Ice Water Springs (via Newfound Gap to Smokemont)

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches across 800 square miles, with nearly 95 percent of its land covered in forest. These ancient mountains, which are among the oldest on Earth, are built from rocks more than 200 million years old with their jagged peaks worn down into the soft, rounded ridges that are present today. These ridgelines are traversed by the Appalachian Trail which climbs to its highest point at Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet) and straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee in the park. From the ridges you will often see a distinctive blue haze that lingers over the valleys.  It is a natural mist that is created when plants release water vapor and organic compounds into the air which gives the area its trademark “Smoky” Mountains name.  Unfortunately, the majority of the people that visit the park never visit the backcountry and see some of the best wilderness in the Southeastern U.S.

This hike starts at Newfound Gap on US 441 and climbs to Ice Water Springs (5920 feet) then to Charlie’s Bunion which has outstanding views to the north. From here, the route follow the Appalachian Trail for another mile along the ridge that marks the Tennessee and North Carolina border, then picks up the Dry Sluice Gap Trail and drops over 2500 feet to the Cabin Flats Trail. The hike continues for another 0.5 miles descending to a bridge over the Tennessee Branch then arrives at a junction with the Bradley Fork Trail. From this point, the trail is relatively flat as it follows Bradley Fork along an old dirt road to Smokemont Campground. It’s much easier to walk this route down rather than up – with the Dry Sluice Trail being the most steep section on this entire hike.