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Smokemont to Appalachian Trail Loop

Rating: Strenuous

Distance:19 mile loop

Trailhead: Smokemont Campground

Trails: Bradley Fork, Dry Sluice Gap, Appalachian Trail, Hughes Ridge, Chasteen Creek

Campsites: Campsite 48 (Cabin Flats), Icewater Spring Shelter, Pecks Corner Shelter

Overview: Loop route into the heart of the Smokies. Challenging route that reveals the variety and beauty that makes the Smokies a truelly special experience.

A four day, three night loop trip into the heart of the Smokies. To view the map for this trail click here. The route begins at Smokemont Campground, a great staring point with beautiful scenery along the Bradley Fork. The trip follows the Bradley Fork of the Oconaluftee River up to Cabin Flats and Campsite 49. From there the trail leaves the cool rushing creek waters as it climbs upward on the Dry Sluice Gap Trail into the high Smokies and the Appalachian Trail. After spending the night in an Appalachian Trail shelter, the trail follows the Appalachian Trail by Charlies Bunion up over Laurel Top and over to Pecks Corner Shelter. From there it is downhill back into the Oconaluftee Valley as the route follows the Chasteen Creek to Smokemont Campground.

Follow the trail notes from the Cabin Flats Trail for the first day. The first night is spent at Campsite 49 in Cabin Flats. Get an early start the next day because although the mileage for day two may not seem too daunting at only 5.7 miles, the terrain up to the Appalachian Trail is very steep with approximately 2500 feet in elevation change. Only in the last section does the terrain ease off with a slight downhill. At the Appalachian Trail take a left. Charlies Bunion will be on the right with spectacular views into the Tennessee side of the park. Masa Knob appears on the right and then the trail climbs slightly for 3/4 of a mile to Icewater Spring. The shelter lies on the left just past the spring. Spend the night at Icewater Spring Shelter. On day three backtrack to Charlies Bunion by heading east or taking a right from the shelter onto the Appalachian Trail. Spend some time exploring Charlies Bunion and Masa Knob and then follow the Appalachian Trail eastward pass the Dry Sluice Gap intersection on the right (the route taken the previous day from Cabin Flats). For the next six miles the route follows the Appalachian Trail as it follows the main ridgeline running from west to east across the park.

Pecks Corner Shelter

The trail does not drop below 5000 feet so there are only a series of short climbs as opposed to the grueling climb on Dry Sluice a day earlier. The trail crests over Laurel Top at approximately 5700 feet with about two more miles to the Hughes Ridge Trail intersection. At the intersection, take a right onto the Hughes Ridge Trail. Proceed downhill for half a mile to Pecks Corner Shelter. Spend the night at Pecks Corner. The last day is the longest mileage day at 10 miles but it is mostly downhill. The first five miles traverses along Hughes Ridge with only a few short uphill sections. The Bradley Fork Trail intersects on the right at mile 2. Proceed another 3 miles to the intersection with the Chasteen Creek Trail on the right. Take the Chasteen Creek Trail and begin to descend rapidly. Over the duration of the Chasteen Creek Trail the trails drops 2500 feet. The terrain is very rocky as the trail heads downward eventually reaching Chasteen Creek and Campsite 48. The trail widens and approximately 1.5 miles after Campsite 48, there is a small clearing on the right for horseback riders to tie up their horses as they view and explore the Chasteen Creek Cascade. Spend some time at the waterfall and then proceed onward with the trail meandering alongside the creek. After four miles of hiking along the Chasteen Creek Trail it intersects once again with the Bradley Fork Trail. Head left onto the Bradley Fork Trail. After only a mile the trail reaches Smokemont Campground and the end of the trip.

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