GSMNP - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

I am attempting to do the 70 some miles of the At through the GSMNP. I have a pretty stringent time frame i need to keep up with. I was wondering how hard the trail will be from tri-corner knob shelter to big creek ranger station. I really ned to do this in one day, because I have to get back to Indiana by 10 o-clock the next morning.

thanks,
Mr. Peppers

Mr. Peppers

#2

Well, I think it’s about 16 miles from Tri-Corner Knob to Davenport Gap, and then 2 miles down a dirt road to Big Creek.

No major climbs. Mostly fairly level, or down hill. Doable for people in shape.

Peaks

#3

Did that hike in Oct. Not bad at all for the milage. Take your time on the downhill, I think it’s about 7 miles long. I began that day around 8am and finished by 2:30pm and I am probably below average speed compared with most. Enjoy it.

Rashberry

#4

I would agree with Rashberry on the timing. I was doing this section a couple of years ago and the time sounds about right. I do remember a few really flat spots and a long downhill towards the end. I took the side trail down to Big Creek Ranger Station. This was very much downhill and was tons of fun to run down. The side trail also follows a creek for most of the way from what I remember.

guru

#5

If you take the Big Creek Trail, you’ll pass a seriously awesome swimming hole to help clean off nicely after your hike (if you’re not in too much of a hurry).

zach attack

#6

I add to what guru and zach attack have posted. Take the Big Creek Trail, it leads straight to the parking lot at the Ranger Station. It is really one of the nicest parts of the trail in the Park. It is all down hill and there is a small stream that runs beside the trail. It starts off as a small stream and the further you walk the larger it gets. By the time you get to the bottom of the trail the stream has become a BIG CREEK and is big enough to go swimming or at least wash off the dirt from the past 5 days.

Bilko

#7

there are 3 side trails down to big creek after tricorner knob. the first 2, camel gap and low gap trails, take you to walnut bottoms area, which puts you on course for the famed swimming holes. the final side trail is chestnut branch trail-it leaves the AT not far from davenport gap and drops along a small creek to the big creek ranger station. although you are now downstream from midnight hole, there’s plenty of creek there for swimming/bathing before hitting the road. enjoy.

tombone