Gregory Bald Azalea Hike - Advanced

Join us for this killer 15.6 mile hike! Gregory Bald is famous for the great 360 views from the top and the unique hybridization of the Flame Azaleas.  If you have only so far seen the orange ones, you are in for a real treat! Native Azaleas in every shade of orange, yellow, pink and white… DO bring your cameras!

We will be hiking a very strenuous 15.6 miles. This is NOT a beginner hike. In fact, this one is so strenuous, we are limiting participants to those we KNOW (or have heard) are capable of long, hard hikes. If you're new and would like to join us, please send us an email with some of your recent hiking experience.  I’m sorry if that offends some, but this hike is for experienced hikers ONLY. This is for your own safety and the enjoyment of the group. We will enjoy a moderate to fast pace, but we will be stopping periodically to take pictures.

We will park at the ranger station at Twentymile. Our lollipop loop hike begins here. We will have an easy .5 mile where we will turn left on Wolf Ridge Trail. It starts off easy, and then climbs relentlessly for miles. This trail will gain over 3000' the next 5 miles to Parsons Bald. From Parsons Bald it will be an easy hike to Gregory Bald Trail (GBT) which will eventually lead us to Gregory Bald, where the azaleas should be in peak bloom. We will enjoy a leisurely long lunch on Gregory Bald while taking in the amazing 360-degree views, including Cades Cove below us. (Hopefully the weather will cooperate!!!!) It would not hurt my feelings one bit if someone brings a Frisbee to toss around at lunchtime!

After lunch, we will continue on the GBT to Long Hungry Ridge Trail. The trail will quickly drop 2000' in 2.5 miles (those with knee problems WILL feel it) and then it will be level hiking for a mile to rejoin Twentymile Trail. We’ll eventually come to a 3-way intersection where we’ll be sure to take Twentymile Trail to return and not Twentymile Loop Trail… unless we’re feeling a little crazy and want to extend our hike by another 4 miles. (We won’t.)  After 2.6 miles, we’ll turn left and enjoy the sound of the river to finish out our hike. If we have time, we’ll take a brief, half-mile detour (it will be worth it) to enjoy the cascades and play in the water before returning to our cars.

We will likely have some folks who will want to stop and have dinner on the way back, but I know some of us will have pets we’ll need to get home to, so car pools will be set up accordingly.

Take the ramp onto GA-5 N/I-575 N,Continue to follow GA-5 N 64.9 mi. Continue on Appalachian Hwy 3.8 mi. Slight left toward GA-60/Lakewood Hwy 0.2 mi. Turn left at GA-60/Lakewood Hwy 1.8 mi. Turn right at GA-60-SPUR/Murphy Hwy. Entering North Carolina 7.5 mi. Continue on NC-60 5.0 mi. Slight right at US-64 E/US-74 E Continue to follow US-74 E 30.3 mi. Turn left at US-129 11.5 mi. Turn right at NC-43/ Sweetwater Rd 8.8 mi. Turn left at Fontana Rd/NC-28. Take NC-28 West for 5 miles to Twentymile Ranger Station