Favorite Smoky Mountain Hikes

The weather is getting warmer and it time to go hiking! Because we do a lot of hiking, friends often ask me for suggestions on where to hike in the Smoky Mountains. Even friends who have lived in this area all their lives sometimes ask me about hiking. I am no expert but we have hiked a lot a trials over the last several years. 

So here goes . . . these are our three favorite hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
  • Chimney Tops - The hike to the Chimney Tops is only 4 Miles RT but its a pretty steep trail. We hiked this trail a few years ago in February and the weather was wonderful but there was ice on the trail and I fell on the way down. I kept telling Mike I was going to fall but he didn't slow down and I fell. This was before I had my monkey shoes. I probably would not have fallen if I had the correct shoes. LOL. At the Chimney Tops is a Rocky Ridge which is a little difficult to climb. Mike went to the top and I waited at the bottom. He finally gave up on me and came back down (on a side trail) not knowing that I had made it to the top. When I got there, I saw him at the bottom so being the good husband that he is, he climbed up the ridge again. It was a great accomplishment to make it to the top and the view is amazing. So glad I didn't wimp out and made it all the way.  
Chimney Tops
The Climb to the Top
Ice on the Trail
  • Ramsey Cascades - This is Mike's favorite hike in the Smokies. The hike is 8 Miles RT but not a bad hike at all. Ramsey Cascades is one of the highest major falls in the park and one of the prettiest. It's also a lot less crowded than the other waterfalls. When we were there, we saw the cutest little squirrel that would come right up to you and we were able to feed him. I know, we were probably not suppose to feed him but you could tell he was use to being fed. Friendliest squirrel I ever met!

The Friendly Squirrel
Yes, I talked to the Squirrel

Ramsey Cascades
  •  Mount LeConte - There are several trails that lead to Mt. LeConte. We took the shortest and steepest trail which is 11 Miles RT. There is also another trail at the top of Mt. LeConte which is over a mile. We hiked to Alum Cave Bluffs back in 2010 and since then, Mt. LeConte has been on my bucket list. We finally did the hike in April 2012 and I have to say it wasn't that bad. Mike would disagree with me because he carried the heavy backpack I overpacked. It was a cool day and I thought I would be freezing at the top so I wanted to be prepared. We made it to the top in only 3 hours which was pretty good. Our 22 year-old son went with us and we had to keep up with him. We did not spend the night because I just couldn't get into the whole no electricity and running water thing. Besides it's expensive and reservations are hard to get. Mt. LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smoky Mountains and its a great hike even if you don't get the full experience by spending the night. 
Mt. LeConte Lodge
View from the Top of Mt. LeConte
We love the Smoky Mountains. My favorite thing to do on a Saturday is to sleep in a little and then head to the mountains with a backpack, picnic basket and a cooler. If we are doing a short hike, we enjoy cooking out afterwards. If we are doing a long hike, we take sandwiches and eat when we get to where we are hiking to. There is nothing better than enjoying either lunch or snacks while sitting by a waterfall. 

So there you have it. These are our three favorite and our most recommended hikes in the Smoky Mountains. The next hike on our list is the trail to Rocky Top. Its a strenuous hike of more than 14 miles on the Appalachian Trail. I am working up to that one.


This is a great website if you want info before hiking in the Smokies. 

 www.hikinginthesmokys.com 

We never hike a trail without first knowing what we are getting into. As I said before, hiking is fun, great exercise and the best part is that it's free. Get out and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains! 



"Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path." ~Psalm 119:105

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