Story:
An early morning hike to the Chimney Tops in the Smoky Mountains. The early section is very pretty and follows a scenic stream with several creek crossings. Then comes a harsh steep section that probably stops the casual tourist. Things finally level off and lead you to the peak and some wonderful views.
We were in a rush to return to our hotel for check-out time so couldn't fully explore the rocky peak. Maybe next time...
Most our photos were taken on the trip down which I was recording in a separate track. Unfortunately, the GPS receiver reset and the track was lost, so I've had to estimate the locations for many of the photos.
An early morning hike to the Chimney Tops in the Smoky Mountains. The early section is very pretty and follows a scenic stream with several creek crossings. Then comes a harsh steep section that probably stops the casual tourist. Things finally level off and lead you to the peak and some wonderful views.
We were in a rush to return to our hotel for check-out time so couldn't fully explore the rocky peak. Maybe next time...
Most our photos were taken on the trip down which I was recording in a separate track. Unfortunately, the GPS receiver reset and the track was lost, so I've had to estimate the locations for many of the photos.
Tips:
Start early to avoid crowds.
Start early to avoid crowds.
Tags:
tennessee, smoky mountains, smokie mountains, gatlinburg
tennessee, smoky mountains, smokie mountains, gatlinburg
Comments (6)
Great hike with my son. Glad we took water with us even though there was plenty flowing.
by bweaver on Jun 29, 2010
Chimney Tops is definitely one of the best day hikes in the smoky mountains. Some people we saw on the trail were having difficulty making it up but mainly because it was March and it was still a bit muddy and small patches of snow and some sections of the trail are steep enough to require shoes with good mud traction.
I wouldn't bother going up there unless it hadn't been raining in the last 12 hours and didn't have rain in the forecast as the very last section where you climb up the rock to the actual top of chimney tops would be pretty dangerous if the rock was wet and slick. It's already slightly dangerous when it's dry if you aren't pretty sure footed and not afraid of heights.
We actually went to the top of Chimney tops and then came back down to a poorly documented branch off on the trail... it's near the southern most point of the trail and you very likely could miss it even if you're looking for it. It's a manway/bushwhack that's very tedious and steep (hands and knees at points) for a thousand feet or so until you meet up with another trail. It's been too long since I did this so I forget the name of the trail it connects to but eventually we took that series of trails to the Appalachian trail, then to Clingman's dome and made about a 35 mile 2.5 day loop out of it that got us within about a mile of where we started at Chimney Tops' trailhead.
by Threxx on Dec 15, 2009
I wouldn't bother going up there unless it hadn't been raining in the last 12 hours and didn't have rain in the forecast as the very last section where you climb up the rock to the actual top of chimney tops would be pretty dangerous if the rock was wet and slick. It's already slightly dangerous when it's dry if you aren't pretty sure footed and not afraid of heights.
We actually went to the top of Chimney tops and then came back down to a poorly documented branch off on the trail... it's near the southern most point of the trail and you very likely could miss it even if you're looking for it. It's a manway/bushwhack that's very tedious and steep (hands and knees at points) for a thousand feet or so until you meet up with another trail. It's been too long since I did this so I forget the name of the trail it connects to but eventually we took that series of trails to the Appalachian trail, then to Clingman's dome and made about a 35 mile 2.5 day loop out of it that got us within about a mile of where we started at Chimney Tops' trailhead.
Indeed! We hiked Rainbow falls, Grotto Falls and Chimney Tops over 3 days. This was by far the most difficult.
by Hasmukh on Nov 24, 2009
It's some steep climbing, isn't it?! But that does keep the crowds down a bit.
by MarkTurner on Nov 24, 2009
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