Tennessee

AT: Cross Mountain & Osborne Farm

Trail Map: The Hike: This hike is an easy walk on the Appalachian Trail through mountaintop pastures, with scenic views of surrounding mountains. A half-mile section of the trail is ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible. The AT winds through several pasture areas before entering the forest at just under one mile.  We were greeted at […]

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Watauga Lake & Dam

Trail Map: This is a nice walk in the woods on the AT with some decent mountain and lake views. The AT crosses over the Watauga Dam which spans the Watauga River Gorge. The AT enters the Shook Branch Recreation Area near the beach. Follow the AT northbound through a hardwood forest with several nice

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Laurel Fork Falls

Trail Map: The Hike: There are two hikes on the AT to Laurel Fork Falls—this is the shorter one. The other hike is a bit further north and follows the AT southbound for 2.5 miles. This hike follows the AT northbound. We planned three AT hikes on one day, so we got an early start.

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Alum Cave Bluff Trail

Trail Map: The Hike: We arrived before 8am on a Tuesday in mid-May and parking was filling up quickly. GSMNP charges a $5 per day parking fee. This parking area doesn’t sell parking permits, we purchased one at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. This is a popular hike and parking areas fill up quickly. The trail

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Charit Creek Trail

Trail Map: The Hike: The Charit Creek Trail is a short section of the Sheltowee Trace, a 319-mile National Recreation Trail that spans the Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork National Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee. The trail also leads to Charit Creek Lodge, a rustic and historic wilderness hike-in lodge located

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Hazard Cave and Natural Bridge Loop

Trail Map: The Hike: This hike combines two of the park’s best short hikes into a fun loop. The trailhead is located near the Recreation Hall. Begin on the white-blazed Hazard Cave trail and enter the hardwood forrest. Pass a wood and stone bridge built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930s—the park honors

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Honey Creek Loop

Trail Map: The Hike: This technical hike has a little bit over everything, waterfalls, stream crossings, rock scrambles, wildflowers, views, and caves. It has been described on AllTrails as “the hikes hike” and we agree. Navigating this hike can be challenging. The trail is well marked; however, it winds over, under, and around rocks and

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Big Hump & Little Hump Balds

Trail Map: The Hike: This Appalachian Trail section hike reaches two bald summits—Little Hump and Big Hump. The road to the trailhead is gravel/dirt for the last two miles or so. There are some deep ruts and washed-out areas. Our AWD Subaru had no problem. The parking area is on the left, a gate blocks

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