Category: Smoky Mountains

Our trip was timed for watching synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus), blooming flame azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum), mountain laurels (Kalmia latifolia) and even some rhododendrons (Rhododendron maximum). The weather was warm and humid, but only a few hours of continuous rain. Hike completed in 2018: from Elkmont to Tremont by car ➜ Spence Field 110 ➜ Mollies Ridge 112 ➜ Sheep Pen Gap 13 ➜ Spence Field 110 ➜ Derrick Knob 109 ➜ Marks Cove 28  ➜ Tremont West Prong trailhead.

We had good time hiking in Smokys, this time and in 2015  ☞ Mammoth Cave & Smoky Mountains. We enjoyed shorter side-walks as well and altogether walked 143  km, 6.8 km  total ascent, on 3 longer trails including two multi-day hikes (map).

Loop from Tremont West Prong trailhead

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Our Smoky Mountains destinations on map (both trips)

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Hiking in Smokys

☞ Hiking in the Smokys
☞ Smoky Mountains NP trail map

Smoky Mountains video clips

From Derrick Knob we hiked a bit more on AT (Northbound) and then started walking down on Miry Ridge trail to Marks Cove,  11 km and 800 m total elevation gain. Next day 13 km was all downhill to Tremont. We took lunch break at Indian Flat Falls.

Indian Flat Falls

And enjoyed easy walk on old forest road through the forest and along Middle Prong Little River with many cascades and falls. For a while we walked in quite heavy rain, but we were already on paved Upper Tremont Road so it was not too bad. We found our car at West Prong trailhead as we left it. We packed our still somewhat wet gear and after big dinner in Townsend took off for Chicago with  O/N near Knoxville.

We stopped at Gregory Bald one more time and watched park workers clearing vegetation between azalea bushes. Russell Field was closed so we had to make it to Spence Field: 20 km,  800 m total altitude gain. Russell had the highest concentration of black flies which swarm all shelters and camp sites during the day. A solo thru-hiker was happy to see us arrive at Spence, still quite shaken by very close encounter with a bear. We had the shelter for ourselves (thru-hikers go to sleep before dark and move-on at dawn). Spent the evening at camp fire and watching synchronous fireflies after dark. We slept late next day. Spence Field to Derrick Knob was supposed to be an easy day, 10 km and 600 m total altitude gain, but it was up-and-down all the time on rugged leg-tiring trail. But first, we climbed Thunderhead Mountain elevation 5527 ft  (1685 masl), highest point of our hike. Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in Smokys, 12 km from Derrick Knob, is 6644 ft (2025 masl). Rocky Top on the slopes of Thunderhead has 360° view of the Smokys.

Smokys from Rocky Top

Derrick Knob was packed. We were asleep when rangers came to close the shelter: returning bear got too bold and stuck its head into somebody’s tent knocking it down (nobody was hurt). They stapled the notice in the morning. We had good, informative discussion with them at breakfast.

Our trip was timed to see blooming azaleas on Gregory Bald, one of two balds in the park  managed to promote azalea growth. Another easy day, 10 km 500 m total altitude gain. We had some light rain/fog and a bit of Sun. Walking through azalea labyrinth was exceptional experience, colors ranging from pink to orange to red, more like visit to botanical garden.

Azaleas on Gregory Bald

There is no big problem with invasive plants here competing with native azaleas, but population of wild boar (invasive in Appalachia) has to be actively managed. We saw many signs of wild pig activity. At Sheep Pen Gap campsite, we pitched our tent when the rain stopped and were getting ready to cook dinner when a strange noice coming from the forest prompted closer investigation: bear was passing down the slope behind our tent (Joanna saw cub too). We spent an hour looking around, but she never came back. Large group of hikers arrived around 10 pm, so we had numbers to relax and sleep.

Easy day, 10 km and 300 m total elevation gain, Southbound on AT. After a good night rest and breakfast we had time for a short walk just above Spence Field shelter. The grassy bald, remnant of old pasture, offers good panoramic views, and nice stands of blooming azaleas and laurels. Most trails in the Smokies go through pretty dense forest. We will come back here in a couple of days, but now to Mollies Ridge via Russell Field. Mollies Ridge shelter was packed with hikers – Russell Field was closed several days earlier because of bear(s) paying frequent visits.