Knoxville Hiking Meetup

"First Automobile Free Wednesday for 2026"

We will start the ride no later than 7:00
PM.
Please keep your RSVP up to date!!

This is a rain or shine event. Come prepared.

Wednesday evening bike ride on the Cades Cove Loop Road.

No Cars on Wednesdays during the summer! It will just be bikers, walkers, and the animals, which we will see a lot of, so make sure your phone is charged for pictures!

Meet at 6:30 pm in the parking lot at the Cades Cove kiosk with your bike ready to ride. There is also overflow parking, so just follow the directions of the volunteers.

We will start the ride, no later than 7:00 PM, or once everyone signed up has showed.

The trip is 11 miles and will take about 2 hours, maybe a little more or less, depending on how much biking people have been doing this year and the number of stops we make. This is not a race unless you want to.

There are a lot of short up hills that may be difficult for those who haven't been biking much lately. Go ahead and jump on your bike or Peloton between now and then to help get you ready!

This is not a hard ride but can have some challenging hills.

Things to bring. Plenty of water, head lamp with fresh batteries, helmet is strongly recommended. The head lamp could be important as it will be pushing dark as we finish the ride.

After the ride we plan to grab something to eat at the Blackhorse Pub and Brewery or Smoky Mountain Brewery in Maryville. The Abby and Peaceful Side Social will most likely be closed. Other suggestions welcome.

This is a fun time, so get on the list!!!

Waivers:
By signing up for this event you acknowledge that you have read and agree with the terms of the following waivers.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16FbYxCCPsVEi2ZH0iZtnRkAuMnlz5-px/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DXlbpSPR0rNIgbVe0NIs2a9rIV4e4Z32/view?usp=sharing

Advanced hikers, join us for a strenuous and rewarding hike to the summit of Mt. Sterling. This will be an out-and-back hike (current conditions prevent a loop). The reward for this hike is the incredible panoramic view from the 60-foot fire tower atop the 5,842-foot summit.

We will meet at the Big Creek Ranger Station parking area and begin by walking about 0.7 miles on a closed road to reach the Baxter Creek Trail. We’ll hike beside creeks and then pass through some of the most impressive forest in the Smokies, including areas near Baxter Creek known for having some of the largest trees in the Smoky Mountains. Early on, the trail winds alongside Big Creek through lush, vibrant forest, especially beautiful in spring and early summer when wildflowers blanket the forest floor. As you climb higher, the landscape changes from deciduous into a cooler, darker spruce-fir forest, moving through entirely different ecosystems in a single hike. Once the ascent begins, expect a long, steady, and relentless climb to the summit—gaining over 4,000 feet in roughly 6 miles. This is a true endurance hike with very few flat portions. This is widely considered one of the toughest day hikes in the Smokies, and it earns that reputation. The climb is consistent, the mileage is long, and the effort is real—but that’s exactly what makes the summit experience so special. At the top, the reward is unmatched. Climbing the fire tower reveals 360-degree views that stretch across the Smokies with views of Balsam Mountain, Mount Guyot, Cataloochee Valley, and beyond.

Check here for trail description: https://hikinginthesmokys.com/mt-sterling-via-baxter-creek/

We plan to stay together as a group. We will take water/snack breaks, when needed, as well as a lunch break on top of Mt. Sterling

- Bring plenty of water!
- Sunscreen is highly recommended
- Pack lunch and snacks
- Pets are NOT ALLOWED on this trail

Carpool
Contact us (or comment on this hike) if you need to carpool

WHERE TO MEET:
**Please note: there are restrooms at the trailhead
Big Creek Parking Area
QV5V+WR Waynesville, NC
I-40 exit 451 to Waterville Rd, straight on Big Creek Entrance Rd
35.7599066,-83.1059518
7am CDT (8am EDT) MEET and begin hike

Standard Notice: All attendees participate at their own risk! Meetup organizers/leaders cannot be held liable for actions of any participant.
14

Join us for a moderate hike to one of the more unique and quietly impressive waterfalls in the Smokies. This is a 4.5 mile roundtrip hike that typically takes 3–4 hours, with a steady climb, some rocky/rooted sections, and a short, steeper spur at the end leading down to the falls.

The hike begins on the Gabes Mountain Trail, climbing through a lush forest filled with rhododendron, hemlock, and tall poplars. The trail has a rugged feel in places, with roots and rocks that keep it interesting without being overwhelming. Along the way, you’ll pass sections of creekside terrain, moss-covered logs, and rich green forest floor — especially beautiful in spring and early summer when ferns and wildflowers fill in the landscape.

Hen Wallow Falls is a 90-foot waterfall which drops from a narrow 2-foot stream at the top and fans out into a wide, curtain-like cascade at the base, creating a completely different look than most waterfalls. Instead of a single vertical drop, the water spreads into a 30-foot-wide, delicate veil. At the base is a shallow pool where you can often spot Smoky Mountain salamanders. The setting feels tucked away and less crowded than many of the park’s more popular waterfalls. Just to the side of the falls, you’ll also notice a small cave-like opening in the rock to explore.

Check here for trail description: https://hikinginthesmokys.com/hen-wallow-falls/

We plan to stay together as a group. We will take water/snack breaks, when needed, as well as a break at the waterfall

- Bring plenty of water!
- Sunscreen is highly recommended
- Pack snacks
- Pets are NOT ALLOWED on this trail

Carpool
Contact us (or comment on this hike) if you need to carpool

WHERE TO MEET:
**Please note: there are restrooms at the trailhead
Cosby Picnic Area Parking
127 Cosby Picnic Area Rd, Cosby, TN 37722
35.7571136,-83.2084517
8am CDT (9am EDT) MEET and begin hike

Standard Notice: All attendees participate at their own risk! Meetup organizers/leaders cannot be held liable for actions of any participant.
15

This is a 13.5-mile hike with 2,034 ft of gain.

Let's take another bite out of the Appalachian Trail.
We are planning to camp at Standing Indian Campground outside of Franklin, NC. Join us there are pick from many other options around Franklin.
*I have Loop1-site 16 reserved. Friday-Sunday

We will meet in the parking area where we are hiking back to, Rock Gap. (The Standing Indian Campground is just down the road from there.) Then we will shuttle up to Wayah Bald to start our hike back. The shuttle will take around 45 minutes.

I am camping for the weekend at Standing Indian and may add a hike from there for Sunday or come back later in the year. I will decide later about that after talking we others. There is an AT connector trail (3.5-miles) from the campground to Deep Gap, on the AT.

Standard Notice: Disclaimer

Meetup organizers/ leaders are not guides. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions as if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being.
By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possible death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant- including you-at any event. All attendees participate at an event at their own rick and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or any injury to themselves or their guests. By signing up for this event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.

**Covid-19 is still out there and spreading. So, PLEASE be respectful and follow all guidelines to stay safe and keep others safe and virus free. If you feel you have it and/or may be asymptomatic, please stay home and take care of yourself. if you are virus free, let's hike