2 Nights - Great Smokies - 26 miles - Memorial Day Weekend

Join us for a 2 night backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We'll start and end in Deep Creek campground/picnic area (see Google Map link below). We'll pass through wonderful forests and hike along majestic creeks.

If you want to join this trip please join the Waitlist. I’ll message the first 6 vetted people with how to pay the $16. Once I receive your camping reservation payment I’ll move you to the Going list.

Parking pass required to park in GSMNP. See Logistics notes below.
Campsites require paid reservations in GSMNP. The campsite reservation fee is $16 per person.

Total Ascent: 6,627 ft
Total Descent: 6,603 ft

Day 1: ~11.4 miles
10AM - start hiking from the Noland Divide Trailhead. We'll hike for ~11.4 miles to Campsite #57 Bryson Place. We'll be hiking on the Noland Divide trailhead to Pole Road Creek Trail to Deep Creek Trail. Campsite #57 is near the intersection of Deep Creek Trail and Martins Gap Trail.

Day 2: ~10 miles
We'll hike for ~10 miles to Camp # 46 Estes Branch. Continue on Deep Creek Trail down to Loop Trail, then up Sunkota Ridge Trail. We'll take Martin's Gap Trail down to campsite #46.

Day 3: ~5 miles
We'll hike for ~5 miles back to our cars. We'll continue down Martin's Gap Trail to Indian Creek Trail. We'll follow that down to Deep Gap Trail until we intersect back with the Noland Divide Trail, which will take us back to our cars. We'll have an opportunity to see Tom Branch Falls (event photo) the 3rd day on our way back.

Logistics

Parking:
You can park wherever in the Deep Creek Campground area but plan to meet at the Parking Area #1, this Google Maps location: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/R16qUko62t5XoZBF9 ](https://maps.app.goo.gl/R16qUko62t5XoZBF9)

Parking pass required to park in GSMNP.

• You will need to purchase your own parking pass at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm#basics and PRINT it out ahead of time so you can display it in your dash. There are also probably kiosks you can purchase directly from at the Deep Creek Campground where we'll start and end.
• You will need a pass for THREE days so we recommend getting the weekly pass as it's the same price as three daily passes.

Campsites

• Campsites in the Smokies must be reserved ahead of time and are $8 per person per night, $16 total for this trip. ORGANIZERS will pre-pay for the campsite reservations when they become available to reserve (30 days ahead).
• Payments are refundable until May 8, 2025. That would allow enough time for another person to join and pay should you decide to cancel so we don't lose any of the reservation fees.
• Each campsite has bear cables for hanging food and easy access to water.

Gaia Maps Route:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.3/-83.4327/35.5002&pubLink=bn6ahkNMIZAgLXxbT1c9EiwL&routeId=3009b836-7578-4600-bd4b-3a12be535e3e

Disclaimers:

• Hike organizers are in no way responsible for you, your health, or safety. By attending this event you acknowledge that the organizers assume no liability for you or your gear.
• Know your abilities. This is a difficult hike, with some strenuous sections.
• Plan for poison ivy and insects. Poison ivy is notorious in the smokies this time of year. Be sure to also bring insect/tick repellent.
• We do not wait at trail intersections. Be prepared by having a map (or map app) and studying the route. There are many turns on this trip, know the route! We have provided the route map via Gaia above.
• Be prepared for water crossings and unknown trail conditions. Almost every trail we've done in the Smokies has some level of water crossing, which could be passable by rock hopping or may require wading.