Appalachian Trail/Newfound Gap 5K/10K Walk w/ETW, Sat., March 28th

What: Walk a portion of the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Join the East Tennessee Wanderers as we walk (hike) this challenging trail along the Tennessee/North Carolina border. We will have two different length walks; both 10K and a 5K walks. Walkers get to experience a taste of what through hikers of the Appalachian Trail get to experience on this gorgeous wooded trail. This is a strenuous hike (4C) (~1,000 ft elevation) so hiking sticks can be helpful and pets are not allowed. This will be an out-and-back hike going towards the Kuwohi Mountain (Clingman's Dome), but not reaching it.

When: Saturday, Match 28th, 2026. The first walk will be a 10K (6.2 miles) walk starting at 9:00am and the second will be a shorter 5K (3.1 miles) walk starting at 10:00am. The hiking portion should end around 1:00. Returning to Knoxville/Maryville around 3:00pm. Feel free to pack a lunch and a chair. We will plan to chill after our walk and enjoy the views from the Newfound Gap Overlook and parking area. Bring sufficient bottled water for the hike.

Where: We will meet at the Newfound Gap Parking Area, Bryson City, NC. The parking lot is just over the TN/NC border. A valid parking permit will be required for your vehicle. A ticket kiosk is available in the parking area. Restrooms are also available at the parking area. Newfound Gap is about 30 minutes southeast of Gatlinburg or Sugarland Visitors Center on US Rt 441. It is also accessible from Wear's Valley and Townsend by taking the Fighting Creek Gap Rd instead of coming through Gatlinburg. Hike departures at 9:00am and 10:00am respectively. Look for the "Neon Green Shirts", as we will be your guides for this walk.

Registration: This is an American Volksport Association (AVA) sanctioned club walk sponsored by the East Tennessee Wanderers and there will be no walk fee. The Newfound Gap parking area does tend to get busy, so arriving a little early is suggested. The views are spectacular and arriving a little early is well worth the extra time.

RIDESHARE: If interested in sharing a ride, we will meet at the Food Lion Parking Lot, 1707 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN for both the 10K walkers and 5K walkers. (Because of the extra travel time, limited parking, and more limited participation we will only have one departure time for rideshare at this event. 5K walkers can enjoy the views while waiting to walk.) There is about an 80-90 minute drive to the trailhead. Please contact president@easttennesseewanderers.org if interested in ridesharing. Driver(s) will depart around 7:15am. Riders will pay drivers $5.00 each to help cover parking and gas. If you are not planning to join us for a picnic lunch afterwards you may wish to drive on your own.

Feel free to check out our local walking chapter at www.easttennesseewanderers.org .