areas. The be...
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    • Balsam Grove, North Carolina

      Hike to Courthouse Falls

      4.7
      0.07 mi / 40 ft gain
      First off, I want to say although the road is gravel it is accessible for 2WD cars you do not need a 4WD car to access this hike. The trail begins just over the bridge that crosses Panther Branch Creek. Just over the bridge there is a pullout where you can park that should fit at least 3 cars. Th...
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    • Highlands, North Carolina

      Satulah Mountain

      5.0
      Just a stone’s throw from downtown Highlands, North Carolina, the Satulah Mountain Trail offers a rewarding hike to one of the most iconic vistas in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. This moderately challenging route leads hikers to a rocky summit with sweeping views of Georgia, South Carolina...
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    • Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

      Hike to Schoolhouse Falls and Little Green

      5.0
      3 mi
      Trail signs in Panthertown Valley are limited. Be sure to bring a map! Starting at the Cold Mountain parking lot, hike to Schoolhouse Falls. This is a nice waterfall with a pool at the bottom. In the summer, you are bound to run into other fellow hikers here.  From Schoolhouse Falls, you have the...
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    • Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

      Hike to Warden, Jawbone, and Riding Ford Falls

      4.5 mi
      Warden, Jawbone, and Riding Ford Falls are three waterfalls located along the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River in Panthertown Valley. Not far from the Cold Mountain trailhead, these falls are quite popular in the summer. On a weekend, you will often find people playing in the pools below the fa...
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    • Canton, North Carolina

      Graveyard Ridge Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail Loop

      3.89 mi / 623 ft gain
      Graveyard Ridge Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Canton, North Carolina.
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    • Canton, North Carolina

      Graveyard Fields-Black Balsam Knob Circuit

      4.4
      9.83 mi / 1522 ft gain
      When the weather is in your favor, these treeless mountain tops will have your jaw on the floor with layers upon layers of Blue Ridge Mountains. This hike can be done in one day, but with panoramic views at multiple points, you'll want to take your time along this link of trails. This ~10-mile l...
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    • Canton, North Carolina

      Lower Falls at Graveyard Fields

      4.3
      Graveyard Fields got it's name years ago from wind-thrown tree trunks that gave the appearance of a graveyard, until 1925 when an intense fire swept through the area, destroying the stumps. The forest has been recovering ever since. The parking area for Graveyard Fields is located at milepost 41...
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    • Cashiers, North Carolina

      Hike to Chimney Top

      3.3
      1.7 mi / 1000 ft gain
      Upon entering High Hampton Inn, follow the entrance road past the registration building, cart shed and parking lot. Take a right down a gravel road that follows alongside Hampton Lake. This gravel road continues for half a mile, even winding through part of the golf course and crossing over the c...
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    • Tellico Plains, Tennessee

      Exploring Bald River Falls

      4.8
      If you're looking to check out a secnic waterfall in East Tennessee, Bald River Falls is sure to be on your list. At 90 feet, you can't miss this roaring beauty during any season. Also, Tellico Plains is an awesome mountain town in itself; check it out before or after your hike.To get to Bald Riv...
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    • Canton, North Carolina

      Shining Rock via Shining Creek Trail

      4.3
      8.69 mi / 2569 ft gain
      There are several ways to access the Shining Rock Wilderness Area, but go for the main trail head off of Hwy 276. The trail is split by the Pigeon River, providing a seemingly infinite combinations of trails and routes, keeping in mind that this area intersects often with the well known Art Lobe ...
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    • Canton, North Carolina

      Hike Big East Fork Shining Rock Loop

      4.0
      14 mi
      We began this trip by camping overnight in Graveyard Fields. Those camp sites are .5 miles from the car, so we kept our food there over night. Bear activity has increased, so it's strongly advised to bring a bear canister and be wise about food storage. We woke up early the next morning made bre...
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    • Canton, North Carolina

      East Fork Overlook

      Perched at milepost 418.3 at an elevation around 4,955 ft, East Fork Overlook offers one of the most striking panoramic views along this stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The overlook looks out over the headwaters of the East Fork of the Pigeon River and surrounding ridgelines. What to Expec...
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