I'm taking a vacation to Smoky Mountain National Park in April and was wondering if people have recommendations for any good fireroads or trails to run?
Thanks
I'm taking a vacation to Smoky Mountain National Park in April and was wondering if people have recommendations for any good fireroads or trails to run?
Thanks
Depends which side you'll be on (Tennessee vs. North Carolina). I can vouch that everything out of Deep Creek on the NC side (in Bryson City) is incredibly runnable and scenic. Not sure about the TN side. My recommendation would be to spend $10 and get a National Geographic topo map of the area and see what works closest to where you'll be.
If you are staying on the Tenn. side near Gatlinburg there are a few great trails that run right out of the north side of town..just go to the rangers station and they'll hook you up...also go to Cades Cove..it's an 11 mile paved loop of frontier houses and churches..they close it twice a week for walkers, runners, and bikers....there is also a trail that takes you to a waterfall..good times running there!
google 'trails in the smokies' and you should find something. I hiked up to Mt. LaConte last Fall. Was a great 11 mile hike. The idea for Cades Cove sounds appealing. I didn't realize they closed it for walkers/runners. That would be a great run. Just watch out for bears and deer.
Thanks for the responses. I'll be on the TN side.
IMHO, Cades Cove is overrated, since you're running on pavement the whole time and at that time will probably be running around a crapload of people.
I used to run the trail between Elkmont and The Sinks, which is really nice. Elkmont Campground is only 7-8 miles from the Sugarlands Vistors Center just outside of Gatlinburg. You'd need someone to pick you up at the Sinks, though, unless you run back.
Visit the message board at Knoxville Track Club (ktc.org) and ask the same question. I bet you'll get some real specific answers. A couple of guys I know of are very knowledgable about great runs in the Smokies and they post over there.
Old Man Wind wrote:
Depends which side you'll be on (Tennessee vs. North Carolina). I can vouch that everything out of Deep Creek on the NC side (in Bryson City) is incredibly runnable and scenic. Not sure about the TN side. My recommendation would be to spend $10 and get a National Geographic topo map of the area and see what works closest to where you'll be.
+1 for the Bryson City side.
There are a ton of other groovy places to run in the area..