Mount Sterling
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-1200
The Great Smoky Mountains get more annual visitors than any other National Park in the U.S. Surprisingly, most people never see the backcountry which has some of the most pristine wilderness in the Southeast. The Mount Sterling hike is a 2-3 day route that starts at Big Creek Campground and follows a loop through the eastern section of the park. The hike takes you to the summit of Mount Sterling where there are outstanding views from a fire tower at the summit. The route then follows a ridge past Laurel Gap and descends to three waterfalls along Gunter Fork and Big Creek. It ends back at the parking area at Big Creek Campground.
- click to see trail photos from this hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: January 16, 2004
- click to view a detailed trip report for this hiking trail to Mount Sterling: January 16, 2004 (password required)
- click to read a trip report for this hike to along Gunter Fork and Big Creek: January 16, 2004 (password required)
- click to purchase a Trails Illustrated map of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- click for a road and facilities map of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- click for a trail map of Great Smoky Mountain National Park
- click for a topographical and profile map of this hike to Mount Sterling
- click for another route that our group did this weekend over Mount Cammerer
- click for a map of some other trails hiked in this area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- click to see a list of all our Klondike hikes that date back to the late 90’s (password required)
- 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