What we’re about
This group is operated by the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, Inc. (07/17/2025).
Our Club members are passionate about hiking! Our missions also include education about the outdoors and advocacy for crucial conservation issues. In addition, we proudly maintain 102 miles of Appalachian Trail in the Smokies and Nantahala National Forest.
Join one of our weekly hikes in the beautiful, rugged Smokies and surrounding natural areas here in East Tennessee. Try your hand at some high-elevation trail maintenance on the Appalachian Trail. Participate in conservation efforts to preserve our natural heritage.
SMHC offers adventure and fun for all kinds of people - like you. Join us!
Upcoming events (2)
See all- HIKE: Porters Creek to Brushy Mountain - Great Smoky Mtns Ntl ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, Gatlinburg, TE
This hike in the Smokies will begin at the Porters Creek trailhead in the Greenbrier area. We will go ~1 mile along Porters Creek, past a cemetery and past the spur to the old SMHC cabin, before turning north up Brushy Mountain. The trail climbs gently through moist forest, gets steeper (and steeper) and has a few switchbacks on the way to Trillium Gap (~mile 5.5). Some may prefer to lunch there in a shady spot. Others may want to lunch at the summit, ~0.4 mile uphill on the heath bald, in the sunshine with spectacular views (in clear weather). We will return the same way.
Hike is 11.8 miles with ~3,000 ft. climb, rated Difficult if not Strenuous.
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.
For more information and to register for this hike, go to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club website here. - HIKE: Flats Mountain Trail near Indian Boundary, Cherokee National ForestNeeds location
For this hike we will use a short car shuttle to Flats Mountain (trail #102) in the Tellico District of the Cherokee National Forest. We will drop some cars at Beehouse Gap, the northern end of Flats Mountain Trail (near Indian Boundary Campground), then car shuttle to Eagle Gap on the Cherohala Skyway and begin our hike at the southern end of Flats Mountain Trail. This 6.1-mile trail follows the ridge of Flats Mountain, overlooking Indian Boundary Lake and the Citico Creek Wilderness dotted with Flaming Azaleas and Rhododendron . The trail begins with a short climb to two unnamed balds, then it descends 1900 ft., to Beehouse Gap, where our shuttle cars will be parked.
Hike is 6.1 miles, rated Moderate. Trail might be overgrown in some areas, so pants or knee-high gaiters are recommended. There will be plenty of daylight left after this hike to take the short drive on River Road to see the new bridge at Bald River Falls as you make your way home!
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.
For more information and to register for this hike, go to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club website here.
