Smokey Mountains Foliage, Balds, Dome and More

Join me for a 3 day 2 night experience in the Smokey Mountains. We'll have a bit of everything, stream crossings, water fall, capturing Silers and Andrews Bald, and a fantastic view from Clingman's Dome. If the forecast is right we should be in prime foliage season.

Beginning Friday we'll drive to the Lakeview Drive Trail Head (Road to No Where). From the trail head we will hike 5 miles to camp site #71. We'll set up camp, gather fire wood and prepare for dinner. If we are settled early we can do a little exploring on near by trails. In the evening we'll enjoy hanging around the camp fire.

Saturday is our big day hike. Plan on 20+ miles, over 5000 ft of elevation, possibly getting wet, and great views with fantastic colors.

After breakfast we'll begin our journey north, gaining elevation on Forney Creek Trail for 1.2 miles. From there we take the Jonas Creek Trail north/west. Jonas Creek gives us 2200 ft of elevation gain, a magestic waterfall, stream crossings and a very wet trail all packed in 4.1 miles.

We'll continue our hike North on Welch Ridge trail for about a mile to the top of Silers Bald. We'll spend a little time checking out the views from the Bald.  from Silers we continue North for about a mile to the  AT. We head east on the AT for about 4 miles to Clingmans Dome. We'll hang out for a bit at Clingmans, have some lunch, look around and take in the foliage views.

After lunch we'll head South on the Foley Ridge Trail for about 1 mile to Andrews Bald. We'll descend the bald and continue on Foley Ridge Trail for another 3.5 miles till we intersect Springhouse  Branch Trail. We continue west on Springhouse Branch for 4.2 miles back to camp site 71. 

At Camp we can rest our tired feet. Maybe clean up in a nearby stream, then prepare for our evening dinner and fire.

Sunday morning slow go and out. We pack up camp sometime after breakfast and hike 5 miles back to the trail Head and our cars. 

I have reservations for 2 nights at camp site #71. The total cost is $64. With 8 backpackers that is $8 each. If we have less than 8, we'll divide the $64 among us equally.

This is a long and physically demanding trip. For the safety of the group, the Trip Leaders reserve the right to remove anyone from the list they feel can not complete the journey. 

For the safety of the group participants should have the appropriate experience and ability to keep up with the group.