11 MILE HIKE BIG FORK RIDGE AND MCKEE BRANCH TRAILS

We will meet in Knoxville at the Food Lion on Ashville Hwy off exit 394 on I-40 E at 8AM. We will be leaving by 8:15. Please note in your RSVP if you will be meeting us at the trailhead rather than this location.
We will then take I-40 east to N.C. exit #20 to reach the Cataloochee area.
This will be a STRENUOUS HIKE. Please do not RSVP if you are not sure of your hiking ability. We will be going 3.2 miles on Big Fork Ridge Trail with an elevation gain of around 800 ft, head down around 600 ft, and then hit the fun part of the day with a 1600 ft elevation gain on the 2.3 miles of McKee Branch trail. Weather permitting we can stop for a lunch break at the Appalachian Highlands Science and Learning Center, where there are great views on a clear day. Then we will turn around and do it all in reverse.
Or another option would be to drop a car or cars on the day of the hike at the Big Fork Ridge Trailhead, start at the Cataloohee Divide trailhead and hike 4.6 miles to the intersection of McKee Branch trail and head downhill to Big Fork Ridge. The length of the hike this way would be be shorter and the elevation gain on the Cataloochee Divide trail is around 1000 ft over the 4.6 miles.
This decision will be made on the day of the hike based on a group vote.

If there is inclement weather and the road to the Big Fork Ridge Trailhead is closed we will do the Cataloochee Divide trail to the Swag, which offers excellent views on a clear day.