APPALACHIAN TRAIL

LOCATION: Western North Carolina
HIKE STARTS: Fontana Dam
HIKE ENDS: Davenport Gap
TOTAL DISTANCE: 70.5 Miles
HIKE TYPE: One Way, Shuttle Hike
HIKE DIFFICULTY: Difficult
TRAILS USED: Appalachian Trail
TRAIL TRAFFIC: Heavy
TRIP TYPE: Multi-Day Hike
MANAGEMENT: Great Smoky Mountains NP

HIGHLIGHTS: Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses 800 square miles of land and 95 percent of it is forested. In the park, the Appalachian Trail follows the ridges between the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, and it crosses the highest point on the entire Trail at Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet. The park is world renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources and for the beauty of its ancient mountains. It is one of the largest protected areas in the east.

Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern AppalachiansAppalachian Trail North Carolina Guidebook Nantahala Trail MapAppalachian Trail North Carolina Map

MORE DETAILS

bullet click to see trail photos from this backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail: April 27 – May 5, 1994
bullet click to view a detailed trip report of this hike in North Carolina: April 22-27, 1994* (password required)
bullet click to view maps of this A.T. section in the Great Smoky Mountains: area map, detailed map, profile map*
bullet click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
bullet click for the Long Trail discussion forum
bullet click for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
bullet click for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books
bullet click to access the guidebook Appalachian Trail: Georgia-North Carolina which has details on this destination
bullet click for other North Carolina hiking and backpacking books
bullet click for other hikes on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina
bullet click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination
bullet note, the * indicates these items are not linked but coming soon