The Great Smoky Mountains is among the most visited National Park in the United States. Sprawling across the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, this park welcomes almost 9+ million visitors every year. Planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains with Capital Vacations Myrtle Beach would be extremely easy. The Great Smoky Mountains boasts of having almost 850 miles of trails. But at times, many of these trails can feel too crowded, especially in the months of June, July, August, and October. Hence, during these months, it is better to try the more underrated trails in the region to enjoy a peaceful hike.
Capital Vacations Myrtle Beach Sheds Light On A Few Of The Lesser-Known Trails In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park harbor expansive swaths of quiet backcountry and long miles of low-profile, out-of-the-way trails that see comparatively few hikers. Some of these trails are:
- Mount Sterling: Tucked in the far northeastern part of the national park, the 60-foot fire tower atop 5,842-foot Mount Sterling is among the hidden gems of the Great Smoky Mountains. The shortest way to get there is from Mount Sterling Gap to the east. It is around a -mile round-trip climb with close to 2,000 feet of elevation gain. One can enjoy a number of stunning views from the Mount Sterling summit, including that of the Max Patch, which is a famous bald along the Appalachian Trail. It is possible to get a view of the Mount Guyot and Mount Cammerer from this region. Hikers can reach this summit from the Cataloochee area to the south and the Big Creek Campground to the north. Extending from the peak to the southwest, the Mount Sterling Ridge Trail overlaps with the long-distance Benton MacKaye Trail.
- Grapeyard Ridge Trail: This trail links Greenbrier Cove with the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and is generally pretty quiet. One can hike the trail from Greenbrier to the ruins of an old steam engine partway along. This makes for an almost a 5.8-mile round-trip. Hikers can also extend their adventure by crossing Grapeyard Ridge and going the full way to Roaring Fork. Grapeyard Ridge is a charming place renowned for its prolific grapevines.
- Smokemont Loop Trail: Located nearby the Oconaluftee entrance and visitor center, the Smokemont Loop starts at the Smokemont Campground, and is usually a good place to enjoy some peace and quiet. Along this 6.5-mile route, one may get to witness beautiful spring wildflowers.
- Baskins Creek Trail: Even though waterfall hikes are extremely popular at the Great Smoky Mountains, Baskins Creek Falls over gets overlooked. The trailhead is two-tenths of a mile from the start of the Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail, and hence is quite easy to miss. Baskins Creek Trail is a moderate trail that requires few water crossings. The major part of the trail is spent hiking down to the falls, and it has an especially steep final descent.
After planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains with Capital Vacations Myrtle Beach, one should consider going for a hike on the trails mentioned above to avoid too many tourists. These trails are perfect for enjoying a quiet hike with the family, away from the chaos of daily life.