Great Smoky Mountains day 1-2: from Chicago to Elkmont

We drove from Chicago to Elkmont (600 miles) with overnight stop near Knoxville. Elkmont campground was built on the site of logging shanty town right on Little River. We set-up camp and immediately started warm-up hike up Little River and down Jakes Creek. 11 km, 400 m total elevation gain.

Little River-Cucumber Gap-Jakes Creek loop from Elkmont

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On the way back, we visited remnants of the abandoned resort town kept for preservation (most structures were removed from the park after it was established in 1934). We later returned to the forest along Little River for 9:30 pm ☞ Synchronous Fireflies show. Impossible to photograph with our Lumix. There were many more fireflies than the 2000 visitors who came that night for the once a year event which lasts a couple of weeks or so.

Great Smoky Mountains backcountry hike 2018

We are packing for 7 days of hiking in the Smokys. We will spend the first day in Elkmont and hope to see synchronous fireflies in the evening. Next day from Tremont to Spence Field via West Prong is tough, 14 km and 1300 m altitude gain, but then we hike forth and back on the Appalachian Trail on top of the range (right and left on the Google view), before walking down back to Tremont. Rain and bear activity in the forecast.

Mammoth Cave & Smoky Mountains

Started by visiting Mammouth Caves for a day, drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway (stayed in Maggie Valey), hiked in the Smoky Mountains (4D/3N), camped at Indian Creek Campground (Cherokee Indian Reservation) and visited other sites in the NP, finishing in Cades Cove and Knoxville.

Our hike: Round Bottom/Beech Gap Trailhead ➜ Laurel Gap ➜ Tricorner Knob ➜ Pecks Corner ➜ Enloe Creek ➜ Round Bottom.

Loop from Round Bottom/Beech Gap trailheadClick on wikiloc logo to see more details

 
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