Johnny Molloy - Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone

Top Trails Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone

1st EDITION 2012

Copyright 2012 by Johnny Molloy

Front cover photos ( main and inset ) copyright 2012 by Johnny Molloy

Interior photos by author, except where noted

Maps and elevation profiles: Johnny Molloy and Scott McGrew

Cover design: Frances Baca Design and Scott McGrew

Interior design: Frances Baca Design

Editor: Laura Shauger

ISBN 978-0-89997-677-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Distributed by Publishers Group West

Cover photo: ( main ) Gregory Bald (); ( inset ) trillium

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.

SAFETY NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and the author have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for your own safety and health while in the wilderness. The fact that a trail is described in this book does not mean that it will be safe for you. Be aware that trail conditions can change from day to day. Always check local conditions, know your own limitations, and consult a map.

The Top Trail s Series

Wilderness Press

When Wilderness Press published Sierra North in 1967, no other trail guide like it existed for the Sierra backcountry. The first run of 2,800 copies sold out in less than two months and its success heralded the beginning of Wilderness Press. Since we were founded more than 40 years ago, we have expanded our territories to cover California, Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, New England, and Canada. And most recently, we have pushed our boundaries into the Southeast.

Wilderness Press continues to publish comprehensive, accurate, and readable outdoor books. Hikers, backpackers, kayakers, skiers, snowshoers, climbers, cyclists, and trail runners rely on Wilderness Press for accurate outdoor adventure information.

Top Trails

In its Top Trails guides, Wilderness Press has paid special attention to organization so that you can find the perfect hike each and every time. Whether youre looking for a steep trail to test yourself on or a walk in the park, a romantic waterfall or a city view, Top Trails will lead you there.

Each Top Trails guide contains trails for everyone. The trails selected provide a sampling of the best that the region has to offer. These are the must-do hikes, walks, runs, and bike rides, with every feature of the area represented.

Every book in the Top Trails series offers:

• The Wilderness Press commitment to accuracy and reliability
• Ratings and rankings for each trail
• Distances and approximate times
• Easy-to-follow trail notes
• Map and permit information

Using Top Trails

Organization of Top Trails

Top Trails is designed to make identifying the perfect trail easy and enjoyable, and to make every outing a success and a pleasure. With this book youll find its a snap to find the right trail, whether youre planning a major hike or just a sociable stroll with friends.

The Region

Each Top Trails begins with a , displaying the entire area covered by the guide and providing an overview of the geography. The map is clearly marked to show which chapter covers which area.

After the regional map comes the master , which lists every trail covered in the guide. Here youll find a concise description, basic information, and highlighted features, all indispensable when planning an outing. A quick reading of the regional map and trails table will give you a good overview of the entire region covered by the book.

The Areas

The region covered in each book is divided into areas, with each chapter corresponding to one area in the region. Each area chapter starts with information to help you choose and enjoy a trail every time out. Use the table of contents or the regional map to identify an area of interest, then turn to the area chapter to find the following:

• An overview of the areas parks and trails, including park and permit information
• An area map showing all trail locations
• A trail features table providing trail-by-trail details
• Trail summaries highlighting each trails specific features

The Trails

The basic building block of the Top Trails guide is the trail entry. Each one is arranged to make finding and following the trail as simple as possible, with all pertinent information presented in this easy-to-follow format:

• A detailed trail map
• Trail descriptors covering difficulty, length, and other essential data
• A written trail description
• Trail milestones providing easy-to follow, turn-by-turn trail directions

Some trail descriptions offer additional information:

• An elevation profile
• Trail options
• Trail highlights

In the margins of the trail entries, keep your eyes open for graphic icons that signal features mentioned in the text.

Choosing a Trail

Top Trails provides several different ways of choosing a trail, all presented in easy-to-read tables, charts, and maps.

Location

If you know in general where you want to go, Top Trails makes it easy to find the right trail in the right place. Each chapter begins with a large-scale map showing the starting point of every trail in that area.

Features

This guide describes the Top Trails of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and each trail is chosen because it offers one or more features that make it appealing. Using the trail descriptors, summaries, and tables, you can quickly examine all the trails for the features they offer or seek a particular feature among the list of trails.

Best Time

Time of year and current conditions can be important factors in selecting the best trail. For example, an exposed low-elevation trail may be a riot of color in early spring, but an oven-baked taste of hell in midsummer. Wherever relevant, Top Trails identifies the best and worst conditions for the trails you plan to hike.