Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Meetup

We hope everyone will join us for an optional lunch at Howard’s Restaurant in Gatlinburg. Celebrate Valentine's Day by hiking the Gatlinburg Trail. This easy trail passes the historic Park headquarters, home sites and rock walls. Nice views along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Upon arriving in Gatlinburg, we’ll have lunch at Howard’s Restaurant before returning to the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
* Total hike distance is about 2.5 miles (1.5 hours) on the trail and the street to Howard’s, rated Easy.
* For more information and to register for this event, go to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club website HERE.
* Our Easy hikes are: 5 miles or less and up to 1000' elevation change (on trail). Hikers should be comfortable hiking at a 1.5-2.0 mph pace with 300+ feet of continuous elevation gain over a mile.

The Tennessee State Natural Area’s website states that the natural area “is a diverse area situated on the western flank of the Cumberland Plateau. Its scenic highlight is the beautiful Lost Creek Falls and Cave in White County. Lost Creek Falls is geologically similar to its nearby cousin, Virgin Falls, in that the creek emerges from large spring, or collapsed cave on top, drops over the 40’ falls, and disappears underground again.” Lost Creek Falls and Cave is a short loop at the trailhead. Then we will travel 0.5 miles by car to the Rylander Cascades trailhead for the hike to Virgin Falls. Along the trail, view the namesake Rylander Cascades. On the return is the optional 0.7 mi spur trail to Dry Creek Falls. The hike continues to Virgin Falls for lunch. After lunch, hike a loop to Sheep Cave, and a campsite on Caney Fork before returning on Rylander Cascades Trail and the optional spur to Dry Creek Falls.
* Total hike distance is 13 miles with 2700’ of elevation gain; rated Difficult.
* For more information and to register for this event, go to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club website HERE.
* Our Difficult hikes are: 10-14+ miles and/or elevation change of 1800-2500' or more, mostly on trail, some off-trail possible. Hikers should be regularly hiking 8+ miles with continuous elevation gains of 500+ feet per mile for a sustained 2 to 5 miles (or more), at a 2.0-3.0 mph pace.

Burnett Ridge is an often-overlooked trail, loaded with large trees and great views. While it is a component of the KUW South Loop and can therefore can be accessed from a couple of connections with Imerys Trail, it is best reached from the parking area on Aberdeen Lane that is mainly used by rock climbers going to the Ijams Craig. Combined with short stretches on Imerys and Turnbuckle Trails we will complete a nice 3-mile loop in a remote part of Ijams Nature Center. On the way back we will take a short detour into Hayworth Hollow to the cave entrances where there are a couple of temporary ponds where it is likely that spotted salamanders will be breeding at this time of the year. Just before returning to our cars we will visit the Lime Bowl on a short unmarked side trail where Ijams has done a remarkable restoration project to turn this former mine pit into a botanically rich cedar glade that stabilizes the sides and bottom of the Lime Bowl.
* Total hike distance is about 3 miles, rated Easy.
* For more information and to register for this event, go to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club website HERE.
* Our Easy hikes are: 5 miles or less and up to 1000' elevation change (on trail). Hikers should be comfortable hiking at a 1.5-2.0 mph pace with 300+ feet of continuous elevation gain over a mile.

This DLiA-lead hike provides a hands-on experience to learn how to use the iNaturalist app to inventory biodiversity. Discover Life in America (DLiA) is the nonprofit science partner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), leading the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory—a project to document every species in the park. Studying biodiversity in places like the GSMNP is vital for protecting natural resources. The DLiA leader is Jaimie Matzko, DLiA’s Director of Communications and Outreach. She has spent more than 22 years as a naturalist and educator in the Smokies and holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from University of TN. Time is allowed for learning and observations while hiking Maddron Bald Trail and Albright Grove Loop. Enjoy a trail lunch rest. Return the same way.
* Total round-trip hike distance is 6.8 miles; rated Moderate.
* For more information and to register for this event, go to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club website HERE.
* Our Moderate hikes are: 5-10 miles and/or elevation change of 1000-1800', on-trail hiking. Hikers should be regularly hiking 5+ miles with 400-500 feet of continuous elevation gain over a mile, at a 2.0-2.5 mph pace.