.jpg "Our Favorite Hiking Trails All Around the Smokies")
Gatlinburg, Tennessee-Chimney Top Trail
If you’re in good shape or a veteran hiker, don’t let the Chimney Tops Trail intimidate you. The steep two-mile climb and rugged landscape can be managed with a bit of both bravery and caution. Take comfort in knowing that while the Chimney Tops Trail is challenging, it is one of the shorter hikes in Gatlinburg. The first section of the trail is easy and pleasingly picturesque. It winds among rhododendrons and mountain laurel and past the rushing waters of Road Prong Creek. As you follow the trail and get deeper into the Great Smoky National Park, you’ll cross over wooden bridges and ascend stairs carved into the side of the mountain. After about a mile, you’ll reach the halfway point at the Beech Flats trail junction. Many hikers choose to turn back at this point, but the views at the top are worth forging on for another mile to the summit. Veer to the right to stay on the path toward the Chimney Tops. (special thanks to flipkey.com for being a great resource to aid us in this blog)
Blue Ridge, Georgia-Aska Trails
The Aska Trails Area is a hiking-mountain bicycling trail system 17.0 miles in length developed on National Forest lands near Deep Gap on the Aska Road in south-central Fannin County. Trails range in length from 1.0 mile to 5.5 miles and are open to the public year-round. Trails ascend to near 3,200 feet, providing vistas of mountain ridges and descend to the shores of Lake Blue Ridge. They also pass through coves of mature hardwoods and thickets of laurel and rhododendron. (special thanks blueridgemountains.com for being a great resource to aid is in writing this blog)
Maggie Valley, North Carolina-Soco Falls Trail
Soco Falls is a double waterfall located on the Cherokee Nation close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's easily accessible from Highway 19. A five-minute walk down a maintained trail leads to a viewing platform. To the left of the viewing platform, there's a steep trail leading down to the top of the smaller fall and on down to the creek below the falls. This trail is not maintained and is very slippery. It is not recommended that you proceed down this trail. Do not enter the creek above the falls. Tragically several people have fallen to their death at North Carolina waterfalls. (special thanks to socofalls.com for being very helpful while we researched content for this blog)