GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS – KEPHART PRONG

LOCATION: Western North Carolina
HIKE STARTS: Newfound Gap
HIKE ENDS: US 441
TOTAL DISTANCE: 7.4 Miles
HIKE TYPE: One Way, Shuttle Hike
HIKE DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Difficult
TRAILS USED: Appalachian, Sweat Heifer, Kephart Prong Trails
TRAIL TRAFFIC: Moderate to Heavy
TRIP TYPE: Day or Overnight Hike
MANAGEMENT: Great Smoky Mountains National Park 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (865) 436-1200

HIGHLIGHTS: Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses 800 square miles of land and 95 percent of it is forested. The park is world renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources and for the beauty of its ancient mountains. This hike follows the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap down the Sweat Heifer Trail to Kephart Shelter. The Kephart Prong is a stream and the water source for the shelter, and the trail follows it to US 441 to complete this shuttle hike.

100 Hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains

Map of Great Smoky Mountains

MORE DETAILS

	click to see trail photos from this hike in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park: November 14, 1992
	click to view a detailed trip report of this backpacking trip to Kephart Shelter: November 14, 1992* (password required)
	click to view maps of the Smokies: area map, detailed map, profile map
	click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
	click for the hiking and backpacking trails discussion forum on other Long Distance Trails
	click for the hiking and backpacking trails discussion forum for other Southeastern Destinations
	click for more hiking and backpacking books on the Appalachian Trail
	click for access to the guidebook Trail By Trail: Backpacking In The Smoky Mountains which has details on this destination
	click for other North Carolina hiking and backpacking books
	click for other hikes in Great Smoky Mountain National Park
	click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination
	note, the * indicates these items are not linked but coming soon